Most adults are now spending more time online than they are asleep, and work is intruding on every waking hour. Most children aged between five and 16 spend, on average, six-and-a-half hours a day on their screens.
Richard Graham, a consultant psychiatrist at the Nightingale hospital in London, suggests that families need to be encouraged to re-evaluate their relationship with technology. The number of teenagers he’s been treating for technology addiction has climbed in the past six months, and he believes young people in particular need more “digital-free space”.
Ed Sheeran, singer, has taken a year off social media, “no mobile phones, emails or Twitter for a whole year. I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes,” he wrote.
Even when on holiday, 90% of people spend upto 4 hours a day using their smartphones, tablets and other tech devices. Don’t be one of them, instead go on a tech-free, stress-free holiday…
* Set your out of office
* Tell close friends you’re going away so they know not to message you on social media
* Pack some good old analogue activities – books, magazines, card games like uno or dobble & scrabble.
* Search what’s on before you go then book and print your activities & itinerary before you get there to prevent the temptation of going online
By taking regular holidays, employers will benefit from more productive, focused and dedicated employees. Employees will feel less stressed and rejuvenated. Go on, take a break!