During my first big internship at Teen Vogue in college, I noticed I felt drained and tired after spending a few hours on the computer, and totally wiped out after a full day.

Even after getting a good sleep, eating well, and exercising, I still felt like a truck hit me after a big dose of screen time.

I felt frustrated and silly.

Am I a wimp? There are people who spend way longer at the computer than me – like 12 hours a day! What’s wrong with me?

That was the story playing in my head.

Finally, I heard the term “EMF” while poking around on the Internet, and learned all about their harmful effects on the body.

EMF stands for electromagnetic fields, and the ones put out by tech devices like computers and cellphones are positively charged. That might sound like they emit smiley-face emoji vibes all day, but these sneaky ions actually have a negative impact on the body.

They disturb the entire human system, since we have our own energetic field that doesn’t mesh well with with them.

That’s when everything clicked.

I was tired and burnt out because EMFs are directly linked to nervous system issues, chronic fatigue, stress, and so much more.

I was specifically interested in how they interact with the nervous system, because on top of feeling exhausted after a long writing stint at the computer, I also felt really scatterbrained, hypervigilant (easily startled), and to be honest – straight up anxious and constantly worrying about…nothing, when it came down to it.

Electromagnetic frequencies are linked to increased anxiety, weight gain without a change in diet, poor sleep and insomnia, heart palpitations, moodiness, dizziness, inability to concentrate, scatterbrain, depression, and even some more serious issues like leukemia and brain tumors.

Luckily, there are some great natural ways to counterbalance EMFs without confining yourself to a tech-free cave.

Cause who has time for that?

Here are my 3 favorite ways to counteract the harmful effects of EMFs:

1. Himalayan rock salt lamps. These beautiful lights release negative ions which bind to bad-boy positive ions produced by tech devices (ironic and confusing, but correct) and neutralize them.

A rock salt lamp is simply a big chunk of pure salt with a lightbulb in the middle. These lamps counteract EMFs and purify the air, reducing the harmful effect of iPhones, computers, WiFi boxes and other tech.

Do you feel super zen after spending time in nature, away from technology? That feeling is largely due to the natural negative ions you’re bathing your cells in. Himalayan rock salt lamps have the same effect.

2. Pure beeswax candles. Real beeswax also emits negative ions, neutralizing and purifying the air. They smell great, too, and of course, have a natural soothing effect as they burn.

When you’re calm, your parasympathetic nervous system – or “rest and digest” system – activates, switching on your immune system, digestion, fat burning abilities, and so much more.

I love to burn a beeswax candle at my desk and keep a Himalayan salt lamp on to counteract the frequencies my computer, smart phone, and iPad emit as I work.

3. Grounding, aka earthing. Negative ions occur naturally in the great outdoors. Grounding, or earthing, is simply walking barefoot in the grass, dirt, or sand. You can also use earthing mats, though I’ve never tried them personally.

When you stroll through the dirt, EMF buildup in your body gets ushered out through your feet, and relaxing, rejuvenating negative ions flood your body. Sounds nice, right?

I live in NYC, and when I can’t do a weekend upstate I like to head up to Central Park, find a nice lush field, and go for a walk barefoot. I always leave feeling calm and recharged.

Which one of these three will you try first?

There are many, many smart ways to counteract the harmful effects of EMFs, and I’m working up a full-length guide for you.

It’s best to focus on 1-3 actions at a time for the biggest long-term impact.

Grab a salt lamp, a beeswax candle, OR take a barefoot walk in the grass to start.

After you do it, come back and leave a comment telling me what you did or didn’t notice.

These tools have been so life-changing for me, and I’m psyched to have a platform to share them with you.

Thank you so much for reading!

Photo: Francesco Sapienza