From television to tablets, DVD to MP3, Smartphones to social networking and every piece of tech in between, we live in a remote controlled gadget-filled world connected by mind-bending machines that fulfil our every lifestyle and entertainment need. However, if computer games, instant messaging and surfing the Web are all taking too much of your time at home then perhaps its time for a little family tech detox!
Have you ever seen a family all sitting down together but seemingly in silence as they tap, touch and slide on the latest digital device, barely looking up? You probably have, it’s getting to be a somewhat familiar scene. Whether it’s parents trying to catch up with work from the office or kids posting messages on Facebook and downloading a new apps, there seems to be no turning off the technology. So are we quickly heading to a state of continuous connectivity.
What’s wrong with technology?
Nothing! It’s great! However, though some studies show that there’s no link between screen time and kids being active, this doesn’t mean that families can’t become disconnected because of their love of all things tech. A healthy lifestyle is not just about working out and keeping fit, but healthy pursuits as a family and good communication as well. As with all habits, there’s nothing wrong with taking a step back and a break from technology, to allow new ideas of how to enjoy your time together as a family to come to the fore.
Don’t reminisce about the ‘good-old-days’
While adults may look back with rose-tinted glasses on a childhood filled with hopping and skipping through dry leaves, without a cell phone in sight – because they hadn’t been invented yet! – nostalgia can be a real bore. Yes, perhaps the candy did taste better back when, but as a parent don’t make the mistake of trying to coax the family to try a tech detox by banging on about times gone by. You can’t turn back time but you can instead embrace the realities of the modern world while injecting some old-fashioned values about spending quality time together as a family.
Tech detox how-to guide
It’s best to not to approach a detox by laying down the law and making everybody miserable in the process. The best detox is one where you can appreciate the plus points. Here’s our how-to guide for tech detox. Hopefully we’ll give you and the rest of the family the incentive to get out of the house and get active:
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Make sure everybody’s in it together: Unless you are all committed as a family and individually your tech detox pledge simply won’t work. Instead, you may end up feeling frustrated and undermined. Talk about what you’re doing to do to cut down on tech time.
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Discuss the benefits: You might be sick of people grabbing their phones at dinner time to answer an SMS but what does everybody else think? Focus your pre-detox chat on that advantages that could spring from going without or limiting technology.
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Set the rules: You can make this a fun activity where everyone can state their opinions and be heard. There are no hard and fast rules but a few ideas might include:
*No technology downstairs or no technology upstairs
*No technology after a certain time of night or only tech devices allowed at certain hours.
*No ringing phones, only silent and vibrate or switched off profiles during mealtimes.
*No television or computer games on weeknights.
*No sending of work emails at home and at the weekends.
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Provide positive reinforcements and rewards: Decide on some healthy activities to do instead of screen time.Set dates for days out or fitness-related exercise and sports, that everybody can enjoy. Looking forward to an active and fun time together can keep you strong when you’re tempted to turn on tech.
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Don’t automatically switch back to old ways: After any change it can be helpful to look at what you would like to stay the same and what you would like to go back to as it was before. Will you use quite as much technology and for as much of the time?
Need inspiration with activities to keep you busy during your detox? Before you log-off our site get in touch and get ready for a new perspective on life!
