
Why Screen Time Leaves You Exhausted — And How to Reverse Its Effects
From The Art of Manliness by The Art of Manliness
May 5, 2026 · 51 min · Episode 1116
About this episode
Manoush Zomorodi discusses the impact of screen time on physical and mental health and offers solutions to counteract its effects.
You hear a lot today about how our ample screentime is affecting our mental health. But how is it affecting our bodies, and how is that impact on our bodies affecting, well, our mental health? My guest today will unpack the ways that digital technology is sapping our vitality, and offer a simple protocol to get it back. Her name is Manoush Zomorodi, and she's the host of the TED Radio Hour and the author of Body Electric . In our conversation, Manoush explains why a day spent sitting in front of screens can leave you exhausted, even though you haven't really done anything, and how small bouts of movement throughout the day can counteract that drain and keep you feeling energized and focused. She shares how much activity you need to offset periods of being sedentary, and how to realistically incorporate these movement breaks into your routine. We also get into the specific effects digital technology is having on our eyes and ears — and what you can do to prevent the damage. Resources Related to the Podcast Manoush's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #342 — Why Boredom is Good for You "I Sing the Body Electric" by Walt Whitman Keith Diaz's studies AoM Article: The…
People in this episode
Host: The Art of Manliness
Guest: Manoush Zomorodi
Topics covered
- screen time
- mental health
- physical health
- movement breaks
- digital technology
- vitality
Keywords
- screen time
- mental health
- physical health
- movement
- digital technology
- vitality
- energy
- sedentary
- exhaustion
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: TED Radio Hour
Books & works: Body Electric, I Sing the Body Electric
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