Earlier in March (6th and 7th), the country recognized a National Day of Unplugging (yes, this is a thing)! There are many reasons to unplug: get some quality time with your loved ones, work on (or finish!) a project you’ve been delaying, or just detox from screens. It’s important to have healthy habits around how you use technology so that you are in control of your screen time, and not the other way around. Don’t get me wrong, technology is amazing, especially when it connects us, drives innovation, creates opportunities, and keeps us on track. But in today’s world of never-ending scrolling, it feels like it is getting more and more difficult to step away from the device. And, it’s not healthy for our brains or our bodies. Research shows that our average attention span has dropped from 12 to 8 seconds over the last 10 years. Goldfish have an attention span of 5 seconds. Gulp. The American Psychological Association research found that 1 in 5 people say technology or the apps or programs they access on tech devices cause stress. And have you heard of “text neck”? Yes, that’s a thing. Kids are developing serious neck problems from the way they hold their head while looking down at their phones. And the stress mentioned earlier is known to increase blood pressure. It’s just not healthy. Now is a better time than ever to unplug. The country is more or less in a nation-wide self-quarantine, many companies are implementing work-from-home options where possible, and schools are going online. Sure, this requires screen time. But, it’s important to unplug whenever possible to maintain a healthy balance and keep your stress levels in check. For the rest of March, we can extend the national day of unplugging for as long as we’re in quarantine or until summer or just as a healthy new habit. Here are a few ways to unplug:
  • Turn OFF push notifications
  • Put your phones away during meals
  • Make your bedroom or other areas of your house tech-free zones
  • Spring clean your apps
  • Have a competition with family members on who has the least amount of screen time (winner picks game for game night or what you’re having for dinner)
  • Set goals or tasks for yourself before you access your device
  • Protect your body
If you are having problems with your neck, back, hands, wrists, thumbs, stress, or anxiety, call me and let’s work out an action plan to make sure you are on a path to wellness. RuppMassage is safe: the client is the only person in the office. Use this time for massage and far infrared sauna therapies.