Tips For Minimizing Unnecessary Screen Time
Have you ever laid in bed right on time (YES! Go you!), picked up your phone to set the alarm for tomorrow morning, and then suddenly realized that an hour had gone by while you continued to tap, type, and scroll?! If you’ve experienced this (or something similar), you are not alone! You know that it can be both mind-boggling and frustrating to see how much time slipped away while you were glued to a screen.
It’s pretty safe to say that many recognize a need to minimize unnecessary screen time for both themselves and their families. Making progress in this area is less a matter of sheer willpower, and is more a matter of setting up our space and structuring our lives in such a way that supports a more effective use of technology!
In this post, we’ll share a few practical tips that will automatically lead to minimizing unnecessary screen time that eats away at time that could be otherwise used more effefffctively. By implementing one or more of these simple adjustments, we hope you will find a greater ability to be present with your families, accomplish your goals, and (maybe?!) get a little more sleep.
Choose a New Charging Location
If your phone currently charges on your bedside table, it’s time to make a change! Having your phone far enough away from your sleeping space will allow you to get to bed quicker at night, and to wake up refreshed and focused in the morning. Try placing your phone charger across the room on a dresser, or in another room entirely. You might even consider buying an old-school alarm clock, so the first thing you see in the morning is what YOU choose to see. Rolling over to view your notifications first thing when you wake up can quickly determine the tone of your morning, or potentially distract you from your most important goals. What would you like to fill your mind with first thing in the morning - distraction free? Perhaps it’s a book, written affirmations, your planner, or your gym clothes!
Assess The Central Focus of Your Living Space
Take a quick peek at the main gathering areas in your home. Does the TV create a central point around which everything else revolves? Do your couches face the TV, or do they face one another? Does your space lend itself to family interaction? If your TV is currently the centerpiece of your family room, consider rearranging! Perhaps your TV will now be in a hutch with closable doors! Perhaps your TV will be replaced with a bookshelf or a beautiful piece of art! If the idea of getting rid of or relocating your TV sounds a bit extreme, take a little inventory! How many screens do you have in your home? Ask yourself what is truly necessary for work, education, and meaningful family entertainment. We think you’ll find that there is a good deal of eliminating that can be done to minimize unnecessary screen time.
Store Smaller Electronics Out of Sight
Does your laptop or your child’s iPad have a “place” that it is kept, or does it often live on the kitchen table, on the couch, or in the playroom? When not in use, have a specific place where each item is stored out of sight - in a case, within a drawer/cupboard, or on a high shelf. Creating space between yourself and your electronics, when not in use, will invite more focus and presence in your day! Setting this standard with children will also promote healthy boundaries and encourage more creative play and exploration.
Utilize Screen Time Management Options and Passwords
There are so many great options on our devices for managing screen time preferences. Explore and use them to fit your needs! If you notice trends of social media use during homework time, or if you tend to “wind down” to YouTube videos late into the night, set reasonable limits on those apps that are not serving you! You might consider a general time limit per day, or turn off access to certain apps at certain times of the day! You might consider using a friend or loved one as an accountability partner who creates a password that you do not know. This password would need to be entered to override the preferences you set. Allowing a trusted support person to play that role may help you to avoid those time pitfalls that you are hoping to skirt.
What boundaries work for you and your family surrounding screen time? Share in the comments below!