PCHS Bulletin – Vimianchan Thach
Published Date – January 22, 2026
Electronics has become part of the daily routine of everyone, whether it is to complete homework or to scroll on social media. As we use it every day, you may notice yourself getting burnt out from the excessive use; worry not because the Parrish Community’s HOSA Community Awareness group is here to bring awareness to electronic burnout.
The Community Awareness event group includes HOSA students Arielle Pelletier, Tina Nguyen, and Makayla LaRock.
Digital burnout is the mental and physical exhaustion caused by spending too much time on digital devices. This leads to fatigue, difficulty focusing, anxiety, reduced productivity, and more. This stems from excessive screentime, like being constantly on social media.
With digital burnout, there is a need for digital awareness. Digital awareness is important for teens because they spend a lot of time online and are still developing emotionally and mentally.
“Being aware helps teens stay safe, protect their privacy, and understand how social media can affect their mental health. It also teaches them how to make responsible choices online,” Pelletier explains.
Some tips to help with electronic burnout:
Take regular screen breaks. It is important to rest our minds. This also helps reduce eye strain and prevent mental fatigue.
Turn off unnecessary notifications. An overload of these notifications will keep your attention on your device, so having them turned off helps prevent this.
Set time limits for apps. This can be done in your phone settings to help set boundaries or limits to scrolling time.
Spend time outside. This improves mood, increases vitamin D, and encourages physical activity.
Get enough sleep. This allows for a mental reset and provides a clearer mind.
Participate in hobbies that don’t involve screens. These can also help reduce stress by doing things you enjoy.
“Being able to use these tips helps reduce stress and keep us present in the moment,” Nguyen says.
When you're a teen, it is hard to stay away from our screens; however, there are plenty of ways to encourage better habits.
LaRock explains that we can encourage teens to be less attached to electronics by promoting fun offline activities like sports, clubs, and spending time with friends in person. Furthermore, setting up phone-free times, such as during meals or before bed, can also help. Positive role models who balance technology use can also make a big difference.
Being able to recognize whenever we are burnt out and striving for change is important not only for your mental health but for your physical wellbeing. Your health is important, so using these tips and tricks to prevent digital awareness will allow for a less stressful time and a better day.