Digital Wellbeing

Students and parents are often talking about the high impact of excessive screen time, and wondering how to care for their mental health with technology hygiene. More and more, we have to be connected to devices for instruction and work, but how do we also create spaces of quiet, connection, and non-technology?? Our devices should be used to forward our goals, activities, values and intentions in life.

One of the most concise resources is this TIP SHEET above.

Articles: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation, Jean Twenge, The Atlantic, August 2017

Resources: HumaneTech - videos for students, parents and educators

Apps: Screen Time on Apple iOS and Action Dash on Android

Social Media Obsession is on the rise, with 30% of social media users accumulating 15 hours or more on their devices each week (Source: https://adaa.org/social-media-obsession). Families can make choices about devices and app usage that can support each members' digital well-being.

Some suggestions:

• Ensure that phones are not bedside. Have them charge in the kitchen or powered off in parent/guardians' room.
• Create a profile with one of the above apps and limit screentime on social media applications
• Have a sabbatical, or day (or a few hours even, to start) off, for the whole family. Leave phones at home while you go to a museum, game, hike, or other event.
• Create a 'focus-mode' that prevents apps like SnapChat, Instagram, Facebook, etc which might distract you during school or homework times.