disconnect to reconnect
How often to do you reach for your phone? Do you find yourself aimlessly scrolling through social media pages, despite having seen the posts several times already? Do you fill your spare time with technology-based activities? How often are you on your phone while in a social setting?
Technology and the internet are very much a part of our day-to-day lives, and even more so since COVID-19. Technology and the internet provide us with immediate access to information and resources, and convenience. We use the internet for a range of tasks including emailing, watching videos, listening to music, banking, shopping, accessing the news, social media and connecting. There are so many amazing things about technology and the internet, but – like food – everything in moderation. Too much tech time can have negative impacts on both physical and mental health. For families, too much tech time for both parents and children can impact family functioning. For children, areas that can be negatively impacted include weight and diet, motor and cognitive development, social and psychological wellbeing, emotion regulation, family functioning, behaviour and sleep.
So what can you do?
- Be present in the moment. Whether it’s with your friends, family, children or partner. Put your phone down. Consider if a call or message you receive is something you MUST attend to straight away. If it can wait, leave it and tend to it later. If able, implement a “no phones/tech at the table rule.”
- Save the conversation by text message and have it in person instead! Make a time with others to meet up in person and catch up.
- Turn off notifications for your social media apps. This helps to reduce pressure to check your phone all the time. You can always catch up later!
- Monitor and limit your phone (and tech!) use. Allocate a time for checking your phone or replying to messages.
- For some specific ideas for our children – check out the infographic below!
If you or someone you know are struggling with the impacts of tech time, contact our team at Minding Family Townsville (07) 47238221 to find out how we can provide further support or to discuss pathways for referral.
The infographic below contains further strategies specific to support children. For more information and advice around technology use, especially for parents, check out esafety.gov.au.
