Hey, you out there! You on your iPhone/iPad/internet! Oh, yes, I realize you are reading this because I’ve sent it to your email inbox. And I acknowledge that since I’m talking about less internet connection the irony abounds! But bear with me; there’s a method to my madness. I’m thinking these suggestions can give you a bit more impetus to choose “walk outside,” or “meditate,” or “work out,” or even “sing”— all activities known to calm the wild beast within.
After a full year of it, we all know—regrettably—that screen time in the Time of Covid can be crazy. Perhaps you have had to work on line (I do now myself; I just bought some glasses to help with screen glare). Or maybe social media is part of staying connected for you in this seemingly less-connected world. Certainly face-to-face engagement is nearly impossible for all of us, unless outside, masked-up, and six feet apart! Blessings to all the parents working with teens and younger kids on schoolwork during this time. But that said, teens are averaging 7.5 hours a day on a screen. Throw in TV time and kids and some adults are up to 11 hours of screen time per day. OMG.!
If you’ve been wanting to reduce your attention to all the screens in your life, here are some hints on how to go about it:
- First, figure out how much you really are on a device—and own that reality! Take a couple of days and track it.Your iPhone has a way to do that for you, by the way. “Forest” and “Moment” are two popular apps used to help track screen time. (Again, note the irony of this hint, but it’s helpful.)
- Once you know your time involved, you’ll perhaps become more aware of how often you automatically pick up your phone or log in to another device without a specific reason. How many times a day do you pick up your iPhone? 10? 50? 100 times? C’mon, we all do it!Being mindful of this habit is a good start.
- Establish phone-free spaces. When I realized my iPhone was next to me as I slept, I thought “how did I survive before cell phones?” Dedicate a specific room in your home or in your car or during mealtime as blocks of time and space to keep devices away. Practice taking walks without your phone, keeping in mind your safety.
- Basic rules—Don’t eat in front of a screen (that’s hard) or keep your phone next to your bed.
- Stand up often during the day, either for work or reading breaks, (use your phone for alarms to remind you to stand), or get a stand-up desk. Uninterrupted sitting in front of a screen can be mind numbing; and it’s also just not a great thing for your back.
- Find an outlet. Join a new group: hiking or needlepoint or painting or letter writing are just a few examples. The new activity will help break the old patterns of dependency on your devices.
Denise’s
2 Cents:
Yes, I am actually old enough to say that I predate the internet and cellphone era. But now I have screens in my life—actually two or three. I realize life has become easier in some ways because of all the technological advances. It can be a slow boil, though; before you know it, sitting and staring and endless finger stroking can become the norm. Ask yourself honestly how much you sit during the day. How much you move during the day. It’s more or less the same thing, but being aware should get you going. Another thing to think about: how many real live people do you talk with regularly? Has reliance on the internet interfered with your usual ability to communicate?
As I’ve mentioned before, awareness is key to fitness. Discovering, then acknowledging, the reality of your screen time can be one wide doorway into a more engaged life, even during this very tough time.