Too Much Screen Time?
Did you know that the average person looks down at their phone more than 150 times a day? Broken down that equates to once every 6.5 minutes.
I will be the first to admit that I feel lost without my smartphone. However, I’ve been thinking about the need to put our phones down for sometime. As much as I love the technology of my phone, my ipad, my laptop, and the computer in my car (that connects to the internet), I sometimes want to unplug and disconnect from the world.
When Emily announced the July challenge of 12 Months of Bliss, which involved making a list of habits and choosing one that needed to go, I already knew what I wanted to focus on. For months, I have felt I have spent too much time looking at a screen whether it be my phone, ipad or laptop.
Some of my habits included: looking at my phone (which is charged next to my bed) almost always first thing in the morning, writing blog posts after 9:00 PM on a regular basis and using my downtime before bed to view Instagram and Pinterest. The screen of an electronic device is not living; yet I sometimes feel like I am always looking at a screen.
The screen of my electronic devices are used
- to take photographs
- to provide my music during my workouts
- to keep me connected to my physician and nurse when I am at the hospital
- for communication via texts with my friends
- for all my documentation with patients and clients
- research and grading of papers
- writing blog post and creating handouts for clients
- for social media connections
How connected are you to your screen? Are you able to take time away and put it down? I would love to hear the good and the bad.
If you are new to 12 Months of Bliss, each month Emily will post a new challenge which encourages you to explore yourself and begin a journey. The challenge began last month with mailing personal notes and cards to someone on a weekly basis. Although I did not mail cards weekly this month, I have mailed multiple cards throughout July. My goal is continue each challenges as I move throughout the year. It’s not too late to begin the challenge!
Sheryl, this could be said of so many of us in this day and age. When I look back when phones, screens, etc. weren’t around it amazes me how far we’ve come, yet so little actual conversations are taking place now. I believe it is all in balance and prioritizing. Emily is really going to be shaking us up.
It’s very sad that many people do not know how to communicate face to face anymore. I have students in classes who freak out if they can’t see their phones! Thanks for stopping by Michelle!
This is what i worked on too! Such great tips!
Thanks Nina – heading over to read your post!
I didn’t blog about it today.
Yes!! I feel this. I like to write and brainstorm on my computer (instead of on paper), I enjoy taking pictures, and I like to read e-books! But man, so much screen time.
I’m thinking of returning to writing some of my posts on paper as a way of stepping away from the screen. That way I can simply copy into the post rather than stare at it!
Oh man, I am guilty of this!! This was one of the things in my “snowball,” after giving up TV. I ended up deleting FB from my phone and taking a summer break from my personal FB altogether. So, so nice. I think giving myself certain times to look at IG or Twitter is also helping. Love your recap, Sheryl 🙂 Looking forward to next month!
Thanks Emily – it is somewhat better now that I only allow myself certain times to look at social media. However, there are so many other things that I need the screen for. Seriously thinking about handwriting some of my posts rather than going straight to the computer.
Guilty! Doesn’t help I work on a computer all day. Couple that with writing a book + blogging and I’m always staring at a screen!!!
I know you understand me when I say there are so many things I want to do – and they all involve looking at a screen! We both just have to make sure we schedule time away.
I am guilty of this too. This too is something I need to work on. My smartphone is already an extension of myself, it is basically almost part of my body. I never leave home without it, I never go anywhere without even. It is an awful habit. Just recently we’ve set dinning rules which includes no phone on the table. At first this was a bit of a challenge, but later we’ve gotten used to it. Without smartphones on the table, the food seems to taste better and the company seems to be more phone, the quality of the overall eating together is great.
I so agree with you! When you don’t have the phone in front of you, you are able to appreciate your food and the company. Nothing is so important that it can’t wait until you are finished having your meal. I think it’s just become a very bad habit for most of us.
Oh my gosh I totally missed the challenge in July (I’m not sure what happened but that month just FLEW by), but I think I would have picked this habit too. I am soooo guilty of too much screen time and I’ve tried certain things to unplug. I’m successful for a short time but then either forget or give up… thanks for the reminder/inspiration to keep trying!
I’m still struggling with turning the computer off at night. I’m a little worried about how it will all work out when I have to start teaching again and all of the papers are electronic! We are all works in progress.