2020 was the year when screen time simply soared. Our jobs, education and our social lives all moved online. And when lockdown was enforced, we turned even more to screen-based activities to fill all that newly freed-up time.
We advocate for a healthy digital-life balance and regular time away from screens, but, we have to admit, not all of the uses those extra screen hours were put to were bad.
In fact, we think this year has seen us collectively use our screens in a lot of very beneficial ways:
#1 Staying connected
This year we all began to dedicate much more time in our week to talk to our friends and family. In fact, many admit they have been talking to loved ones more regularly this year than ever before. As we all became more comfortable with Zoom, and finally had an incentive to download Skype, casually video-calling those close to us has become a large, and enjoyable, part of our lives.
#2 Entertainment
With theatres and cinemas shut, shows, films, and performances were all brought online. In the UK, the National Theatre’s ‘At Home’ project saw 16 past productions uploaded to YouTube for free, making theatre more accessible than ever before. And let’s not forget how many of us became regular attendees of all those virtual pub quizzes.
As we were forced to stay home, we had to use our screens for entertainment.
#3 Education
Whilst pub quizzes may not have been strictly educational, they weren’t the only form of learning our screens enabled. School and universities courses were moved online, mostly very successfully, as institutions found new ways to deliver education remotely, without compromising the quality. And if that wasn’t enough, more people spent time on educational apps; Duolingo saw an all-time usage high during the pandemic, as everyone decided to use all that spare time to finally try and learn another language.
Against all that good though, we have been aware of the bad, and downright ugly, screen habits that emerged in this 2020 Year of Screens.
#1 Doomscrolling
A combination of a natural urge to check the news with a lot of free time, led many of us to develop the bad habit of ‘doomscrolling‘ ie endlessly seeking out and scrolling through a torrent of negative news stories online. A non-stop diet of negative news has a really negative toll on our mental health. We hope this is a habit that we’re all going to manage to kick in 2021.
#2 Zoom fatigue and digital burnout
Several hours a day spent on Zoom or Teams calls, whether for work or education, took a toll on us. The constant staring at a screen is good for neither our physical or mental health, but was sometimes unavoidable as our world shifted online. Dry eyes and tech neck were some of the physical symptoms reported. And then there was the disorientation of not being able to read and interpret non-verbal signals on a screen, as efficiently as we can in real life. All those video calls were exhausting and we soon found ourselves burnt out.
#3 Social media usage
Inevitably this tear, our time spent on social media surged. Alongside it, the negative effects experienced by those addicted to social media intensified. Whilst adopted enthusiastically to decrease isolation, prolonged amounts of time spent on social platforms where toxic comparison culture flourishes, can really take a toll on our mental health.
In 2020 tech was a lifeline. We were able to attend the theatre from our sofa, follow art classes from our bedrooms, and finally persuade our grandparents to download Skype. In a rather isolating year, screens gave us the chance to stay connected. However, we may look back on this year as the year we finally realised that screens, efficient though they are, can’t ever really replace the warmth and depth of our real-world connections. Will we look back on 2020 as the year we reached peak screen, and the year we finally decided to kick all our bad tech habits for good? Here’s hoping.
So, after a year of excessive screen use and isolation, we’re gearing up to spend what is for many the most important time of the year, potentially away from loved ones again. We’re going to have to be even more mindful about our screen use than usual. Ideally, we would be experiencing a completely screen-free Christmas, but as many of us are away from family and friends, that might not possible. Instead, let’s focus on the best ways to connect, both digitally and in real life.
The joys of screens to connect us
Previously, we’ve always touted a need to log off on Christmas, to stop posting every second of your day and instead appreciate the people you are spending it with. However, with so many families physically separated, we’re advocating a very mindful screen-use this year instead. This year we have all thanked the Zoom gods at one point or another for the ability to communicate with those we can’t be with. Whether elderly or vulnerable family members, friends who live a little too far away to justify a socially-distanced walk, or even those that we haven’t seen in a while, we’ve all been able to keep up with loved ones through video calls through lockdowns. As we approach December 25th, there are plans being made up and down the country for time slots to call different sides of the family, or different friends who are spending Christmas alone this year. However, that doesn’t mean we should https://www.answeraddiction.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=625078&action=edit&swcfpc=1#edit_timestamplock ourselves away on video call after video call for the whole day.
Tip: Really enjoy and savour your video calls with family and friends. Don’t multi-screen by scrolling on your phone while you’re on the call., Give them your complete focus and enjoy your time with them on screen.
Be mindful of those we are with
You may be quarantined with your pet, the housemates that you’ve survived two lockdowns with, your family or a new bubble of those you haven’t been able to spend time with in a while. No matter how big or small your group, how familiar and irritating they may be, try to really appreciate their presence this year. Regardless of how many people you are celebrating with this year, take some time offline to really be with them. Don’t share every present/course on your Insta story, try not to stay in the mindset of working from home and check your emails, and most importantly stay away from a doom-scroll, guaranteed to ruin your mood. Talk to the people you are with: make a puzzle, play a game of charades, ask each other questions about how the year was for them – and celebrate.
Tip: Get everyone to put their devices away together for a specified period of time (maybe while you are eating, or opening presents, or go for a long walk together). Give yourselves the space to really enjoy and appreciate each other’s presence.
After this year, of all years, we should celebrate those we love. We’re still here, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of vaccines. So, take some time to enjoy the company of your loved ones, to bask in the annoyances and petty squabbles of the festive season, and try to switch off your phone. As much as you can, aim for a screen-free Christmas after your year online. Use your screens for life-enhancing connection, not mindless scrolling, this holiday.
Conspiracy theories have always circulated online, but this year has seen them manifest themselves particularly dramatically. From the attacks on UK 5G masts in Spring, to the refusal to wear masks on public transport, the dangerous effects of fake news have been made especially visible in 2020.
5G masts were targeted in Spring, as a conspiracy theory that they were spreading Coronavirus circulated.
Those following conspiracies online this year have increased startlingly. According to Concordia University researcher Marc-André Argentino, Facebook groups set up to spread conspiracies, linked to notorious conspiracy theory QAnon, saw an over 3000% increase in membership, within just two months from July this year.
The internet is a fantastically powerful tool to share information rapidly and widely, and of course, this is often abused. Social media especially facilitates the almost instantaneous sharing of stories and facts, true or not. We saw in this in the rise of the fake news phenomenon over the past few years. But why is it that people have become especially susceptible to it this year?
We all felt the state of anxiety the pandemic plunged us into this year. The confusion brought about by such an unprecedented event has left many eager to find alternative explanations for the events of the year. Combine this with the fact that most of us have spent much more time online this year (likely than ever before) and the result is we have all been exposed to a much bigger volume of conspiracy content than in prior years.
QAnon is a discredited far-right conspiracy theory alleging that high-profile global elites are part of a Satan-worshipping pedophile ring.
When followers of the discredited conspiracy theory QAnon really began to take off, FaceBook announced that it would be removing any content and groups related to it on its platform. Unfortunately this proved unsuccessful as a means of curbing the spread. QAnon groups continued to grow, and, most worryingly, The New York Times even found that Facebook algorithms were pointing certain users towards the groups.
For now, it’s is up to all of us to keep ourselves safe from fake news. How can we do this?
#1 Read before you share
Critical thinking is the most important step towards protecting ourselves from falling for conspiracy theories online. Our love for a constant stream of news has made us a little too trigger-happy when it comes to sharing information online. Before retweeting a headline, or sharing something to your story, it is vital that you give yourself time to investigate yourself whether you are sharing something which is true. Unfortunately, the majority of people don’t do this. Research from Columbia University found that 59% of links shared on social media are shared without ever being read.
#2 Fact check before sharing
When you do read the content, fact check before sharing. Data can be manipulated (sometimes, simply fabricated) to ‘sell’ a particular argument, many people simply share figures without crosschecking them. Look for reputable news sources to cross-check against. Where data is concerned, look for the source of the data in the news piece and go directly to view the data yourself.
#3 Analyse motivation
Always consider the motivations of the body or organisation publishing the information. What have they got to gain from this particularly story? Is it likely they are biased? Is there another side to the story they are not reporting? Analysing the motivation of everyone who publishes information online is a good habit to get into.
#4 Limit consumption
Finally, consider your news gathering habits online. It’s good to get your news from a variety of sources, but not to the point of doomscrolling. Being unable to log-off leaves you vulnerable to more sensationalist, often fake, news. Ensure that you have a balanced and healthy tech-life balance. This will keep things in perspective.
With coronavirus vaccines now on the horizon, there are growing worries that anti-vaxx conspiracy theories may cause them to be met with resistance. This could lead to a reduced take-up and a continuing spread of the virus. In a global health crisis, it’s more important than ever before that we are able to distinguish between reality and conspiracy online.
Working from home is tough for anyone and having to do it for 8+ months has had a massive impact on the productivity of the nation with 39% of people stating in June that they felt less productive working from home. We bet that has only risen in the following months, especially for parents. With home-schooling, work meetings, projects and housekeeping on our plates it is no wonder that parents are beginning to feel the strain. Earlier in the year we gave some tips for how to remain productive and a healthy digital balance whilst working from home, now we have something to help those who are not only trying to balance their own screen use, but that of their children too.
#1 Swap child-caring shifts
If you are lucky enough be living with your child(ren)’s other parent then our first tip is to take advantage! If you have an important meeting (aka Zoom call), then your partner can take their lunch break early to keep the kids quiet. If your partner has a deadline coming up you can shoulder more of the burden for that week by working in the room with the kids, so that they are undisturbed and can focus fully. Your rota doesn’t have to be set in stone but if you can work out regular times when one parent can oversee the children each week to lighten the load, you will be amazed what you can achieve in those stolen undisturbed hours.
#2 Create a physical work space
As in our previous blog we can tell you that creating a defined workspace is one of the best ways to improve your screen-life balance and maintain a good level of productivity. If you have children, then it is unlikely that you can work effectively in the living space (unless they are doing online school from their rooms) so you may have to get more creative. Perhaps you can work from your bedroom, sitting at the other end of your bed or take over a child’s room during the day, if they are occupied elsewhere.
#3 Increase productivity with working hours
In order to get work done, it can be tempting to work at all hours whenever you have a moment in a haphazard manner. However, this is not the best for productivity. We recommend enforcing working hours. They don’t have to be 9-5. If you have toddlers and your job is flexible, you could work during nap time, a couple of hours when your partner is with them, and a few hours after dinner when they are in bed for example. Try to stick to this routine as it will enable you to plan your work better and get more done in a shorter period of time. It will also help you relax in your ‘off’ time.
Bonus: even with older, more independent children try to work in ‘bursts’. Set yourself achievable goals within smaller periods of time (such as ‘finish this proposal by lunch’) and then take regular breaks to get up and see your kids. This way you can stick to deadlines more easily and spend more time with your children: win-win!
#4 Screen-free childcare
One of the easiest ways to ensure that your kids are occupied whilst you get some work done is to put them in front of the TV or give them a phone to play with. However, this is going to be detrimental to their development, especially if they are already spending hours a day at online school. Research presented at the 2017 Paediatric Academic Societies Meeting found that every extra 30 minutes of device time (e.g. phone) is linked to a 49% increased risk of expressive speech delay in children under two years of age. Try not to fall into this trap. For younger kids, you could set them up with play dough, building blocks or dolls and work in the same room as them to supervise; ideally taking a break every 30 mins to play with them for a while and then set them off on a new task. This will also encourage your productivity to increase in those shorter periods of time. With older children, you could give them books, puzzles, games and competitions (if you have more than one) to keep them occupying themselves and each other for as long as possible.
#5 Work with your kids
If your kids are old enough you can explain to them the importance behind being left alone for short periods of time and reward them for letting you work. You could use a trusty sticker chart to measure their behaviour for example and reward them with their favourite dinner, a family game night or anything else they would like. Another way to frame this would be to cut out all screen time after dinner and make sure you all play together each evening so that you still get plenty of face time and updates from your kids, without them having to interrupt you every 10 minutes. Obviously, this won’t work for everyone and certainly not all the time but you could use it in increments. For example, you could ask your child to read a new book whilst you are in a meeting as a favour to you so that they can explain it to you afterwards. This way you combine an element of responsibility with time spent with you and guarantee yourself some uninterrupted time.
#6 Cut yourself some slack
Last but not least, it’s important to cut yourself some slack. Whether you are trying to pull teenagers away from their screens or keep three children under five entertained whilst you work, parenting is tough and it has only got tougher this year. If you slip up occasionally, it’s OK. However, every small step you can take towards keeping your children off screens that are unrelated to school while you’re working, will not only do wonders for your productivity, it will also do wonders for their wellbeing.
What The US Election Results Mean For Online Privacy Laws
Online privacy and data collection was thrust into the limelight after the 2016 US Election, four years on has any progress been made on protecting our privacy and personal data online?
In the lead up to the 2016 US election, the Trump campaign team invested largely in Facebook ads. This campaign was facilitated with the assistance of London based political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica. For campaign ads to be most effective they needed to be precisely targetted, so detailed information on voters would need to be compiled. Cambridge Analytica’s strategy was to harvest data from at least 50 million private Facebook profiles in a scandal which was widely covered by mainstream media at the time. Many remain convinced that this influenced the election results.
Four years later, the US are yet to have a federal data privacy law. However, following the European Union’s implementation of their General Data Protection Regulation in 2018, it is almost certain that one is around the corner.
To continue to share data and hence do business with the EU, Washington will have to abide by the GDPR by matching US levels of data protection to it. To have inconsistent levels of data protection between different states would wreak havoc for businesses operating over multiple states. Hence, it is in the interests of the US economy to implement a federal data protection law.
So whichever party had won in 2020, a federal data protection law would likely have been on the upcoming agenda. In fact, this time last year, Democrats and Republicans reached a rare agreement in that there was a need for one. However, their methods of establishing it remain far from bipartisan.
Both parties presented bills which demanded greater transparency and consumer control from companies collecting data. However, whereas Republicans advocated for a more economically driven bill with their Consumer Data Protection Act (for example, by removing any existing, stricter data laws within states), Democrats seemed to be more focused on ethical data practices and the protection of civil rights . These were laid out in their proposed Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act.
Inevitably, this year, discussion of these bills was largely pushed aside, as all focus shifted onto dealing with Covid19. Control of the pandemic is likely to remain the centre-stage. However, in a bid to protect and promote the US economy, a GDPR-like bill may soon be ushered in so to facilitate business with the EU.
It’s likely that Kamala Harris herself may turn the spotlight back on the need for privacy laws. Harris’ meticulous questioning of Mark Zuckerberg in 2018’s Cambridge Analytica data breach hearing reaffirmed that data privacy is a top priority of hers. As past California Attorney General, she has always had a close eye on Silicon Valley, and especially the collection, commercialisation and exploitation of data, telling the New York Times: “I believe that the tech companies have got to be regulated in a way that we can ensure and the American consumer can be certain that their privacy is not being compromised”.
With the heightened power and influence of Kamala Harris, privacy laws may take the spotlight again.
However, as of December 2020, there is still no bill, and until one is passed, the onus lies on consumers to protect themselves and their data online. Users very often fail to read terms and conditions of sites and apps they sign up to, one survey found that over 90% of consumers accept legal terms and conditions without reading them, putting convenience over consequences. But it’s crucial that all consumers make themselves aware of the variation between sites’ and companies’ privacy terms, and understand what data is being collected about them.
Ultimately, the large quantity of data companies are able to harvest from us reflects on us and our relationship with our tech and online spaces. Yes, scandals such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal are shocking displays of how data we release can be exploited, but it should also be a wake-up call to re-evaluate how much we are giving away online. If our online habits dominated our daily lives less, of course, this would reduce the significance of much of the data we give away.
Human beings are naturally curious. Nosy, even. And for many of us, there is nothing that we are quite so inquisitive about as the lives of other people.
Social media has made it easier than ever for us to give in to this nosiness. With a few taps we can go onto someone’s profile and get an impression of what they have been up to. New information enables us to make new judgements, and we become invested in what we can deduce from the information online.
In particular, there is often an overwhelming temptation to online ‘stalk’ an ex. When you are in a relationship with someone, you have a connection. Regardless of the nature in which your relationship with them ended, you will be feeling the loss (whether good or bad) of this connection.
Online, however, you will still be ‘connected’. Keeping up with your ex online is an (albeit cheap and far from substantial) way to cling on to this connection.
Thus it prevents you from moving on. In this, it stems your personal development and growth beyond the relationship and blocks your path to learning how to live independently of your ex.
Sometimes we cling to a connection by maintaining one online.
It is also unhealthy for you because it allows you to constantly compare yourself to others. Perhaps you are looking at photos of their new partner, or comparing how well they seem to be coping with your own reality. Either way, this is a time and thought consuming habit which negatively impacts your self esteem.
A person’s social media profile – an often carefully curated collection of information and images – is far from an accurate depiction of their life. Looking at their page may make you feel like they are having fun and are happy all the time, whilst you yourself are struggling. This is almost certainly not the case. Social media cannot capture everything and people are only going to show off the good times. They are likely experiencing the same difficulties as you are.
Even if we do understand that social media is a carefully framed narrative and not an accurate diary, constantly checking to see what your ex up to is not a healthy habit. You need to learn to live without them, and so-called ‘stalking’ their profile weekly is not going to let you do that.
The vast quantity of information at our fingertips that social media gives us can have an almost addictive quality. When it allows us to hold onto something we have just lost, this addiction just becomes even worse. It is understandable why we would want to stalk an ex, but for our own health and happiness, we must avoid doing so.
So how can we avoid the temptation to? Of course, the best way to remove your ex from your feed is to unfollow them. However, if you and your ex want to remain friends, this is not the solution for you. Instead, hide their posts and stories from your feed, until you know that you will not be so affected by them.
Furthermore, spending time away from your phone would be no bad thing. Log off for a bit and spend time rediscovering hobbies and activities you enjoy, or being with friends. Give time back to yourself.
Most of us will be familiar with the feeling you get after having been sucked into a doom-scroll-hole of an evening and looked up to see that, even if you fell asleep that minute, you would still get much less sleep than you need. Unfortunately, this is not the only way that tech can cause insomnia. In lockdown, with many of us working from home and having greater flexibility with our schedules, sleeplessness has become an even greater issue.
As a nation, our screen time has increased on an unprecedented scale. We are now spending 40% of our days watching TV or on our phones. In Australia their phone use increased 80% in the first month of lockdown. Our sleep cycles are being messed with on a global scale and it has become harder than ever to get a good night’s rest. We are not only trying to push past digitally-induced sleep problems but also Covid-stress induced insomnia. Combined, that is a powerful force. We have some tips to help you improve your digital habits so that you can finally get your sleep cycle back on track and get some rest.
#1 Stick to a digital routine
For many of us, routine has been essential in lockdown in order to keep us sane. Due to our isolation, this has had to include a lot of Zoom, Teams, FaceTime and more just to keep up with semi-regular social interaction and work. So, as hard as it may be, we are recommending you institute a routine. Still call family and friends (perhaps try an audio call to rest your eyes) but enforce a bedtime for your phone (at least an hour before you go to bed), and aim to only log on after you have completed your morning routine. This way your sleep will be disconnected from your device- and hopefully, you can get some real rest. Ideally, you would also set yourself a bedtime and stick to it, the more practice you give your body at going to bed with the intent to sleep at 11 o’clock the likelier it is that you will be able to sleep then.
Bonus: why not leave your phone outside your bedroom? You could always buy an alarm clock to get rid of the excuse that you need it to wake up, and you will be amazed at the difference it makes to your sleep.
#2 Enjoy leisure offline
One of the problems we have already alluded to, is that in Corona-times our screens are used for everything- work, socialisation and leisure and that means that we are on them far too much. We recommend you try to find offline alternatives to screen-based leisure if you truly want to fight that digitally induced insomnia. Perhaps you could take up puzzling, journaling, crafting, reading, or simply get to know your bubble mates more (games and long chats are always a good route for that). This way even though you will not sacrifice your time with those you can’t see, and the work you need to do you will be able to cut down on screen time, especially in the evening as you ready for bed.
#3 Separate work and sleep spaces
This is one of the hardest tasks to implement when so many of us work from home, our bedrooms, sometimes even our beds. In lockdown it has become all too common that we will work in our bed, go on social media in our bed and call people from our bed too. Beds are no longer reserved for rest- no wonder we are struggling with insomnia! So whilst we would recommend keeping your work and technology away from the bed we understand that that is not always practical. Instead, we recommend sitting at the other end of the bed to work, sitting on the floor and leaning on the bed to call people or even creating a system of pillows to separate the head of the bed from the ‘work station’- whatever works for you. Just make sure that you are not letting yourself fall into the trap of lying under the covers replying to emails or doing one last social media check before you go to sleep- that will only make it harder!
#4 Reduce screen time
Previously we would have suggested that as long as you stopped using your phone an hour before bed and switched to night-mode earlier in the day you would be able to sleep with no problems. However, new research has shown that this is not the case: the best thing you can do to ensure you get better sleep at night is to reduce your screen time throughout the day. This is quite an arbitrary way to improve your sleep quality and so can be hard to stick to. The best way to measure it would be to keep an eye on your screen-time, to check out which apps are sucking most of your time and focus on them. If you spend an hour a day on Facebook you could delete it from your phone, so you have to log on on your laptop for example. Whichever apps you choose to target, try to measure your usage so that you can make a discernible difference to your daily total- your sleep-self will thank you for it!
Hopefully with these tips you will be able to reduce your insomnia and get back to the blissful days of good quality sleep you enjoyed pre-Covid. It is hard to build a new routine in lockdown, and especially one that relies on removing things from our lives instead of adding them but once you make this change, we promise, you will be infinitely grateful and able to sleep through with far fewer worries.
Logging off is often viewed as isolating. In an increasingly digital world, the idea of spending time away from our devices evokes anxiety in many of us. Whether on news, work or updates from friends, there is a general fear of missing out.
This is not an ungrounded concern. Tech has been the primary method of communicating and catching up with friends. On top of this, many of us have been unable to tear ourselves away from the news, and have taken to compulsively checking new updates and Covid figures.
Current events like the US election have only heightened this fear of missing out. The anxiety over the few days when the votes were being counted, not dissimilar to the anxiety in the hours leading up to a new Covid statement from No 10, made being away from our phones or televisions more difficult than ever.
We can feel like there is so much to miss out on because we live in a world that is constantly connected, and always awake. Even without 24 hour news reporting, there would always be new developments coming in from other side of the world because of time zones. A news desk in Silicon Valley is at full working capacity after the end of a typical British person’s working day.
But perhaps an ever-developing stream of news isn’t the worst thing to miss out on. Perhaps we are scared of missing out on the wrong things.
Whilst we spend so much time scrolling through social media, refreshing news webpages or glued to the TV, we are inevitably missing out on other aspects of our lives. We are missing out on spending time doing the activities we love, spending time with family and friends (if we can), and, in many cases, even missing out on sleep.
Missing out temporarily may be good for us.
Sleep is one of the most important things that we often miss out on.
Joy of missing out – JOMO – is the antithesis of FOMO. It describes the peace and happiness that come with neglecting the culture of being ‘switched on’ (or, in this case, logged on), every minute.
To have JOMO, you will have weighed up the pros and cons of neglecting whatever activity you have chosen to miss out on, and you will have recognised that to do so is helpful towards yourself.
JOMO often derives from setting aside social activity. Often, this can benefit our wellbeing and – especially in the case of social media – is encouraged. On the other hand, this is not about becoming a social recluse. It’s about embracing balance.
Think of the time you spend on social media, reading the news or watching TV – and how it effects you. You may recognise negative impacts. Perhaps you scroll through Instagram deep into the night and wake up groggy, or maybe a persistent stream of bad news leaves you feeling gloomy a bit too often.
Choose to miss out. Choose to not go on social media two to three hours before you go to bed. Choose to allocate yourself daily time to read the news. Then enjoy the time you spend not doing these things.
You can still join in on the things that you don’t want to miss out on. Connect with friends whilst being conscious of your tech usage, and enjoy taking a keen interest in world affairs. But know that, sometimes, ‘missing out’ is not really missing out at all.
Digital Detox and Digital Wellbeing-Inspired Christmas Gift Guide 2020
The best gift you can give any Christmas is the present of your presence. In previous years, we’ve encouraged you unplug from social media and all other digital distractions for the holidays to really connect with those you are present with. But, this year we know it just might not be possible. Zoom or FaceTime could be the only way to connect to grandparents, or far-flung siblings this year. So, all the more reason to log off when we can.
With this in mind, we’ve put together our annual Christmas digital detox gift guide with a difference. Each of our thoughtfully selected gifts will help you and your loved ones finally log off, after what feels like an entire year on screens. It will also help you to support small and independent retailers. This year they have been hit particularly hard so we wanted to give them some love this Christmas. (There are no Amazon links in here). We hope there’s something in our list which will inspire you, and those in your life, to put down your screens for a while this Christmas.
For Fun and Games
The Lost Words
If you’re lucky enough to be spending the holidays with friends and family, give a gift which can be enjoyed by everyone, offline. The Lost Words is a card game based on the Robert McFarlane book with illustrations from Jackie Morris. The game has an environmental focus, highlighting the danger of losing our knowledge of nature. It’s marketed at 8+ but includes strategic elements to keep adults engaged too- truly perfect for a family Christmas.
Master of Logic
A great game for younger children (6+), Master of Logic can be played by two, or in teams. The first player selects a four colour pattern, it’s up to the second player to guess the colours and sequence. It is even made from natural wood. With both of these games on hand you can probably put down your phone for hours this Christmas, you’ll be having too much fun!
For Connecting with Nature
Wildlife Trust Membership
If your friend or family member loves nature then this is the gift for them. By buying a gift membership for them you will be supporting the Wildlife Trust’s work for the natural landscape and animals. Not only that, but the recipient will be gifted wildlife magazines, guides and other benefits throughout the year. This includes a ticket to their local wildlife trust, and the opportunity to get involved in real work of conservation in the UK- the perfect way to integrate time offline into anyone’s life. You could also accompany them on their visit so that you can experience it together.
Sea Life TrustWhale Adoption
If you were watching ITV in the UK mid-October you might have caught the two-part series about the rescue and release of two beluga whales in Iceland. The Sea Life Trust rescued Little Grey and Little White from captivity in China where they had been for most of their lives working as performers. Through the course of this incredibly emotional programme they showed how these animals, who had lived most of their lives in captivity, might not be able to be fully released into the wild but could thrive in the wilder environment of the Westman Islands. Even if you weren’t watching, you may have heard of the story and been moved by it, we at Time To Log Off certainly were.
The Sea Life Trust needs funding in order rescue more of these creatures, so we suggest adopting a beluga for your loved one. With the adoption you get information about the whale, their journey and the life they leads at the Sanctuary. For someone who has everything, or who is notoriously difficult to buy for, this could be perfect.
For Mindfulness
Wentworth Puzzle
We’ve been singing the praises of Wentworth Puzzles all the way through lockdown. Quite frankly we think they’re the best puzzles out there, with unique designs, a wooden construction that holds its shape and will last the test of time, and quirkily shaped whimsy pieces. Anyone would be lucky to get a Wentworth Puzzle this Christmas, we would certainly appreciate one! Your recipient will spend hours totally absorbed in their puzzle, a great mindfulness exercise for someone who finds focus challenging. Our top pick from their Christmas range this year is this fiendishly tricky, and beautiful, Nanook of the North.
We are loving doing Nanook of the North in the run up to Christmas!
OFF. Your digital detox for a Better Life by Tanya Goodin
Our founder Tanya Goodin’s popular book, ‘OFF. Your Digital Detox for a Better Life’, is a compact stocking filler for those who can’t log off. We would especially recommend it for those who need a tiny hint – perhaps the parent who keeps checking their work email, or the partner who stays up late on their phone in bed…. Full of practical tips and ideas to help even the most stubbornly addicted take a break for the holiday season.
For Keeping Hands Busy
iFixit Kit
Sometimes a practical gift can be the way to go. So, we’d like to recommend an iFixit kit. We interviewed Kelsea Weber from iFixit, for our podcast and she talked to us about the huge environmental problem of electronic waste. Tech companies make it hard for us to be environmentally friendly, encouraging us to endlessly discard and upgrade our devices, instead of repairing them. iFixit offer free repair guidelines for all common devices from phones to washing machines and including repair kits for iPhones. One of these kits might be perfect for the loved one that cares about waste and likes to use their hands.
Stress Relief Bundle
The Department Store for the Mind is one of our favourite places to go for thoughtful gifts. Our top pick this year is the Stress Relief Bundle. It contains a deep-breath-bracelet, affirmative stickers, and a workbook to help with focusing amongst many more things. 2020 has been stressful for most of us, this could really hit the spot this holiday season.
For Keeping Cosy
Cashmere Scarf
Wrap someone you love up warm this season with this beautiful cashmere scarf (also comes in four other colours). Yes, it’s probably at the top end of your budget but for that very special person, this gorgeous gift is a going to be like giving them a big hug – which you may not be able to do in person this year – so worth it we think.
Knitted Beanie
This knitted beanie will keep someone’s head nice and snug when they venture outside way from their screens, which you’ll definitely encourage them to do when you give them this gift. This particular colour is very Christmassy we think, but there are other options too.
For Personal Growth
Royal School of Needlework Course
We’ve talked before about the benefits of sewing and needlecraft. Through knitting, darning, tailoring or embroidery you can pass many productive hours and create something tangible – the perfect way to log off. The Royal School of Needlework offers a huge range of different classes from one-offs to accredited courses so you can pick one which suits your budget and loved one. Who knows, next year you may find you’re the lucky recipient of something they make!
Digital Detox Course
This year we launched our own 6 week Digital Detox Course. If there’s someone in your life that needs it, this Christmas you could make their life a bit easier by helping them to work out how to limit their screen overuse. Hosted by our founder, internationally respected digital detox expert Tanya Goodin, the course gives you all the information, practical tips, support and practice you might need to revamp your digital habits (including a 2 week guided digital detox at the end!). We’ve got a special discount for you this Christmas! This could make a great start to 2021 for someone who wants to develop healthier habits in the New Year.
Whoever you’re buying for, make this Christmas more meaningful with our digital detox gift guide ideas. From the environmentally minded to children to those who need to switch off, we hope there’s something in here for everyone!
“Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, with the possible exception of bad news”.
Since Douglas Adams wrote this over 40 years ago, bad news has just continued to travel even faster thanks to globalisation and the rise of modern mass media. The invention of the world wide web birthed real-time news reporting, and in turn the invention of social media has given this a platform and emphasis like never before. Bad news in the public sphere is travelling faster than ever.
Expressions similar to ‘bad news travels fast’ have been around since the 1500s. It is a truth that is key to our survival as the human race. Our brains are more highly attuned to bad news because this is what is going to have an impact on our survival. Bad past experiences and upcoming threats are both far further towards the front of our brain than positive news and experiences. We need them to be.
Therefore, our eagerness to share bad news so rapidly is no new or surprising pattern of human behaviour. It is just that technological advances in our civilisation have enabled extremely rapid sharing.
And this is not healthy for us. Excessive exposure to news can cause an information overload; where we are given so much information that it negatively affects our ability to digest and form rational opinions on the subject matter. We are left feeling anxious and stressed, whilst also powerless.
That isn’t to say that we should cut reading the news entirely out of our lives. On the contrary, to do this would be harmful in most cases. Having no political or social awareness is dangerous; plus, it could isolate and leave some feeling detached from society.
However, whilst reading the news is certainly beneficial, we should be able to set limits on the quantity of content we are exposed to, and spend time away from it. Being online makes this very difficult. Media sites competing to be the first to drop a story, or give new information, means that the world of reporting never sleeps, and our timelines are flooded with snippets of information, infographics and linked articles.
There is also a part of us that is fascinated by bad news, and despite the negative effect it has on our mood, we can become addicted to it. There is a danger of being sucked into bleak story after story, and losing chunks our day to what’s been dubbed doomscrolling.
Having news at our fingertips, just a Google away, often makes it tempting to check back frequently throughout the day.
How can we establish a healthy and balanced news intake?
#1 Set time away from your phone.
If there is a really important story breaking, you will likely hear about it from a friend. Training yourself to be without your phone will, over time, reduce the anxiety you may feel from not checking the news regularly. A digital detox could be the way to really learn to live without your phone.
Of course, we also want to spend time enjoying ourselves online, talking to friends or interacting with them on social media. But how can we ensure that this personal time is not invaded by bad news?
#2 Unfollow news pages on social media.
This gives you control over when you see news, and means you aren’t bombarded by it all the time that you are online. You can still use them as a news source by searching for them, and support them by liking their posts. Alternatively, you can hide their posts from your timeline/feed.
#3 Disable news app notifications.
It can be handy to have a news app on your phone, but not if it is invading your thoughts and time. You should also be wary of an algorithmic news feed. This is where an algorithm determines what stories you are shown, based on your previous views and other data on you and your habits. This means that you may not have a balanced news feed, or perhaps will only be shown the stories that are most likely to be clicked on, which are often bad news.
#4 Set time limits
Set a certain time for you to browse and read news stories, and stick to it. It is so tempting to constantly be checking in on and refreshing news pages throughout the day, but doing so is harmful for your productivity and headspace.
Take control and decide when you are going to interact with news. Therefore, if there are stories that you find upsetting, worrying or triggering, you know that you will be in the best possible frame of mind to receive them.
#5 Actively avoid breaking news
Usually, it is better to read stories a few hours after they have broken. By then, the reporting will be better informed, and likely fact-checked, a stark contrast with the often frantic and borderline sensationalist manner breaking stories are reported. Reading them later in in the news cycle will allow you to get a fuller picture of the story, which may be a less-anxiety inducing experience. View the original article at itstimetologoff.com
