Everyone needs a breather every now and again. You’re probably leaning back right now thinking “I could really use a break.” We take breaks from school and work, but what about taking a break from technology? It’s gotten to the point that we use technology for our breaks—we scroll through Instagram or watch TV thinking it will give us the relaxation we’re looking for, but what if technology isn’t giving our brains the rest they need?
Benefits of Taking a Break From Technology
Let’s look into a few reasons to take a break from technology.
Being Present
Technology can be distracting. Have you ever been in a meeting or conversation with someone who constantly checks their phone? It can be frustrating to say the least, but we’re all guilty of getting lost in technology. Taking a tech break can help you be more present in your day-to-day life. By taking a break from technology you can focus more on a task at hand, and give your loved ones the attention they deserve.
Making Connections
We all have that family member who sits on their phone at every gathering instead of engaging in conversation. When technology takes up all your time, your relationships can be negatively affected. Technology can keep you from having meaningful conversations and spending quality time with friends and family. Taking a technology break gives you the chance to improve your relationships and make new connections. Who knows—you might make some new friends by putting your phone down while standing in line at the store.
Better Sleep
Don’t tell me you’ve never lost sleep scrolling through Instagram or binge watching your favorite show (my personal favorite is The Golden Girls). Technology can keep you more alert and awake, causing you to lose sleep. By taking a break from technology, you can help get your sleep pattern back to normal (well, as normal as it can be when you’re a parent). Consider establishing a place for the whole family to put their devices at least 30 minutes or more before bedtime to help improve sleep quality for you and your kids.
Breaking Bad Habits
Ever find yourself checking your phone for no reason? Or mindlessly scrolling through social media when you have a million other things to get done? It might be a good idea to take a longer break from technology. Though it’s hard to quit cold-turkey, taking a technology break can help you get your priorities back in line and help you establish healthy habits for when you decide to start using tech again. If you start to notice it becoming harder to control your tech use, take an extended break from technology to help you refocus on what’s important.
Being Productive
Tech use can greatly benefit us, however we sometimes allow it to hurt our productivity. If you’re struggling to get things done, you might benefit from taking a technology break. If you’re like me, you might be most distracted while you’re trying to use tech appropriately. Taking a break from technology can help you stay focused on the task at hand. If your kids have a hard time concentrating on school work, Troomi phones can also help them control their usage and take timed breaks from certain apps so they can use tech as a tool to reach their full potential.
How to Take a Break from Technology
Now that you know some of the reasons to take a break from technology, you might be wondering, “what does a tech break actually look like?” Realistically, technology breaks look different for everyone. For example, it might be easier for your kids to take a week-long break from tech, whereas you might only be able to take a break for a couple of hours because of work or other activities.
You can customize your tech break to fit your needs. If you struggle with wasting time on social media, delete your social media apps for a week, month, or for good. If you get easily distracted responding to texts or emails, download an app blocker that can help you stay focused for a few hours while you accomplish what you’re working on.
Once you’ve identified what your struggle is with tech, think about what your technology break should look like. Encourage your kids to do the same and consider taking a break from technology as a family. Discuss with your children what part of tech would be best to take a break from, be it TV, games, or social media. If you take it seriously, your whole family will experience the benefits of taking a break from technology.