During my vacation a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of the benefits of unplugging and enjoying activities that don’t include the Internet.
I spent a majority of my time reading the fifth Harry Potter book, and playing games with my friends.
While I did have my phone for the majority of the visit, I didn’t find myself reaching for it quite as often as I normally do. We went out to enjoy a bonfire, though the weather cut that time a little short, and played a number of rounds of charades. (We cheated a little by using our phones for ideas, but otherwise most people forgot about them.)
We also played a few card games I’d never heard of before, and I didn’t even notice just how long we were engrossed in them until someone mentioned the time.
While sharing what I did on my holidays at work, I was struck by how much of the time I went without my phone in my hand and just enjoyed the people around me. It reminded me of when I used to spend hours playing board games with my brothers, and how much fun it was.
While studies have shown screen time negatively affects children and should be monitored, I wonder if adults should limit themselves where possible?
For my job, I spend a long time on computers and my phone. Normally when I’m finished work for the day, my eyes are very tired and I need a break. I just find it mentally draining some days, and need the time away from technology to reset for the day.
I noticed I felt quite different on the days where I spent a majority of the time reading my book, going out for a walk, or just playing games with my friends. It wasn’t as difficult to fall asleep at night, and I wasn’t fighting a headache.
It made me realize it might be better for me to limit my screen time as much as I can, and turn to other means of entertainment. Instead of turning to a movie or show during my downtime, maybe I should read another chapter or go for a quick walk.
If I found ways to entertain myself when I was a kid with limited access to a computer (we had dial-up for quite a while), why can’t I do so now as an adult?
Although I spend a lot of time online during my workday, I still find myself reaching for my laptop or phone during my downtime to relax. But, it would probably be a lot better for me to do an activity outside and enjoy what little bit of the summer we have left.