Answer Addiction

Category: Addiction News

  • 5 Ways To Practice Compassion Among Your Family and Friends Through the Holidays

    5 Ways To Practice Compassion Among Your Family and Friends Through the Holidays

    No matter how you give and give back this holiday season and beyond, stay mindful about those in need.

    The holidays are a time when families come together to celebrate the season of gratitude and while the season is often marked by abundance, it can also be a time of great need.

    It can be easy to assume that everyone is doing well during the holidays, but even in seemingly stable families, there exist struggling college students, extended family who may be going to the food bank for the first time, moms who are secretly going through a divorce and wondering how to get by during the coming year, and family members facing a diagnosis that will require hospitalization.

    Why not use this time together to look for and help your friends and family that could use an extra hand this holiday season?

    Here are five ways to weave compassion – for yourself and others – into the coming holidays.

    1. Check In: Don’t Assume It’s All Okay

    Do you have a friend or family member that you think might be going through something? Check in and ask. Offer to take them out to lunch, send them a card or a text. Make a phone call. You don’t have to pry into their life but be there and listen to what they have to say. The holidays can trigger all kinds of feelings and are a good time to touch base, especially amid the flurry of holiday cards and photos.

    2. Listen to Understand

    There’s a difference between “listen to talk” and “listen to understand.” Listening to understand means you’re actively listening to the other person. You’re not in the “problem solving mindset,” you’re in the “exploration” mindset. Your friend may simply need to talk. Or they might need advice or a second opinion. Whatever it is, you won’t know unless you practice listening to understand. Creating space for those story-telling family members is a great place to start – studies show that recounting stories improves self-esteem in seniors.

    3. Care for Yourself

    Maybe you’re the one who is always there for everyone and always showing up when people need it most, and maybe this year, you’re going through struggles of your own. Tell someone you need to talk and make the time to do it, whether it’s a friend, a family member, a therapist, or counselor. Your needs are valid and important and your family and friends will respect that you know how to ask for and get the help you need to live your best life. Make it the gift you give yourself this year.

    4. Find Causes That Speak To You

    Find nonprofits and causes that you can make an ongoing part of your life. Why? Because when a cause speaks to you, you’re more likely to look for creative ways to help it. When you’re actively involved with a cause you believe in, you’re more likely to talk about it with your friends and encourage them to give back in ways that are meaningful in their lives. Giving Tuesday is just one day, but a great day to start.

    5. Get Organized

    When you know someone who is going through a hardship, like a loved one in the hospital, the birth of a new baby, a sick child, or the death of a loved one, organize your friends and family to help them. This can be done with online tools like Give InKind that help you coordinate financial contributions, calendar tasks, chores, and more on a dedicated page that helps the person in need get exactly what they need. Time spent with family is a great time to pull together and make a plan for supporting someone you love.

    No matter how you give and give back this holiday season and beyond, stay mindful about those in need. May we all be lucky enough to not need, but when we do, may we all have the support of our loved ones and community to help us through.

    Laura Malcolm is the CEO and Founder of the social support network, Give InKind.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Kamala Harris Unveils Mental Health Plan With Charlamagne Tha God

    Kamala Harris Unveils Mental Health Plan With Charlamagne Tha God

    Harris calls for more treatment beds, an end to solitary confinement, and increased access to mental health treatment in her newly released plan.

    Senator Kamala Harris unveiled her new mental health plan in South Carolina this week during an event featuring radio personality/author Charlamagne tha God. Harris sat down with The Breakfast Club host to discuss the state of mental health in America.  

    A Public Policy Failure

    “Probably one of the biggest public policy failures of America is the failure to address mental health and put the resources into it as a priority. The result of that is that people are silently suffering who should never suffer. We have so many children who are experiencing undiagnosed, untreated trauma, whether it is because they’re growing up in a home where there’s violence, which crosses socioeconomic lines, or a community where there’s violence, or growing up in poverty because — let’s be clear — poverty is trauma-inducing,” Harris explained, according to Post and Courier. “All of the behaviors that result from that undiagnosed, untreated trauma are predictable. We’re failing to address it and then where we do address it is in the criminal justice system. We have basically turned jails and prisons into these gigantic mental health facilities without any mental health treatment.”

    Charlamagne then touched on the issue of trauma and how he had to unlearn stigmatizing beliefs regarding who is affected by mental illness.

    “They call it a correctional facility, but what are you really correcting? You’re taking these kids who are already dealing with so much trauma and throwing them in a situation that’s just putting trauma on top of trauma, and then you’re letting them out in the world — if they are blessed enough to come home — and they haven’t dealt with anything,” he said. “I think one of the reasons they don’t get the help they need is because we don’t look at mental health services as something that should be part of a larger healthcare initiative. I didn’t even realize anxiety and depression was considered a mental health issue until I started going to therapy. When you think mental health, you think schizophrenia, you think somebody in a straitjacket, but no, it’s people dealing with these issues every single day and they just don’t have the proper tools and resources to go deal with it.”

    Harris added, “And then we deal with it when it reaches a crisis level. You would never say that we should have a health care system that only deals with stage four cancer.”

    In her new plan, Harris calls for an amendment to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that would protect healthcare providers who give out patients’ private information if they are acting out of “good faith.”

    Disabled healthcare advocate Kendally Brown tweeted Harris in response to her proposed HIPAA amendments. “I adore you, but eliminating the IMD exclusion would remove the ONE protection mentally ill people have from the state locking them up in institutions long-term. I love that you’re focussing on mental health, but any solution MUST be community based, not institutional.”

    Brown’s stance is a common one among recovery and mental health advocates who fight for patients with addiction and/or mental health issues to make their own healthcare decisions.

    Kamala’s Mental Health Plan

    Here is Harris’s multi-pronged plan to address mental health, according to her campaign website:

    Focus Federal Funding on Needed Mental Health Research

    Kamala will direct federal funds to seek better treatment for mental illness and research on mental health issues more broadly, including research on adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and the use of interventions that reduce homelessness, arrest, incarceration, and unnecessary hospitalization.

    Expand Coverage of and Access to Mental Health Services

    Through her Medicare for All plan, Kamala will deliver mental health on demand via telemedicine, providing care by phone or video to all Americans whenever and wherever they need it—all without deductibles or copays.

    A shortage of mental health professionals harms American families and communities. It also drives provider stress and burnout. Kamala will authorize an educational loan forgiveness program for mental health professionals that agree to practice in areas with a shortage of providers.

    Increase Access to Hospitals, Housing, and Other Care Facilities

    Kamala will double the number of treatment beds nationwide, prioritizing states with shortages, including Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, and Michigan, so persons with mental illness can receive the high levels of care they need.

    She’ll repeal the Institutions of Mental Disease (IMD) exclusion, which precludes Medicaid funding for adults receiving care in psychiatric facilities with more than 16 beds and has exacerbated a severe shortage of acute psychiatric care beds nationwide.

    Focus on Vulnerable Populations

    Double US Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs (VA) research dollars to address and treat PTSD, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injury.

    Invest in evidence-based screenings for childhood trauma—including the fact that poverty is trauma-inducing—to diagnose and treat mental illness as early as possible.

    End the Mental-Illness-to-Jail Pipeline

    Kamala will expand Crisis Intervention Team training, which integrates specialized police, mental health professionals, EMS, 911 systems, and hospital emergency rooms in response to mental health crisis calls.

    You can read more about Harris’s plan here.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Bella Hadid Drugs & On Past Depression: “I Would Cry Every Single Morning”

    Bella Hadid Drugs Use

    “I feel guilty for being able to live this incredible life, have the opportunities that I do, but somehow still be depressed. It doesn’t make sense.” Supermodel Bella Hadid is in a good place. She recently opened up about her private battle with depression at the Vogue Fashion Festival in Paris. The in-demand model describes feeling conflicted about feeling depressed in the midst of a thriving career that saw her working with fashion greats like the late Karl Lagerfield and Tom Ford. “For a while, I just didn’t want to talk about it, and I’ve gone through a lot in the past few years with my health,” she said. “I feel guilty for being able to live this incredible life, have the opportunities that I do, but somehow still be depressed. It doesn’t make sense.”

    Emotional Instability

    Depression can affect anyone, regardless of social status or economic background. Despite her storybook life, Hadid was struggling with depression symptoms. “I would cry every single morning, I would cry during my lunch breaks, I would cry before I slept,” she said. “I was very emotionally unstable for a while when I was working 14-hour days for four months straight as an 18-year-old. I think I just wanted to breathe a little bit. And so it kind of put me in a spiral.” Last month, Hadid took to Instagram to give a spotlight to those living with depression: She wrote, “Yesterday was mental health awareness day. A struggle that I know a majority of us have dealt with in the past or [are] dealing with currently. And if not, you probably know someone who is…something that I have been dealing with for a few years but [is] finally at a point where it doesn’t consume me as much as before.” While Hadid is doing better, she still has “bad days along with the good, but [I’m] grateful and proud of myself to be in the place that I am today.” Hadid decided that speaking out about living with depression was important. “I feel like I would be doing a disservice to myself if I didn’t speak about something such as mental health, because that’s pretty much what I’ve been going through for the past five years very intensely,” Hadid said. “Now we’re here and we’re good, but it took a while.”

    Gigi’s Anxiety

    Gigi Hadid, Bella’s older sister, has also spoken out about mental health, specifically dealing with anxiety. During a panel for Reebok, Gigi detailed how being in the public eye can take its toll on your psyche. She described how the pressure to live up to this perfect image has left her with anxious feelings. To combat the pressure, Gigi has taken social media breaks and uses positive affirmations to help her cope. Hadid wrote on Instagram that she still has “bad days along with the good, but [I’m] grateful and proud of myself to be in the place that I am today.” Supermodel Bella Hadid turned 23 on October 9, one day before World Mental Health Day, and she used the occasion to speak out about the importance of taking care of your mental health.
    Hadid wrote on Instagram that she still has “bad days along with the good, but [I’m] grateful and proud of myself to be in the place that I am today.”
    In an Instagram post, she wrote, “Yesterday was mental health awareness day. A struggle that I know a majority of us have dealt with in the past or [are] dealing with currently. And if not, you probably know someone who is…something that I have been dealing with for a few years but [is] finally at a point where it doesn’t consume me as much as before.” https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fOqawgrC9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Hadid still has “bad days along with the good, but [I’m] grateful and proud of myself to be in the place that I am today.”
    Bella Hadid Drugs
    Bella Hadid Drugs
    In her post, Hadid included a statement from mental health advocate Hannah Blum, which read, “Even on those rainy days where it feels like the world is covered in grey, do not lose hope, because there has never been a storm that lasted forever. The sun is always present; it too has to find a way through the clouds.” Late last year, Hadid was asked by Vogue what she considered her biggest success, and she replied, “Probably my health and mental state right now.” Hadid was recovering from a bout with Lyme disease, and she told People, “This year I really just feel like I am myself again and happy and healthy in all aspects of my life.”

    Social Media & Mental Health

    Hadid then addressed how social media can affect your mental health (Hadid has over 26 million followers on Instagram). “I would like to add that everything you see online or through social media is not always what it seems,” she continued. “The happiness we create online while being sad in real life makes no sense, but sometimes it just seems easier to live within your sadness rather than talk about it. If it wasn’t for the people closest to me, I probably would have still been in that place, and for that, I am forever thankful to them.” In closing, Hadid wrote, “If you are reading this and feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, there is…and I see you! You are strong, you are good enough and you DESERVE to be happy!”
  • 18 ideas in our Christmas Digital Detox Gift Guide

    18 ideas in our Christmas Digital Detox Gift Guide

    18 ideas in our Christmas Digital Detox Gift Guide

    Whichever phone addict you’re buying for (maybe even you!), we’ve got you covered with our annual digital detox Christmas gift guide. From being more mindful, to connecting with those around you, keeping hands busy with something other than a phone, and taking a break in the great outdoors – there’s something here for everyone. Prices range from £10 to £210.

    Our Digital Detox Gift Guide for 2019



    1. The Mindfulness Toolkit

    Any one of the ‘Inspiration’ Toolkits from Swedish stationery brand Kikki.k would be perfect to help break unwanted habits (like mindless screen scrolling). We’re particularly keen on the ‘Mindful’ set. Each toolkit features prompt cards, and a notebook and pen – you’ll be on your way to a more mindful lifestyle in no time.

    £12.00 from Kikki.k



    2. The Vinyl Turntable 

    View this post on Instagram

    Curves, lines, and grooves 😈

    A post shared by U-Turn Audio (@uturnaudio) on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:13pm PDT

    Rediscover the beauty of analogue sound and start a building a library of vinyl. The U-Turn Orbit Basic turntable offers good sound quality at a great price, perfect for beginners starting their vinyl collection. And you can customise your setup and choose from a range of vibrant colours.

    From £140 from U-turn Audio



    3. The Retro Camera

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B2y-8X_Hzcx/

    Who doesn’t love those little retro-style instant photos that litter Instagram?* (*The irony). The Instax Mini LiPlay looks fantastic and produces georgeous instant photos. Don’t put them on your Insta feed, simply enjoy and share with friends during a digital detox. With 2.7″ LCD Screen & Built-in Flash

    £149.99 from John Lewis



    4. The Adventure Gift Box

    A gift box idea for every kind of adventurer. The Nite Ize Life’s Adventure Kits provide an assortment of gear based on the type of activities the recipient enjoys. Its kits contain gear for all the different adventures that keep life interesting. Whether you’re a fitness buff, DIYer, adventurer or sportsman, they have an adventure kit that’s just right.

    Kits range from £68 to £210 from Nite Ize



    5. The Book of Poetry

    Celebrate the power of the spoken word as a change from all that texting and IM’ing, with this lovely book of poems to learn and read aloud.  Boost creativity and improve memory as a neat side-effect.

    £10.49 on Amazon



    6. The Stress-Reducing Bracelet

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Ig1udhihz/

    The Ten Deep Breaths bracelet helps ground you during daily stress, as a healthy alternative for reaching for your phone. Inhale and exhale once for each bead. Take deeper, longer breaths as you move from bead to bead. Feel your shoulders drop and anxiety ebb away.

    £14.00 from Dept. Store for the Mind



    7. The Game that Builds Relationships

    When we put down our phones and have a really good conversation with a friend, it can feel like talking to a good therapist. They’re giving us their full attention. They’re giving us space to talk. They’re not interrupting us or pushing their own advice aggressively forward: they’re properly listening. The Therapy Game offers you a rare opportunity to listen and speak to another at a really fulfilling length and depth.

    £20.00 from The School of Life



    8. The Woolly Hat that Saves the Seas

    Encourage someone to get off their phone and get outside wearing one of these cosy wooly beanies made from 100% British Wool. Why choose wool? It’s all natural, and when washing a woollen beanie no nasty acrylic micro plastics are flushed into our ocean. But that’s not the best bit – every purchase from environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage helps them in their work to keep our oceans plastic-free.

    £30 from Surfers Against Sewage



    9. The Craft Course for Idle Hands

    View this post on Instagram

    Following RSN Tutor Sarah Smith’s two sold-out Winter Wreath classes this weekend, we are delighted to announce a new Tour & Taster class on December 4th based on her original design! Sarah will teach a section of the Winter Wreath to create a Flower & Sprig Napkin on 4 December and again on 26 February. This design shows that with just a few simple stitches, delicate floral designs can be created and used to embellish clothes, napkins, table cloths and cushions. ⁠ Book now and don’t miss out! Bookings taken via our website. ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #rsn #royalschoolofneedlework #royalneedlework #embroidery #handembroidery #christmas #festive #embroideryclass #festiveembroidery #needlepoint ⁠ ⁠

    A post shared by Royal School of Needlework (@royalneedlework) on Nov 9, 2019 at 11:25pm PST

    Need to keep active hands busy when they don’t have a phone to fiddle with? The Royal School Of Needlework teaches over 150 embroidery classes a year across the UK in Hampton Court Palace, Bristol, Bath, Birmingham, Durham and Glasgow.  There’s something for every level and interest within their day classes and longer courses programme.

    From £114.00 for a 1-day course from The Royal School of Needlework



    10. The Digital Detox Book

    Choose either of our two digital detox books – Off or Stop Staring at Screens. Both make perfect presents, or tiny hints, for someone who needs to put down their phone just a bit more often next year.

    From £4.79 on Amazon



    11. The Walking Tour

    View this post on Instagram

    London #character #costume #westend #spectacular #dickensian

    A post shared by London Walks (@londonwalksofficial) on Nov 10, 2019 at 2:58pm PST

    Discover the colourful characters of London and give the gift of a walking tour of the world’s most vibrant capital city. From the Jack the Ripper tour to Harry Potter, The Beatles, the Foodies Tour and a classic pub tour – there’s a walking tour theme that will suit anyone. And it’ll get them off their phone.

    £10.00 from London Walks



    12. The Family Board Game

     

    In this suspenseful board game of the iconic 70s flick, one player takes on the role of the killer shark while the rest go hunting as Brody, Hooper and Quint. Part One of the gameplay involves the shark terrorising swimmers along Amity Island while trying to stay out of sight. In Part Two, the shark-seekers climb aboard the Orca in the hunt for Jaws. Stick on that theme tune to rack up the suspense in this hour(ish) long game.

    £24.99 from John Lewis



    13. The Healthy Evening Out

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B4maYiJBH40/

    Perfect for Dry January. Enjoy an evening off your phone with a night-out at one of London’s three Redemption Bars. Rightly known as the capital’s healthiest restaurants, they serve up vegan, sugar-free, and wheat-free food with an alcohol-free bar. The three buzzy spaces in Covent Garden, Notting Hill and Shoreditch are considered by many the best vegan restaurants in London.

    £ dependent on menu choice



    14. The Festive Water Bottle

    View this post on Instagram

    Neon Red. Available now. #ChillysEverywhere

    A post shared by Chilly’s Bottles (@chillysbottles) on Nov 10, 2019 at 3:00am PST

    Chilly’s water bottles keep water cold for 24 hours and, although heavier than most plastic bottles, one of these is definitely a good buy if you want to drink more water, and stay trendy as you do, while exploring the great outdoor rather than being glued to the sofa on your phone. There’s a simply huge range of colours and designs but why not get one that fits the festive theme?

    £20.00 from Chilly’s



    15. The Bath Oil that’s helping Mental Health

    View this post on Instagram

    This week, #WorldCancerDay marked its mission to create a world without cancer with a powerful campaign called “I Am And I Will.” Put simply, it’s about owning who you are and deciding what you will do to help. At Aromatherapy Associates, we are committed to improving wellbeing for all. When our founder, Geraldine Howard, was diagnosed with cancer, she used her powerful knowledge and belief in aromatherapy to create Inner Strength, to be both positive and uplifting while also providing comfort and strength. A percentage of sales go to the Defence Against Cancer Charity. It’s now one of our most cherished blends ✨ #aromatherapyassociates #innerstrength #iamandiwill

    A post shared by Aromatherapy Associates (@aromatherapyassociates) on Feb 7, 2019 at 10:23am PST

    It’s tricky to take a phone into a bath, so we had to have something in our digital detox gift guide to encourage recipients to linger there longer! Luxurious aromatherapy oils from Aromatherapy Associates will make anyone want to bathe more. If you gift the Inner Strength formulation, created to be positive and uplifting while also providing comfort and strength, £1 of each sale will go to MIND.

    £49 from Aromatherapy Associates



    16. The Digital Detox Kit

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw8AcbcBqps/

    This digital detox kit contains eight items to help the recipient power off. An eye mask, ear plugs, digital detox tips, activity dice, phone sleeve, a tech timer, a fidget cube and an alarm clock.

    £20 from Pinch Provisions



    17. The Green Donation

    Help Trees for Cities in their mission as the only UK charity working at a national and international level to improve lives by planting trees in cities. They get stuck in with local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods – whether it’s revitalising forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food. Donate on behalf of your gift recipient then take them out, away from their screens, to see one of the projects on action.

    Make a donation



    18. The Personalised Digital Detox Box

    As a digital detox gift for a family, rather than an individual, this digital detox box will give the recipient the space to enjoy each other’s company without the distraction of their screens. The detox box has been designed to either house several mobile phones or larger items such as ipads. Several gadgets can be stored at once.

    £29 from Lovestruck Interiors 



    We hope you’ve found something in our digital detox gift guide that’s just right for your phone addict friend, or family member! For more inspiration on how to help them log off, check out our digital detox challenges for some hints and tips.

    Summary
    Digital Detox Christmas Gift Guide
    Article Name
    Digital Detox Christmas Gift Guide
    Description
    Our Digital Detox Christmas Gift Guide has 18 hand-picked selections from us which will finally get the phone addict in your family off their phone this Christmas!
    Author
    Ellen McCarthy
    Publisher Name
    Time To Log Off
    Publisher Logo

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

  • Digital Detox: trick or treat? Is phone addiction just another scary story for Halloween?

    Digital Detox: trick or treat? Is phone addiction just another scary story for Halloween?

    Digital Detox: trick or treat? Is phone addiction just another scary story for Halloween?

    It’s Halloween, the time of tall tales and things that go bump in the night. And that got us thinking, is the overuse of our mobile tech just another scary story? Are we succumbing to moral panic over our smartphone use? One recent report even claimed that teenagers excessively using mobile phones were starting to grow horns from the base of their skulls!

    Is digital detox a trick?

    Some commentators have claimed that the whole concept of a ‘digital detox’ is the tech equivalent of a juice cleanse and that neither of them work.

    Others have said that digital detoxes simply don’t work because when they’re over we can’t return to a phone-free life, we still have to live with them.

    And one group of academics say that despite being told that screen time hurts our kids there’s actually no evidence, and that there are only ‘minor’ effects on wellbeing from too much time on screens.

    So, what’s the truth?

    Part of the problem of course is that the research around the real effects of smartphone use is still developing because it’s such a new area. But there is a general scientific consensus that smartphone addiction is a real problem. The World Health Organisation last year recognised digital gaming, or Internet gaming, as a specific health disorder. And one large-scale study of Gen Z, teenagers, found that all non-screen activities that this group took part in correlated with greater happiness, with all the screen activities correlated with lower happiness.

    digital detox trick or treat depression

    Could digital detox be a treat?

    As any look at phone habits throws up so many differing opinions and research results right now, how can we make the best choices about whether to try any form of digital detox?

    Ask yourself

    The person who best knows whether you need a break and if a digital detox would be a treat, is you. In the same way that we know when we’ve been eating too much or not doing enough exercise, we probably all know when we’ve spent just a bit too much time on your phones. Not least because our family and friends tell us so. Keep an eye on how you feel relative to the amount of time you spend on screens and adjust accordingly.

    But when you’re thinking about your own habits, you might be interested to know what people who work in tech for a living do about their screen use. Because they’re the experts, right?

    Tech bosses say ‘yes’ to digital detox

    Tech bosses like Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and Jack Dorsey, have all come out on record acknowledging that their inventions have the potential to damage our well being. Some of the very first groups of people to try and find coping mechanisms for tech’s 24:7 infiltration into our lives came from the tech teams of Silicon Valley. It was a former Google ethicist Tristan Harris, who coined the concept of ‘Time Well Spent’ which has been enthusiastically adopted by tech employees who now spend their work lives building digital platforms, and their home lives raising their children not to use them!

    digital detox trick or treat, phone-free activitiesOur mental health really does needs a break

    Despite the contradictions in so much of the research there is a growing realisation that staring at our phones all day probably isn’t great for our mental health.

    Not least because it’s the things we’re giving up to stare at our screens that are the problem. Time spent with loved ones, time spent outdoors in nature, these are the all the casualty of our screen-based lifestyle – and study after study shows they make us happy.

    We have the proof

    We’re unusual in that we’ve been running digital detox retreats for several years and carrying out research before and after on the participants. And all our research shows that time away from screens improves sleep, focus and concentration and happiness.

    So try it for yourself. A digital detox could be just the treat you need.

    Off: digital detox book

     

     

    To discover more ways digital detox can be a treat, our book Off: Your Digital Detox for a Better Life is out in the UK, the US and in five languages. Pick up your copy here.

    Summary
    Digital Detox: trick or treat for Halloween?
    Article Name
    Digital Detox: trick or treat for Halloween?
    Description
    Is digital detox trick or treat? Is putting down your phone for a short break from digital a load of nonsense, or does it reap real physical and mental health rewards? Read on to find out!
    Author
    Tanya Goodin
    Publisher Name
    Time To Log Off
    Publisher Logo

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

  • Tips for dealing with digital distractions as a student

    Tips for dealing with digital distractions as a student

    Tips for dealing with digital distractions as a student

    Staying focused in the digital era is difficult for everyone. Productivity is lowered, due to phone addiction, and many of us struggle to keep a healthy work-life balance. This is exacerbated at university where students are often living where they work, and managing an entirely flexible timetable for the first time in their lives! If you’re a student, here are some of our top tips to help you deal with phone addiction and how to use your phone for good whilst studying:

    Before you go

    Whilst there are many negatives to being a student now as a result of phone addiction there are also positives. Thirty years ago students could not have met their course mates online in advance or created WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger group chats of subjects in order to help with work. Universities are huge and before you go the idea of many thousands of people you don’t know and may never meet can be daunting. However, technology can help to form connections in advance and lower anxieties.

    Phone addiction or social interaction?

    You do not have to let your phone addiction control your movements whilst at university. It can be tempting to spend all of your time in contact with friends from back home instead of forming new bonds. There are so many ways to make new friends and most of these are organised online and via Facebook pages. One way to get into healthy tech habits at university is just to use technology in order to facilitate physical meet-ups and in-person activities. You could join a sports team like Ultimate Frisbee, a subject mixer for Engineering, or even a food society such as one dedicated to bagels!

    Turn off phone notifications

    Notifications on a phone

    The first piece of advice is one as old as time: turn off your notifications! Research from Trent University shows that a third of notifications worsen our mood. We also know that it can take up to half an hour to refocus your attention after a notification has distracted you, which drastically decreases the quality of your work and increases the time you will have to spend on it. If you are trying to complete work to the best of your ability so you can then socialise, notifications are only going to slow you down.

    Handwrite your notes

    We all know that writing your notes helps you remember them more easily later, but few of us choose to work this way because who can write that fast? However, writing by hand forces you to create notes in your own words instead of merely taking dictation. This will help you when it comes to exam time as all of your notes will be clear to you and you will remember them better.

    Keep your phone out of sight

    Phone addition splits concentration

    It has been proven by the University of Austin, Texas that having your phone in the room even if it is turned off and not visible lowers your IQ. How often is your phone turned off and not visible as you work? Often students will argue that their phone is necessary to work and in some cases this is true. However, if merely the presence of your phone lowers your IQ then perhaps you should consider leaving it off and out of sight whilst you work? Imagine what you could achieve.

    Technology is not the end of a productive work-life balance and in some cases can improve your social life, such as with group chats and societies. However, it is not always helpful and there are a few simple steps you can take to make work at university easier and curb any tendency towards phone addiction. If you turn off notifications, leave your phone out of sight and write your own notes you will be well on your way to a successful university experience!

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

  • Digital Detox for a Better Life, on World Mental Health Day

    Digital Detox for a Better Life, on World Mental Health Day

    Digital Detox for a Better Life, on World Mental Health Day

    #WorldMentalHealthDay is back for 2019 on October 10th. So, it’s time once again to consider all the ways our smartphone addiction may be impacting our mental health.

    The subject causes heated debate. Some academics in the field argue that heavy smartphone use may just be as result of suffering from anxiety and depression. But a new study suggests that there may be more than just a link between smartphone dependency and depression: one may actually cause the other.

    This new study published just this August in the Journal of Adolescent Health suggests that smartphone dependence is a good predictor of loneliness and depression. In a study of 346 18- to 20-year-olds, the researchers found that relying on smartphones preceded symptoms of loneliness and depression, rather than the other way around.

    Studies show links between heavy smartphone use and poor mental health

    Heavy use of social media has been linked with poor body image, low self-esteem and even eating disorders. In fact, almost half of 18-34 year olds admitted that their social media feeds made them feel unattractive. Nearly two thirds of social media users say that using sites like Facebook and Twitter makes them feel inadequate. Around 62% of Facebook and Twitter users say they feel their own lives and achievements are inadequate when compared to what they saw on the feeds of others. What’s more, 60% say that being on these sites has made them jealous of other users.

    Mobile phones and tablets have also been linked to poor sleep quality which is seriously detrimental to our overall health, both mental and physical. And, the rise in the use of smartphones and the digital world has even spawned its own entirely new mental health disorders including nomophobia, the fear of losing or not having your phone on you, at any given time.

    So here are our top tips if you want to try a digital detox for a better life:

    Digital Detox for a better life on Mental Health Day

    digital detox for world mental health dayDelete, delete, delete

    For the day, delete all the social media apps from your smartphone. Even the biggest technophiles agree that it’s social media that’s causing the most worrying mental health issues. Go just one day without access to these apps at your fingertips and see how much better you feel.

    Put it away

    Put your phone away when you’re 1-2-1 with anyone this Mental Health Awareness Day. Improve your life, and theirs, by giving them your full and undivided attention. You never know what your friend may be wanting to tell you about, but is put off by your sideways glances at your phone. Put it away and invest in your most important relationships for one day.

    Reclaim sleep

    sleep digital detoxRestful, rejuvenating. sleep is a real casualty of our screen obsession. Waking up tired every morning and having to go to work takes a toll on how we feel. Make World Mental Health Day an exception by banning your smartphone from your bedroom the night before. We guarantee you’ll be springing from your bed in the morning!

    Tell two

    Tell two friends about the links between excessive smartphone use and poor mental health. Point them in the direction of our website, maybe to do our smartphone addiction quiz to assess how bad their problem is. Then support them if they want to try and log off more.

    Off: digital detox book

    For more tips and tricks to boost happiness off screens, our book Off: Your Digital Detox for a Better Life is out in the UK, the US and in five languages. Pick up a copy here.

    Summary
    Digital Detox for Mental Health Awareness Day 2019 and feel Happier
    Article Name
    Digital Detox for Mental Health Awareness Day 2019 and feel Happier
    Description
    Put down your phone for the sake of your mental health and do a digital detox this Mental Health Awareness Day.
    Author
    Tanya Goodin
    Publisher Name
    Time To Log Off
    Publisher Logo

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

  • Our incredible digital detox retreat in Iceland will recharge your life!

    Our incredible digital detox retreat in Iceland will recharge your life!

    Our incredible digital detox retreat in Iceland will recharge your life!

    After a couple of years of digital detox retreat hiatus, we can now announce that we are launching a brand new digital detox retreat in Iceland in 2020! We are thrilled to be able to bring you to this incredible location surrounded by the fjords, in a remote and peaceful wilderness, experiencing all of the natural beauty that Iceland has to offer. You will have five full days of digital detox and the opportunity to examine and adjust your tech habits.

    The programme that we have designed for you combines all of the things we love the most: digital detox, yoga and plenty of connection with nature. This is so that you can discover all that Iceland has to offer, whilst reevaluating your tech habits throughout your much-needed break. Not all of the activities are included as standard which allows you the opportunity to create a bespoke package focused on your specific needs, and allows you to tailor your trip to be as active or restorative as you would like. This individual approach covers the whole of the retreat including the option for you to choose between two styles of accommodation.

    Accommodation

    accommodation digital detox retreat to Iceland

    We will be staying on a private and secluded farm with gorgeous mountain views all around us as. The farm not only comprises the accommodation for our stay but also features a traditional farmhouse, bathhouse, sauna, outdoor hot tub, and yoga barn for our classes. The majority of us will be staying in 8 cabins located on the edge of the farm. These place us right in the valley and with their large windows allow us to reconnect with the natural world anew. Each of the cabins is very luxurious and equipped with a double bed on an upper floor as well as a lounge area, queen bed, and bathroom. If you’d like more budget accommodation, there is also the option to stay in the farmhouse itself which contains 2 private single rooms and 2 twin rooms. If you choose to stay in the farmhouse then bathrooms will be shared between three people and you may experience some noise between 7:30 am and 9:30 pm as this is where the kitchen is based and our meals are prepared. If you want to prioritise alone time and a lack of disruption, we recommend choosing a cabin.

    digital detox retreat: Iceland 2020

    We have chosen a particularly good time to see the Northern Lights as they are at their most visible in October. In our rural location with no light pollution nearby, if we do see them they will be very visible! This picture was taken from the cabins we will be staying in, only last year.

    Activities 

    A retreat in this part of Iceland really isn’t complete without a day out at the world-famous Lake Mývatn geothermal region. All that makes Iceland such a sought-after retreat destination can be experienced within a few hours from our base, from waterfalls, volcanoes, and geothermal activity to a natural spa. In keeping with the customisable nature of the retreat, you will be able to visit the geothermal region and also add options to hike or ride Icelandic horses in the mountains around the farm, or enjoy epic vistas while whale watching on the fjord.

    A typical day will include two yoga classes, a session dedicated to digital detox itself and at least one optional activity such as whale watching. This means that our days will be busy but, as they start at 7 with early-morning tea, there is ample time to think and simply relax in this stunning natural environment.waterfalls on digital detox retreat Iceland

    We cannot wait for you to join us on this incredible adventure as we journey into the epic landscapes of Iceland and truly reconnect with ourselves by taking a break from our phones and the digital world. A digital detox retreat can truly change your life, as those who have joined us on retreats before can confirm – don’t miss this amazing opportunity to experience it for yourself!

    Summary
    Event
    ​Digital Detox Retreat in Iceland 2020
    Location
    ​
    iceland,
    Starting on
    3S October 2020
    Ending on
    8S October 2020
    5 days to recharge and restore yourself in the natural beauty of Iceland. Hiking, yoga, whale watching and learning how to unplug are all on offer.
    Offer Price

    GBR Apply
    Buy Tickets

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

  • Our incredible Iceland digital detox retreat will recharge your life

    Our incredible Iceland digital detox retreat will recharge your life

    Our incredible Iceland digital detox retreat will recharge your life

    After a couple of years of digital detox retreat hiatus, we can now announce that we are launching a brand new digital detox retreat in Iceland in 2020! We are thrilled to be able to bring you to this incredible location surrounded by the fjords, in a remote and peaceful wilderness, experiencing everything of natural beauty that Iceland has to offer. You will have five full days of digital detox and the opportunity to examine and adjust your tech habits.

    The programme that we have provided for you will combine some of our many loves: digital detox, yoga and lots of exploring. This is so that you can discover all that Iceland has to offer whilst reevaluating your tech habits through a much-needed break. Not all of the activities are included as standard which allows you the opportunity to create a bespoke package factoring in your needs and allowing you to tailor your trip to be as active or restorative as you would like. This individual approach covers the whole of the retreat including the possibility for you to choose between two styles of accommodation based on what you want.

    Accommodation

    accommodation digital detox retreat to Iceland

     

     

     

    We will be staying on a private and secluded farm with gorgeous mountain views all around us as shown above. The farm not only contains the accommodation for our stay but also a traditional farmhouse, bathhouse, sauna, outdoor hot tub, and yoga barn for our classes. The majority of us will be staying in 8 cabins located on the edge of the farm. They place you right in the valleys and with their large windows thus allow you to reconnect with the natural world anew. Each of the cabins is very luxurious and equipped with a double bed on an upper floor as well as a lounge area, queen bed,  and bathroom. If you would like some more budget accommodation then there is the option to stay in the farmhouse itself which contains 2 private single rooms and 2 twin rooms. If you choose to stay in the farmhouse then bathrooms will be shared between three people. If you choose to stay in the farmhouse then you may experience some disturbance between 7:30 am and 9:30 pm as this is where the kitchen is based and so where the meals are prepared. Therefore if you would like to prioritise alone time and a lack of disruption we would recommend choosing a cabin.

    digital detox retreat: Iceland 2020

     

    We have chosen a good time to see the Northern Lights as they are at their most visible in October. In our rural location with no light pollution nearby, if we do see them they will be very visible! This picture was taken from the cabins we will be staying in, last year.

    Activities 

    A retreat in this part of Iceland could not be considered complete without a day out at the world-famous Lake Mývatn geothermal region. All that makes Iceland such a sought-after retreat destination can be experienced within a few hours, from waterfalls as seen below, volcanoes, and geothermal activity to a natural spa. In keeping with the customisable nature of the retreat, you will be able to add options to hike or ride Icelandic horses in the mountains in order to enjoy epic vistas while whale watching on the fjord.

    A typical day would include two yoga classes, a session dedicated to digital detox itself and at least one optional activity such as whale watching. This means that the days would be busy but, as they start at 7 with early-morning tea, there is time to think and simply relax in this natural environment.waterfalls on digital detox retreat Iceland

    We cannot wait for you to join us on this adventure as we travel into the gorgeous wilderness of Iceland and truly reconnect with ourselves with a break from our phones. A digital detox retreat like this can truly change your outlook as has been proven by those who have joined us on retreats before.

    Summary
    Event
    ​Digital Detox Retreat in Iceland 2020
    Location
    ​
    iceland,
    Starting on
    3S October 2020
    Ending on
    8S October 2020
    5 days to recharge and restore yourself in the natural beauty of Iceland. Hiking, yoga, whale watching and learning how to unplug are all on offer.
    Offer Price

    GBR Apply
    Buy Tickets

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

  • #ScrollFreeSeptember is back, better than ever!

    #ScrollFreeSeptember is back, better than ever!

    #ScrollFreeSeptember is back and it’s better than ever! Last year we encouraged you to engage with the RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health) initiative #ScrollFreeSeptember. Whether you want to go cold turkey, improve your productivity, or get better sleep, cutting back your tech use could help. Last year over 3/4 of the people who engaged in #ScrollFreeSeptember said it improved their mental health, 2/3 said it made them more productive and 3/4 said it improved their focus on those around them. So why wouldn’t you sign up to go scroll-free for September?

    In 2018 we highlighted the different ways you could choose to unplug for September, and today we will show you how to keep motivated with some top tips because we know how addictive screens can be!

    Top tips

    Out of sight, out of mind

    Get rid of temptation by deleting or simply moving social media apps from your devices. The extra time it takes to find the app could help you to think about what you are doing and to stop! Often clicking on the icons is a habit and not what you really want to be doing. You could also try using a ‘dumbphone‘, or putting your smartphone onto ‘airplane mode‘ so that you cannot use your data on social media.

    Do it together

    What about convincing your friends to do it with you? Talking to them about their progress will deepen your friendship. You will have more free time so it will be easier to see each other face-to-face and bond in the real world! Not only that but without the excuse of social media, you will have to be there for each other in a stronger way this month!

    Remember

    Try to remember what made you sign up for #ScrollFreeSeptember. Was it that you were tired of a whole summer’s worth of looking at others’ Instas? Was it that you are losing your creativity? Was it that you need to be more present for your family or work? Whatever the reason, you will be able to improve these qualities if you stick at it. Soon you will see the rewards!

    Enjoy it!

    As we advocate frequently at Time to Log Off, digital detoxes can provide you with more time and energy to fulfil your passions. You will be able to spend more time with your family and friends;  you can begin to cook more and better; you could take up a hobby and get your body moving again.

    The possibilities are endless for what you can do now that you are not simply scrolling! And if you want a bit of practice before September why not take part in our #SummerUnplugged challenge to get you warmed up?

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com