It highlights that this phenomenon is mainly driven by the lack of boundaries between personal and professional life, constant overstimulation, and the pressure to always be available, which can lead to mental fatigue, concentration problems, irritability, and sleep disturbances.

I recommend this article because it clearly and relevantly helps to understand how hyperconnectivity affects daily well-being, making it easier to identify habits that may be causing exhaustion without being fully aware of it.

https://www.hiwellapp.com/es-ES/blog/digital-burnout

Core Idea: A challenge that flips the assumption that being offline means missing out. Disconnecting is not absence, it is presence. You are not going offline. You are going fully on: with yourself, your environment, and the people around you.

This is the strategic centerpiece because it does something rare: it uses the same behavioral mechanics that make digital platforms addictive, gamification, streaks, rewards, and redirects them toward healthier offline habits. It doesn't ask students to abandon their world. It gives them a structured, achievable way to reclaim it.

Core Idea: People set an auto-reply when they go on vacation from work. Why can't they do the same for their personal life? This concept invites students to officially declare themselves "out of office" from their own digital existence.

Tagline: You set limits at work. Set them for yourself.

Beyond additional time off, the company has expanded its benefits package to include coverage for gender affirmation treatments and fertility care within its health insurance plan. It also runs periodic travel giveaways to destinations like Bali and Lisbon, alongside financial counseling and mental health and self-care programs.

CEO Tom Keiser stated that these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to prioritize employee well-being, emphasizing that healthier employees drive innovation and long-term company success. The move reflects a wider trend among companies responding to rising burnout and workforce resignations by offering more mental health and lifestyle-focused benefits

Core Idea: Nobody talks about the anxiety of the "seen" receipt, not from sending it, not from receiving it. This concept makes visible the invisible tension that everyone experiences but nobody names. It finds people in the exact moment of discomfort and reflects it back without judgment.

Tagline: Seen. Stressed. Drained. Sound familiar?

Core Idea: Takes something that already exists on every phone, Airplane Mode, and repositions it as the most radical act of self-care in the 21st century. No purchase needed. No app to download. Just disappear for a moment.

Tagline: The bravest thing you can do today? Disappear.

Concept
We represent this loop through a visual metaphor built around a tongue twister:

“Loop the scroll, scroll the loop, feed the loop that feeds you back, you scroll the loop, the loop scrolls you, until you lose the you inside the loop, and what’s left is just the loop you do.”

Key message
“Still scrolling? Nothing changes in the loop.”

https://salud-digital.es/2024/10/02/i-estudio-de-bienestar-digital/

• 90% de los españoles de entre 18 y 65 años considera que no tienen un bienestar digital adecuado.

• Un 63% por ciento considera fundamental apagar el móvil en momentos clave del día, aunque solo un 39% lo hace.

Insight: Cada vez que elegimos algo en el mundo digital, estamos rechazando algo en el mundo real, pero no somos conscientes de ello.

Idea: Inspirándonos en la lógica de swipe de apps como Tinder, planteamos una experiencia donde el usuario hace “match” con hábitos digitales cotidianos y, al hacerlo, descubre qué está “rechazando” en su vida real (descanso, relaciones, bienestar).

Concepto: “Cada swipe es una elección que no ves.”

not like literal sunscreen

but you know you use sunscreen to not get burned by the sun

using the sunscreen analogy to avoid digital burn out

encourage students to implement boundaries

La dependencia digital se muestra cuando estamos constantemente conectados y la desconexion nos incomoda. Además, se le suma el agotamiento emocional, ya que nos "malacostúmbramos" a la multitarea, al exceso de estímulos, a la presión de estar siempre disponible... la cual cosa nos lleva a una fatiga crónica, a estar irritables y sin motivación.

El burnout digital hace difusos los límites entre la vida personal y la digital. No existe el descanso real y las personas viven en un estado de alerta constante. Vemos esto en nuestro día a día cuando revisamos el móvil de manera automatica, no sabemos desconectar o aburrirnos...

Además, este contexto refuerza el problema de normalizar que tenemos que estar disponibles y perfectos 24/7. Esto hace que vivamos con presión social y que la desconexión sea cada vez más dificil.

Esto tiene efectos psicologicos y físicos: disminución de la concentración, problemas de memoria, ansiedad, irritabilidad, fatiga, trastornos del sueño y sobrecarga cognitiva. A nivel cerebral, la exposición continua a estímulos digitales altera los procesos de atención y aumenta el desgaste mental.

El burnout digital también afecta a la percepción de uno mismo, ya que vinculamos el valor propio a la productividad constante.

Para soluncionarlo no tenemos que eliminar la tecnología, sino establecer límites y hacer un uso consciente de ella.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRVCy7qN/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRVC8Kug/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRVCyyyF/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRVC6wYn/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRVC2D7o/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJnD0uSNvrc/?igsh=MWZxajBsNDYxOTB6OA==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKIkesBMGtc/?igsh=OWV2OW9yOWVhbHhj

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNocxKKB7mQ/?igsh=NnNnbTdocnZkZ2xi

Insight: Streaming platforms, apps, and social media constantly check for our attention. But no one checks when we’ve been mentally absent for hours.

We are physically present, but emotionally somewhere in a feed.

Concept: We transform a familiar digital prompt “Are you still there?” into a real-world behavioral trigger.

Instead of pushing students to stay online,
we create a system that rewards disconnection, presence, and lived experience.

EXECUTION 1:

Where

Across Florida International University campus (libraries, lounges, transit zones, study areas).

What

Disposable film cameras placed as unexpected interruptions in high-scroll environments.

Each camera is wrapped with:

ARE YOU STILL THERE?
You’ve been online for a while.

Try real life. Take this camera.

Inside the Camera

A guided prompt list that redefines what’s worth capturing:

• Something that made you feel calm

• A moment you almost missed

• A real smile (not posed for likes)

• Light hitting something unexpectedly beautiful

• Someone you care about

• Proof that you were fully present

After taking the pictures, they have to develop and print their images and paste them on a mural at FIU wellness center.

They have to add a short reflection: “What did you notice when you disconnected?”

Thats going to give them a chance to win:

• Wellness retreat

• Nature getaway

• Digital detox weekend with friends

EXECUTION 2:

Instead of FOMO from being online… we create FOMO from not being present in real life.

Content Format

Post their film photos paired with campaign messages:

Example Posts

• “You didn’t miss anything online. You missed this.”

• “Still there… or actually here?”

• “No notifications. Just memories.”

Hashtags

• #AreYouStillThere

• #LoggedOffLivedOn

• #BeWhereYouAre

there is this device called "Brick" and their mission is to block the apps that prevent you from being in the moment. their tagline is "Go back to what matters". I love the idea of creating "Bricked Spaces" in FIU where you have the option to choose to block your temptations (of being on your phone, constantly checking) and choose to have a breather.

Incorporate bricked spaces in the food hall, the graham center, the study halls, outside, etc.

The key thing is that once you tap the brick, you have the option to choose the apps you want to block (for the time being). the power of choice is super important when it comes to mental health, only you can be the one to take the step and i think that's very powerful

Students at Florida International University live in a state of constant stimulation:

• Notifications, Digital Burnout

• Academic stress

• Social comparison

• Financial pressure

We are living in what psychologists call sensory overload loops—your brain never resets.

Problem

Digital Burnout is when anxiety or panic attacks hit:

• Your senses don’t “work together”

• Vision blurs

• Sound overwhelms

• Touch feels disconnected

👉 The real problem isn’t stress.

👉 It’s losing control of your perception of reality.

Insight 

“When I’m anxious, it feels like my body isn’t mine anymore.”

Or even sharper:

“I don’t need the world to stop. I need my senses to come back.”

That’s powerful, ownable, and deeply human.

Big Idea

“Get Your Senses Back.”

Not relax. Not escape.

👉 Reclaim control.

This is much more active, empowering, and memorable.

🎓 Primary: FIU students experiencing digital burnout

Why they qualify: High levels of screen time and constant digital stimulation lead to overstimulation, anxiety, and reduced focus—making them the most directly affected group.

What our campaign does: Immediate sensory reset and grounding, helping them disconnect, reduce overload, and regain control in moments of stress.

🏫 Secondary: Entire Florida International University student body

Why they qualify: Even without clinical symptoms, most students experience daily digital fatigue, stress, and cognitive overload.

What our campaign does: An accessible, preventative reset space that reduces everyday burnout and introduces simple ways to manage overstimulation.

🌴 Tertiary: Miami / South Florida population

Why they qualify: A fast-paced, highly connected urban environment increases exposure to digital overload and constant stimulation.

What our campaign does: Raises awareness of digital burnout and offers a shared space to disconnect, reset, and rethink daily habits.

📱 ROOM 0 — OVERLOAD

You enter a space that feels like your daily life: notifications, screens, constant noise.

👉 This is what digital burnout feels like—too much, all at once.

👁 ROOM 1 — SEE

The space becomes visually calm. No chaos, no distractions.

👉 Your eyes get a break from screens and constant visual input.

👂 ROOM 2 — HEAR

You hear soft, natural sounds like water.

👉 Your mind slows down as the noise of notifications disappears.

🌸 ROOM 3 — SMELL

You enter a space with natural scents like flowers.

👉 You reconnect with the real world, not the digital one.

🤲 ROOM 4 — TOUCH

You can touch, hold, or hug soft objects.

👉 You feel grounded again—back in your body, not in your phone.

🌿 ROOM 5 — RESET

All senses come together in a calm, balanced way.

👉 You leave feeling clear, present, and back in control.

Upon entry, students check in their phones to be securely stored and charged, while the app automatically notifies their circle that they are “fully present.”

At the same time, Panther Flow extends into a digital platform that brings together all phone-free experiences across FIU, from fitness classes and sports to social events and tournaments, all in one place.

As students engage, they earn Paws Points, turning intentional disconnection into a rewarding and social experience.

Panther Flow transforms being offline into something students don’t miss, but actually seek.

Upon arrival, students check in their phones at a secure charging station, In addition, the coffee shop features a weekly activity board, showcasing all the phone-free experiences happening across campus, from fitness classes and outdoor activities to social events and tournaments.

As they engage, they earn Paws Points, that will translate into discounts reinforcing the habit of disconnecting and making presence something social, visible, and rewarding.

If this start working well we can move that across all FIU food establishments

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-psychology-of-social-media-2021042822404

“Excessive screen use and digital engagement have been linked to increased stress, anxiety, and poor mental well-being.”

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240041021

“Digital technologies can contribute to stress and anxiety, particularly when use becomes excessive or compulsive.”

https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/2020/10/14/digital-media-and-mental-health/

“No One Is Actually Posting Their Burnout.”

Insight:

There is a silent contradiction in student culture. Everyone is overwhelmed, but social media only shows productivity, success, and aesthetic lifestyles. This creates a false norm in which burnout feels like a personal failure rather than a shared reality.

The uncomfortable truth:

Everyone is struggling, but everyone thinks they’re the only one.

Campaign Idea:

Expose the hidden layer behind “perfect” posts.

-Real student Instagram posts are recreated on campus screens

-Then they flip to reveal the unposted reality:

—“Cried before this photo.”

— “Had 3 hours of sleep.”

— “Missed a deadline right after this.”

Headline:

“This is what didn’t get posted.”

Students can anonymously submit their own “unposted truths.”

Behavior Change:

Encourage honest sharing or private reflection instead of comparison

Call To Action:

“Stop comparing yourself to edited realities.”

Why This Works:

-It targets a deep psychological tension: comparison culture

-It makes the invisible visible in a raw, uncomfortable way

-It doesn’t just say “social media is fake,” it proves it

Digital burnout = mental and emotional exhaustion caused by too much screen time, notifications, and content overload

62% of people experience it regularly

People see 4,000–10,000 ads/day = overload

Result: people ignore ads, disengage, and feel fatigued

Digital burnout is a state of: mental exhaustion, reduced attention span, and emotional fatigue

Caused by: excessive screen time, constant notifications, information overload

It’s not just “too much phone”. It’s too much stimulation without rest

Insight: People are not “less interested”: they are exhausted

2. RESEARCH

Psychological angle

Anxiety, fatigue, loss of focus

Constant comparison + pressure to be “always on” (social media culture)

Insight: burnout is emotional + cognitive

Cultural/social angle

Rise of “doomscrolling” fatigue

Trend toward:

nostalgia

offline hobbies

real-life experiences

Insight: people want to escape digital

Marketing angle

Ad fatigue = lower engagement

Overexposure = people actively avoid brands

Insight: “More content” doesn't mean better: brands must be smarter, not louder

FACTS & DATA

People see 4,000–10,000 ads/day

Average screen time: 6–7 hours/day

Gen Z checks their phone every 5–10 minutes

Attention span dropped to ~8 seconds

= We are not designed to process this much input → overload = shutdown

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT

Effects:

anxiety

sleep problems

decreased concentration

dopamine dependency (addiction to scrolling)

Mechanism:

Social media → dopamine hits

The brain gets used to constant stimulation

Silence = uncomfortable

Insight: People are not addicted to content, they are addicted to stimulation

3. CURRENT & PAST CAMPAIGNS

1. Anti-digital / unplug campaigns

“Unplugging” trend (luxury + Gen Z) → no-phone experiences

Insight: disconnect = premium experience

2. Experiential / offline campaigns

Brands creating IRL activations (events, pop-ups)

Consumers want immersive experiences after burnout

Example idea:

Offline installations

Sensory experiences (touch, smell, sound)

3. Mindful marketing campaigns

Less intrusive, more meaningful content

Focus on quality over quantity

Strategy shift: From “interrupt” to “respect attention”

4. Mental health awareness campaigns

Multi-platform storytelling campaigns (TikTok, YouTube, etc.) reaching millions

Insight: Storytelling + empathy works

5. Creative/art campaigns

Visual metaphors:

overloaded brains

glitch aesthetics

“trapped in screen” visuals

Insight: strong visual storytelling = powerful impact

Digital burnout comes across as something deeper than just “too much screen time.” It’s more about how constant connectivity has become normal in everyday life. Because everything is related to digital platforms, stepping away isn’t always realistic, which makes burnout harder to avoid in the first place.

One of the main ideas is information overload. With so much content available at all times, having access to more information doesn’t necessarily improve understanding. In many cases, it actually makes it harder to focus, process ideas, and make decisions (Savić, 2023). While this issue has existed for a long time, it has intensified with social media, smartphones, and the speed at which content is produced today (Savić, 2023). A large portion of this information is also unfiltered, which adds another layer of difficulty when trying to determine what is actually useful or reliable.

Another important point is that even when people feel overwhelmed by digital platforms, they still continue to use them. This creates a kind of cycle where burnout and dependency exist at the same time. Digital platforms are often too convenient or necessary to avoid, which makes it difficult for users to reduce their usage, even when they recognize the negative effects (Ashraf et al., 2023).

The issue is also connected to the way work and personal life overlap, especially in digital environments. When both happen on the same devices, it becomes harder to fully disconnect. Burnout, in this sense, is not only about long hours but also about the lack of clear boundaries. Without that separation, people are more likely to experience both physical symptoms and mental fatigue (Kumar & Nandini, 2023).

Digital burnout appears to be less about technology itself and more about how it is used and integrated into daily life. Continuous exposure to information, reliance on digital platforms, blurred boundaries, and social pressure all contribute to the problem. Because of this, the most effective approach is not complete disconnection, but developing more balanced and intentional ways of engaging with technology.

References

​​Ashraf, M., Hou, F., Ahmad, W., & Ahmad, M. (2023). Impact of digital burnout on the use of digital consumer platforms. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 197, 122958.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162523008570

Ashraf, M. (2025). Digital burnout and mental health: Evaluating interventions in Gen Z populations.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mudasir-Ashraf-3/publication/390941544_Digital_Burnout_and_Mental_Health_Evaluating_Interventions_in_Gen_Z_Populations/links/68037d6dded43315572b355e/Digital-Burnout-and-Mental-Health-Evaluating-Interventions-in-Gen-Z-Populations.pdf

Kumar, P., & Nandini, S. (2023). Digital burnout: The effect of screen workloads on mental health and quality of life. EC Psychology and Psychiatry, 14(7).

https://ecronicon.net/assets/ecpp/pdf/ECPP-14-01149.pdf

Savić, D. (2023). Information fatigue syndrome and digital burnout. The Grey Journal, 19(2).

https://www.greynet.org/images/TGJ_V19_N2,_Summer_2023.pdf#page=15

The core strategy for the FIU Reset Room revolves around the "One Sense at a Time" concept. This approach uses sensory grounding to directly combat digital burnout. Since constant screen time causes cognitive overload and numbs the mind to the immediate surroundings, the goal was to create an experience that forces a pause to isolate just one physical sensation.

Focusing on a single sense acts as an anchor, pulling students out of the digital noise and right back into the present moment.

1) the "pattern interrupt" text placed on the visual assets to catch attention mid-scroll and calm you

2) the accompanying Instagram captions designed to drive foot traffic to the physical activation

1. Visual Asset Copy (The Hooks):

These lines highlight the disconnect between going through the physical motions and actually experiencing reality.

• Touch: "You make contact, but are you feeling?"

• Taste: "You take a bite, but are you tasting?"

• Hear: "You hear the noise, but are you listening?"

• See: "You see the colors, but are you looking?"

A universal caption structure was developed to maintain consistency across the campaign, with the very first line swapped out dynamically to match the specific sense being highlighted in the post.

Dynamic caption intro Lines for the sense specific posts

• Touch: Get back in touch with yourself.

• Taste: Savor the moment. Literally. (Alt: Actually taste your lunch for once!)

• See: Look at something that isn't a blue-light screen.

• Hear: Mute the notifications. Un-mute the world.

• Smell: Inhale. Exhale. Reset. (Alts: "Just keep breathing. That’s the key. Breathe." / "You’re only human. You’re allowed to take a breath.")

Universal Caption Body:

[Dynamic Intro Line] 🖐️👂👁️

When was the last time you truly tuned into the world around you? Reconnect with your environment and your inner self, one sense at a time. We’re taking over the GC Lawns to create a space for total sensory reset.

🗓 Dates: 15–20 May

📍 Location: @TheFiuReset at GC Lawns

📩 DM for details or RSVP via the link in bio!

#OneSenseAtATime #FIU #SenseReset #StayGrounded #MiamiEvents

The Poster Copy:

The layout cuts through visual clutter with a minimalist, direct approach to catch students as they navigate the campus:

• Main Headline: Burned out?

• Subhead: Reconnect with your senses. One sense at a time.

• Event Details: 15–20 May | GC Lawns

• Call to Action: Visit us @theFIUreset

• Interactive Element: [QR Code for RSVP]

The Letter:

Included in the bag is a grounding letter serving as a final, physical touchpoint. It reinforces the core message of reclaiming control over digital perception.

The Stress Toy (Sense of Touch):

To provide an immediate, physical anchor, a Roary stress toy was included. It serves as a literal translation of the "Touch" concept.

Video Download Link: https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwe.tl%2Ft-714yz8a0XpNbsDy6%3Futm_campaign%3DTRN_TDL_05%26utm_source%3Dsendgrid%26utm_medium%3Demail%26trk%3DTRN_TDL_05&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce092c2cbc0b141f88d3c08dea2dd2469%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639127267828730603%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KExOB9Q5wCcuwIHBI%2BA70tYroxgs32BnBwK7ssGr6A8%3D&reserved=0

I am a strategist from Germany. I did my undergrad in Business Administration and worked as a Consultant and Manager in my home country. I moved to Dominican Republic after the pandemic and worked as an independent social media strategist before I came to the US to elevate my career. My hobbies are fine arts and psychology. I love skiing, painting, learning new things and going out.

That was me, every time, at ICICI Bank. As a Partnership Manager handling travel and entertainment tie-ups, I lived in the world of brand campaigns but always from the business side of the table.

Then I came to Miami on a holiday, saw Miami Ad School, and walked in on a whim. Something clicked that I couldn’t unfeel. So I did the uncomfortable thing, took a career break from a stable mid-management career and became a student again. I was second guessing my decision because of my age but as I worked on campaigns and started competing in awards, the second-guessing stopped. I’m not looking back. This career chose me!

-Sahaj Vyas