The proliferation of digital technologies has fundamentally reshaped our daily lives, embedding digital interaction into nearly every facet of work, education, and social connection. However, the constant connectivity afforded by these digital technologies has led to a pervasive blurring of boundaries, resulting in a significant challenge to maintaining a healthy "digital balance" – a healthy equilibrium between online digital engagement and offline time, emphasising the management of digital device usage to enhance both mental and physical health. This paper aims to explore the critical issue of student well-being in the context of increasing digital immersion, highlighting the growing need for "digital balance" in contemporary society. It examines the potential impacts of pervasive technology use on students' mental, social, and academic lives, providing practical recommendations for both students and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The paper argues for a more conscious and balanced approach to digital engagement to mitigate negative consequences and promote overall student well-being in the digital age. Using a systematic review, the authors searched and analysed relevant literature, assessing the impact of excessive digital engagement on well-being and learning. Papers indexed in the Scopus database between 2014 and 2024 were reviewed. A sample of 47 articles met the inclusion criteria of this review. The preliminary findings indicate that the shift to online learning environments and the lack of digital balance often results in decreased social skills, issues of isolation, lack of time management, difficulties with self-regulation and heightened screen time, potentially increasing stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Based on these preliminary findings, it is recommended that students adopt conscious digital habits to ensure well-being while HEIs implement policies and best practices that promote digital balance and student well-being.

Keywords: Digital Technologies, Digital Balance, Student Well-being, Online Learning Environments, Higher Education Institutions.