Unplug for the Sake of Your Family

Enough, already! Turn off that…

Sound familiar? If you have teenagers, it probably does. Just the other day I had to have a discussion with my son, who is a high school sophomore, about why unplugging now and then is actually good for him.

Are you aware that “screen time,” (and the light from screens) can adversely affect your family’s sleep by reducing melatonin levels, which increases the difficulty of falling and staying asleep? Screen time is also associated in scientific studies with increased anxiety and depression. We are all busy enough, aren’t we? Can we really afford less sleep and more anxiety? For the sake of your family, try unplugging now and then! Here’s how…

Digital Free Spaces or Times

It’s not always easy for even the best-behaved teenagers to set limits for themselves (I would include some adults in this as well.) So I suggest setting up certain places in the house that are tech-free zones, like the dinner table or bedrooms. During the week we have dinner together as a family, even it means eating at 9:00 pm. It is our rule that no technology is allowed on during dinner. It is our time to talk as a family. Another option is to limit screen time to certain hours of the day. I would also suggest making it a regular practice to turn off all technology at least 30 minutes (preferably an hour) before bedtime– and leave it off!

Tech-Free Days/Events

Go tech-free for special events. Sometimes this is the easiest place to begin because of the expected fun of a special activity. We do this when we are getting together with extended family. Our time together usually involves a fun activity, and my family knows that our focus when we are all together is to actually have conversations, not be on their devices. If you’re an outdoorsy family, a lot of the places you would want to visit have limited or zero Wi-Fi service, so going tech-free would work out perfectly!

Make Tech a Tool for Family Low-Tech Activities

Let me be clear, I am not suggesting you rebel and go anti-technology. Just the thought of being able to have tiny computers in the palms of our hands is pretty amazing. But why not use all that power to benefit the family, like finding a really fun, messy science project to do, or a recipe that makes the whole family drool? I am not an expert with Pinterest, but I was told it is a good place to start your quest. If you’re stuck on some project in your house or trying to figure out how to teach your kids to do some minor repairs on a car, YouTube is an amazing resource! You’ll find helpful videos on almost anything, and the cool thing is that you are using technology to do something positive together – see the difference.

Go Old School

I see how technologically dependent our society has become (especially our kids) and I often find myself thinking how thankful I am to have grown up in a different time, when we didn’t have everything we have today. I spent a lot of time outdoors playing and going from one activity to another. So here is my challenge to you, why not try going “old school” now and then? Spend some time each week (maybe an hour or two) doing things a little differently.

For example, when most parents assign chores, they have family members do theirs separately. Try doing dishes together with a family member, and spend that time having a discussion with them. Some of my best memories with my mom were the conversations we had when we did dishes together. Also, taking walks as a family can be very therapeutic. It is hard to walk and operate devices at the same time, so it is a great tech-free activity and a great opportunity to have a conversation. Lastly, when was the last time you had a family game night? I didn’t grow up playing a lot of family games but after marrying someone who did, I was pleasantly surprised to learn how fun they can be. And, you know what? I don’t remember anyone trying to go out of their way to look at their screens. What I do remember is a lot of laughter. Now isn’t that worth unplugging for now and then?

Give unplugging a shot. Not only will it benefit your family’s health, it will give you time back to strengthen relationships.

Your Virtual Life Mentor,

Doug

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