Start Small

New Canaan Unplugged

07 Aug 2024 — 2 min read

As the summer winds down, it is a great time to take stock of your tech use. A few small changes can help you reduce the time you spend on your phone and make it more intentional. If you are looking to make positive changes this fall, we have some thought-starters for you below.

START WITH SMALL CHANGES

SCREEN TIME AWARENESS - Do you know how much time you spend on your phone each day? You might be surprised… Check your Screen Time to better understand how much time you spend and where you spend it when on your device.
SOCIAL MEDIA ONLY ON WEEKENDS - If you spend too much time on social media, Dr. Raquel Harrison recommends removing those apps during the week. You can reinstall them on weekends and catch up when you have more time.
TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS - Americans check their phone an average of 144 times a day. Alerts from apps demand your attention, creating cues to pick up your phone. Try turning off all but the most essential notifications and the number of times you touch your phone in a day will decrease.
NARRATE YOUR TIME - If you have to pick up your phone with your family around, tell them why. When you voice your intention, you’ll be less likely to stray from your original purpose and your loved ones will have a better understanding of the choice you are making at that moment.

The small changes you make today will not only help you balance your time on devices - it will also help you model better habits for your children, giving them a head start when they are ready for a device of their own.

woman and man holding hands — Photo by Roman Kraft / Unsplash

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the New Canaan Sidewalk sale! We loved meeting so many members of our community who are passionate about “Unplugging”. If you are interested in creating a healthier relationship with technology for our children, please check out our survey HERE to let us know how you can help.

book near eyeglasses and cappuccino — Photo by Sincerely Media / Unsplash

ARTICLES WORTH YOUR TIME

Smart phones can act as “Digital Pacifiers” for children, grabbing attention in the short term but impeding a child’s emotional regulation in the long term. Click HERE to read.

The New York Times published this in-depth article on Dopamine and why it is one of the main reasons we get additicted to our phones. Click HERE to read. (Subscription may be required)

New Canaan Unplugged is a parent-run group completely independent from the New Canaan Public School System and the Town of New Canaan.

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