The ubiquitous use of new technology has become something of a cross between humorous and horrifying. Everyone from comedians to TV dramas are showing parodies of a crowd of young people all engrossed in their smartphones. People walking — not to mention driving — while texting has become a public hazard. Recent studies and books are documenting the adverse effects of smartphones specifically and technology in general.

In scientific literature the term is “technology overload.” One recent study defined the term as “a specific condition, phenomenon or a point where technology users feel the physical and mental burden to use a technology during their everyday life.” Professionals in particular may feel the burden — not in their personal life but in the workplace. Zoom meetings are hardly optional and we’re long past the day when someone could simply elect not to use a smartphone.

One danger in the constant use of technology is that it places everyone on call virtually 24-7. Who hasn’t received an email of text from a colleague with a time stamp indicating someone is working in the middle of the night. Worse yet is the compulsion to respond in real time to such a message. It may be that we’ve reached a tipping point — we need to change our ways or simply burn out!

Writers at the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) have taken notice. Writing for Success.com, they say “Experiencing continued stressors can cause you to become burned out, leaving you unable to focus on day-to-day tasks or perform them to the best of your ability. But you can take back control of your performance by identifying healthy coping mechanisms for daily stressors.”

What are these coping mechanisms? The writers offer nine tips.

“Stay active throughout the weekend.” If you have a choice, don’t work at all on the weekend. Type A’s, though, might not even want this as an option, so do the next best thing. Take a break or two for physical activity. It may be the best way to refresh yourself mentally (and emotionally).

“Learn to manage stress.” Easy to say but hard to do. Fortunately, proven techniques for stress management include meditation, mindfulness techniques and yoga. Find something you love to do to de-stress… and then do it.

“Change your perspective immediately.” Developing and sticking to set routines are great ways to maximize efficiency. They’re also ways to get into a rut — depending on your perspective. The solution, as Alexandra Levit of the YEC writes: “Stepping away from the daily stress and grind and viewing the world from a different perspective, even temporarily, reawakens my curiosity and enthusiasm for work.”

“Go on a media detox.” Some people have reported an initial panic at discovering they’ve left their smartphone at home when they go out for some recreation. Our suggestion: fight the urge to turn around and get it. In fact, schedule time away from social media, email and texts — a “media detox.” You won’t regret it.

“Build downtime into your schedule.” If you don’t schedule exercise or some recreation into your schedule, it slips down the priority list until bedtime rolls around and you’ve put it off til the morrow. Make downtime a priority, and the best way to do that is by scheduling it.

“Get truly quiet sleep.” Health professionals advise cutting out food and drink for a couple hours before sleep. We may be getting to the point where mental health professionals do likewise. Pull the cord on technology for some quiet time before sleep.

“Delegate tasks that you can outsource.” Technology allows people to take on tasks they once routinely outsourced. Everything from booking airline tickets to scheduling group meetings was regularly handled by able assistants. Today, too many professionals take on those tasks themselves. As Mark Daoust of the YEC advises, “Although you can try to soothe burnout by taking occasional breaks, until you identify the tasks that cause you to revolt, you’ll keep running into burnout. Identify a few tasks you can’t stand to do anymore and find a way to outsource some or all of them.”

“Go for a daily walk.” Walking is not only excellent physical activity, it seems to stimulate creative thinking. Just the thing that can help on a daily basis.

“Help someone else.” Douglas Hutchings of the YEC offers this surprising insight: “Offer to help people without expecting anything in return. Your fresh perspective can be invaluable to them and the simple act of helping someone else will help you get back on track.”