How to have more connection and have less screen time as a family

There’s A LOT of conversion about technology and kids right now. And it may be hard to navigate without some guilt and as parents ourselves, the team at Bend gets it! That’s why we’re here to help you drop the shame, while encouraging everyone in your home to enjoy connection both on and beyond the screens. 

We’re not here to shame tech usage, but instead, our team is all about finding solutions and realistic boundaries that can help you to have a healthier relationship with your devices and feel your best. Read on for ways to experience more connection (and less guilt!) around screen time.

‍Realistic ways to take screen breaks for more connection 

Our devices can be a wonderful way to stay in touch with others and the internet can introduce us to many things that we would have never experienced otherwise, but they can also divide our attention and distract us from enjoying IRL moments and connections. Here are some tips that can help: 

• Create morning and nighttime routines. Whether it’s completing school assignments or checking work emails, screens are a necessary part of most of our daily lives. But starting off and ending our day with healthier habits can make a big difference in how we feel. Consider removing your phone from everyone’s bedrooms (hello, kitchen charging station!) and making this sacred space a no-screen zone. Replace the time you’d all be scrolling with a relaxing activity, like journaling, taking a bath, or reading a book. Adding calming habits into your routine can boost your mood, lower stress, and help you to get a better night’s sleep.

• Schedule tech breaks. Is there a dedicated chunk of time each day or week that you can unplug for a few hours? Maybe it’s taking Friday night as a “Tech Shabbat” so that you can hang out with friends, or maybe it’s Sunday morning so you can take a nature walk. Take some time to notice how you all feel afterward and celebrate tapping into a little mindfulness!

• Prioritize hobbies or activities. When was the last time that you did something that you really enjoyed that didn’t involve your phone? Consider taking a class, getting creative with an art project, making dinner for friends, or joining a local volunteer group to give back and build connections within your community.
  
  
• Avoid multitasking, when possible. Whether it’s scrolling on our phones while watching TV or texting while eating lunch, we’ve all gotten pretty used to using tech to do many things at once. To support your ability to focus, encourage everyone in your household to set down their devices when doing things like eating meals or talking to one another. 

• Talk to someone you trust. So many of us have complicated relationships with our phones, especially when it comes to social media. Chances are if you or someone in your family is struggling with it, there is someone around you who has gone through something similar. Reach out to someone you trust to share your experience or talk to a mental health professional for support.

You don’t have to do it perfectly and just remember that making small changes can lead to big results. Bend is here to help you with challenges like navigating tech use so don’t hesitate to reach out if you could use some support.

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