A study conducted by 24 Hour Fitness revealed that many Americans suffer from “tech stress,” experiencing at least two malfunctions a day. 65 percent of U.S. adults say they regularly experience anxiety accompanied by physical discomfort because of unreliable technology.
The poll of 2,000 Americans found that one in seven respondents has thrown their phone across a room in frustration after it failed to work properly. Half of the 2,000 studied have yelled at a piece of technology, and 16 percent have been reduced to tears.
Stress from technology breakdown has a physical effect, with four in 10 saying they’ve experienced a stiff neck brought on by stress, one in four hampered by achy joints and muscles and over a quarter suffering from stress-induced migraines. These ailments have increased the need to battle stress with gym workouts, yoga and getting extra rest, which are among the top remedies.
“Fitness goals are about more than exercise…the time you spend in the gym helps make the life you lead outside the best it can be, and that includes helping you deal with the daily stress of technology breakdown,” said Mike Carney, Vice President, marketing, 24 Hour Fitness.
The research examined the link between stress levels and exercise/movement and found as many as 70 percent of employees feel their job doesn’t allow them to move around enough during the day. A fifth have argued with their partner because of a technology failure, while more than a quarter said they have missed a crucial call or text that had repercussions for them.
31 percent use exercise to combat modern stress. The most popular methods to reduce stress were walking or listening to music. 57 percent feel they get a mental boost from working out and four in 10 feel emotional benefits. The “workout effect” as a solution to combat tech stress lasts for over four hours, according to the study. More than a third of those surveyed said if they don’t exercise regularly, they feel more stressed.
85 percent subscribe to the “healthy body, healthy mind” philosophy. “Science has proven how important a healthy lifestyle is, not only for disease prevention, but also in dealing with the many stressors of daily life,” said Carney.
