Abstract
Abstract Background: Digital devices support work, education, healthcare and social connection, but their use can extend sitting, delay sleep, interrupt meals and sustain visual and cognitive demands. An assessment based only on total screen time overlooks these different pathways. Objective: To examine the relevance of Swasthavritta to a screen-dominated lifestyle and develop an evidence-informed interpretation of its principles for contemporary health maintenance. Methods: A targeted narrative review considered classical Ayurvedic passages, experimental studies, controlled trials and authoritative guidance concerning sleep, sedentary behaviour, visual comfort, eating and attention. Classical concepts and modern mechanisms were interpreted separately, with proposed applications distinguished from interventions supported by direct evidence. Discussion: Dinacharya, Nidra, Vyayama, Ahara Vidhi and Sadvritta offer a framework for protecting daily routines, restorative sleep, movement, attentive eating and considered conduct. Contemporary research supports attention to the timing and continuity of device use, not simply its duration. Experimental evidence links evening light-emitting device use with circadian effects, while trials show that changing screen colour alone may not improve sleep. Interrupting prolonged sitting can improve acute metabolic responses. Visual breaks may relieve symptoms, although fixed schedules and blue-blocking lenses should not be presented as universally effective solutions. Digital restriction and app-delivered mindfulness studies illustrate both the potential benefits of changing use and the importance of adherence and context. Conclusion: The practical contribution of Swasthavritta is to organise digital activity around health-maintaining behaviours. This is a contemporary application of classical principles, not a validated treatment package. Its effectiveness should be tested through behavioural, functional and clinical outcomes in clearly defined populations.
References
References
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