Is it time to power down?
Screens have become so omnipresent in our lives that internet addiction is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a mental health condition.
Here are our top tips for switching off.
Resist FOMO – It’s tempting to respond immediately to every ding or vibration alert from your phone but checking emails at three set times each day is enough.
Communicate – Let people know about your plans to be offline at set times during the day.
Out of sight, out of mind – Turn off your phone, or at least temporarily silence your email and social media alerts, and then get your devices out of your line of sight until you’re ready to reconnect.
Get moving – A quick walk around the block or a five-minute stretch will relax those muscles in your neck, back, and shoulders that suffer when you’re hunched over a keyboard.
Rest your eyes – To relax and refresh your eyes, gaze into the distance every 20 minutes for 20 seconds.
Create a safe (tech-free) space to rest – Sleep is a time for your body and mind to rest and repair from the day’s stressors, so make your bedroom screen-free.