Put the Phone Down: Live Life

How often do you check Facebook? Twitter? Instagram?

How much time do you spend on Pinterest?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this summer, it’s this –

Put the phone down.

I’ve caught myself too often scrolling through timelines and feeds aimlessly, without any thought or reason. No real purpose other than to blankly stare at the screen.

Screens and mobile devices have become replacements for real human interaction and thought processing. When was the last time you were in a line-up or waiting at a doctor’s office without looking at a screen?

Kudos to you if you’ve picked up a magazine or book, or even spaced out looking at the ceiling or daydreaming.

I can admit I’ve been guilty of spending too much time looking at a screen. I agree with this article, Parents are the ones who need limits on screen time.

We walk about our kids and yet parents are the ones who need limits on screen time.

How ironic that we are setting limits on our children’s screen time while we ourselves are not setting the example. Kids (over 3) should only have screen time less than two hours a day. So once you’re over 18, it’s free reign? There are studies that show how screens and social media affect brain activity – and that it can damage the brain.

Damage.

Yes we know that children can suffer from sensory overload and a hyper-aroused nervous system because of screens – so why wouldn’t it be same for adults. Impaired cognitive functioning – this is concerning!

Do as I say not as I do?

Other than the physical effects of too much screen time, what about the psychological effects when parents are glued to their devices?

How often are we shushing our kids because we’re watching a YouTube video or sending out that last Tweet or email?

Kids want our attention – they want us to be living in that present moment – not staring at our screens and missing out on important moments.

Limit your time too, mom and dad.

Need a little help putting the phone away? Here are some tips to help.

Put Down the Phone: 5 Tips to Help

1. Check your social media networks once or twice a day – no more.

2. Give yourself a time limit – 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the evening. I’m talking pleasure, not business-related.

3. When your kids are home, it’s “no device zone” from _ pm to __pm. Make up rules for days of the week and times that you all can live with.

4. Make an effort to enjoy other interactive activities with your kids; sports, board games, wrestling – activities that don’t require video games or screens. Ban screens from long drives in the country, for example.

5. Next time you’re doing something with your kids, leave the phone at home or in the car. Refrain from taking it out of your purse.  Focus on engaging with your kids in real time; they deserve your undivided attention.