Unplugging: Scheduling Screen Free Days
I’ll be honest, when I check the reports on my phone that measure my usage* I’m often astounded by how the minutes and hours have added up, reading articles, checking social media and playing Wordle — and that’s not even counting work on my computer, Zoom sessions with clients and TV in the evening! It’s not hard to believe that a recent 2021 study found that Americans tend to spend more than seven hours a day in front of screens!
While the internet can enrich our lives and make many things more convenient than in the past, there is a dark side: Studies tell us that more screen time makes us less healthy, less happy and less empathetic. Not to mention that brain scans have shown that spending time on screens activates the same neural loops as narcotics! To learn more check out this article about the dangers of blue light exposure from screens.
Which is why a National Day of Unplugging, which happened on March 4th, seems like a great idea. Taking a whole day to unplug from the screens in your life can be like a reboot for your brain. Here’s just a few benefits you might notice off the bat:
Reduced stress and anxiety: Scrolling and searching while at the same time being bombarded with multiple distractions from advertisements to news alerts is stress-inducing! Turning it all off will allow your mind to slow down and be in the present moment.
More time for things that bring you joy: Choose an activity that doesn’t involve a screen, like calling a friend, cooking, crafting or reading, or doing something outdoors!
More mindfulness: Disconnecting from devices means less fragmented moments throughout the day. Your attention, focus and awareness will grow, and you might find your gratitude and appreciation for people and the world around you increases!
If you enjoyed your day of unplugging, you might decide you want to do it more often. This Forbes article, 8 Reasons Why You Should Unplug One Day a Week, makes some good arguments while introducing Tiffany Shlain’s book 24/6: The Power of Unplugging, which advocates taking a tech break for one day every week.
What steps have you taken to limit your screen use? What effects did it have?
*in “Settings”, either under “Screentime” for an iPhone, or “Digital Wellbeing” on an Android.
