Could you cut the cord on screen-based entertainment for a week? Seven days is not a long time, but for some, it could feel like a lifetime. Imagine one week of doing something other than looking at a device for entertainment. During Screen-Free Week 2019, over 150,000 people did just that and rediscovered the joys of living without interacting with ad supported screens (Screen-Free Week, 2019). By simply unplugging from our devices for one week, we too can also rediscover the joys of living, which in turn can improve sleep, overall health, creativity, and social engagement.
Did you know that sleep is hindered by using a smart phone or tablet within hours of going to bed? Let’s face it, sleep is important. It powers our brains and allows our body to properly recover from the previous day’s activities. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that grown adults between the ages 18 to 64 get at between 7-9 hours of sleep per night, while adults over 65 get between seven to eight hours (NSF, 2015). Research shows that checking our screens before bed can spoil a good night of sleep. This is due to the impact of “blue light” which can create a physiological effect that interferes with melatonin production. This chain of effects can delay the onset of sleep and leave us feeling drowsy the next day (Gomes, 2018). Imagine, just one week free of screens would leave us feeling alert and refreshed from sound sleep.
When we enable our bodies to get enough sleep, we also facilitate our mind to reset which allows us to make healthier choices. Did you know that the average device user spends over four hours a day on their phone (Curtain, 2018)? By cutting this time out of our lives, we certainly can find time to do something else. Instead of watching an hour of YouTube over lunch, perhaps we can replace that time with a walk or jog. This certainly would be healthier. Excessive screen time also hinders our ability to make healthy choices. The more time we spend on our devices, the more likely we are to eat junk food. Let’s ditch the ads for one week and eat healthier foods such as salads, proteins, unprocessed food. Imagine how good it would feel to eat healthier for one week.
Want to be more creative? Let’s learn to accept boredom and allow our brain to function without distraction. In the Ted Talk, “How boredom can lead you to your most brilliant ideas,” Manoush Zomorodi discusses her research on how screen deficiency enables creativity (Zomorodi, 2017).” From her own experience and research, Zomorodi concludes that simple acts of folding laundry, washing dishes, walking or doing nothing in particular allows for our brain neural networks to connect ideas and solve problems. When we live a life of distraction and multi-tasking, we lose our ability to focus which can stifle our creativity. Being bored can really help us find new ways to be creative. The downtime from technology alone can help adjust and clarify our thoughts which in turn will bring about more creative ideas.
For one week, instead of looking at your phone while riding the el train or Metra, look at the people on the train. Strike up a conversation with your seat partner, except if you are in the quiet car of course. People watching and conversing with random strangers is far more fulfilling than scrolling through a social media feed. In fact, some of my personal favorite memories involve speaking with strangers on a packed subway train or striking up a conversation while sitting at a communal table over a bowl of hot Chow Mein. I never felt alone in New York City, there was always someone receptive to talk to. Based on research, it turns out that people are happier when they engage in conversations with strangers. According to Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, “In some cases, people don’t seem to be social enough for their well-being. They think that sitting in solitude will be more pleasant than engaging in conversation, when in fact, the opposite is true (Pappas, 2014). Let’s put down our phones for one week and start engaging. This could become a fun social habit that in turn makes our lives more delightful.
Research clearly shows that by unplugging from screen-based entertainment we can achieve better sleep habits, a healthier lifestyle, enhance creativity, and become more socially engaged in the world. Imagine the impactful benefits this would deliver into your life and the world around you. Rediscovering the joys of living by unplugging from our devices for one week is not hard, over 150,000 people did it last year during Screen-Free Week. I believe we can do it too.
References
Gomes, Mary. (2018, April 25). Five Reasons to Take a Break from Screens. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_reasons_to_take_a_break_from_screens
Screen Free Week. Retrieved from https://www.screenfree.org/
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) (2015, February 2). National Sleep Foundation Recommends New Sleep Times. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times
Curtain, Melanie. (2018, October 30). Are You On Your Phone Too Much? The Average Person Spends This Many Hours On It Every Day. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/are-you-on-your-phone-too-much-average-person-spends-this-many-hours-on-it-every-day.html
Zomorodi, Manoush. (2017, April). How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/manoush_zomorodi_how_boredom_can_lead_to_your_most_brilliant_ideas
Pappas, Stephanie. (2014, February 13). Why You Should Put Down Your Phone and Talk to Strangers. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/43375-why-talk-to-strangers.html
