Episode 008: 10 Ways to Cut Down Your Screen Time

In this episode, we chat about the elephant in the room: screen time. We talk everything from the addictive nature of it to its physical and mental effects to 10 ways to reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling vs. living.

Let’s get back to basics and fill our time with things that fill our souls. Who’s with me?!

Ah, less screen time. It’s the elephant in the room. With screen time apps becoming all the rage and the focus on how too much screen time affects your health, you know you should put limits on screen time and create a better routine. But why-is-it-so-hard?

It’s true: screen time can actually be addictive.

According to results from a study by Dimitri Christakis, a psychology professor at the University of Washington and director of a children’s center at Seattle Children’s Hospital, certain types of fast-paced media might be truly addictive. Hellooo, social media!

And the Center for Humane Technology says social media sites know what they’re doing when it comes to using “tech trickery” like artificial intelligence-driven news feeds, notifications, and autoplaying videos. The group is quoted as saying: “These are not neutral products, they are part of a system designed to addict us.”

So how does screen time affect our health?

From physical effects like an increase in a sedentary lifestyle and interrupted sleep cycles to mental effects like anxiety, depression, social isolation, and social comparison, screen time can take a serious toll on our overall health.

10 ideas for you to cut down your screen time

Here are the first 3 ideas from the podcast — tune in on iTunes for the rest!

Use the tools available to you — there are lots of apps out there and settings like “do not disturb” that help balance screen time.
Create a sanctuary for your bedroom — the best way to get rid of the temptation to look at your phone while in bed is to get rid of the temptation entirely.
Prioritize exercise — according to Psychology Today, while stress and screen-time break down brain connectivity, exercise builds connections and actually makes the brain bigger, which helps fight depression, poor focus, insomnia, addiction, and anxiety.

Screen time studies & other resources

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