3 Ways to Encourage Screen-Free Spaces at Home
If you've been following along here for a while, you've probably noticed that we’re big believers in minimizing unnecessary screentime. Whether that's using apps to limit the amount of time we spend on our phones, setting time limits during the day when we don't use certain devices or platforms, or simply deciding that some devices and platforms are off limits, we do our best to arrange our digital world so that we control how our tech affects our lives, not the other way around.
We've noticed an uptick in public spaces trying to encourage screen-free time, too. Some local coffee shops have stopped offering Wi-Fi all together. Others have put up signs encouraging people to minimize unnecessary phone use.
But what if you’re trying to reduce screentime at home?
It can be especially tempting to settle down at the end of a long day, pull out the phone, and browse the internet for hours. Maybe you tend toward binge-watching or hours of computer games. And of course, there’s the dreaded house party where everybody just sits around on their phones - total bummer.
If you’re looking to reduce the prevalence of screens in your off-time, we've got some tips and tricks that we've had success with over the years.
1. Encourage people (including yourself!) to leave their phones in a basket when they come into your home.
This is a great habit for your own every-day use, but it can be scaled up for parties, too. You’ll want this basket to be in a highly visible place right when people walk in, which is why we prefer using a small table near the door. To make it even more likely you’ll use this strategy, put your phone charger there, too. Then you plug in your phone as soon as you walk in the door and leave it there.
When you’re hosting a gathering, you can put a little sign next to it encouraging people to leave their phones and pick them up at the end. Start the ball rolling by putting your own phone in the basket, and this will encourage others to do it, too. Leading by example can go a long way.
2. Make sure you have alternative things for people to do.
Whether you're just having an evening at home or entertaining some friends, having alternative activities available will help people control the urge to check their phones. Sometimes, people scroll on their phones because they have excess nervous energy and need to keep their hands busy. Think about having small toys to play with or little crafts like friendship bracelets or knitting. Other times, people scroll on their phones because they need to quiet parts of their brain that are overactive. To help with that, give people something quiet to do that occupies just a little bit of mental energy, like a large jigsaw puzzle. This way, they can still sit and chat with each other while using a small part of their brain to do something else.
3. Designate screen-free rooms.
Sleep scientists have been harping on this for a long time, but screens in the bedroom can be really disruptive to your sleep. Whether it’s a tv, your laptop, or your phone, the blue light from those screens is harmful to your body’s natural ability to sense tiredness. That’s why we’re big fans of making the bedroom a screen-free zone, so that once you’re in bed, you’re not tempted to pull out your phone for one last scroll.
You can also implement a screen-free zone in your dining room (to prevent mindless scrolling during meals that would interrupt your ability to sense satiety and prevent you from chatting with family and friends) or any other room where you think screentime might be harmful to the activities you engage in there. Maybe you might even want to consider the bathroom? We hear a lot of people take their phones in there, and we totally get wanting to have a little entertainment, but maybe that’s not the best place for a phone—the danger from dropping it is pretty serious!
Screen-free spaces at home can go a long way toward helping you maintain bonds with loved ones, truly wind down at the end of your day, and feel a sense of peace. We hope these ideas help you get a little closer to achieving your reduced screentime goals.
Have you successfully managed to implement screen free zones or times? What strategies did you use? We'd love to hear from you in the comment section.
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