What would your life look like without social media or smartphones?

Have you ever wondered what life would look like if social media or smartphones didn’t exist? Do you think life would be simpler and less stressful? Are you concerned about the increase in drugs, such as Ritalin, being prescribed for hyperactivity and ADHD in both children and adults?

As an educator of elementary children and a family life coach, I have observed a significant shift in children’s emotional development and the inability for many kids to self-regulate following the rise of technology. I don’t have all the answers but I do know that as adults, we are capable of making changes to create healthy boundaries and limitations with our devices. It is possible!

Whether you are a parent, a relative, an educator, or friend and you have children, or teenagers in your life, I feel it is valuable for you to know they are observing and learning habits from you- including the relationship that you have with your smartphones. Our smartphones can consume us and distract us from what is really important. Kids are intelligent and they know when we aren’t listening to them. If we are heads-down in our devices, checking social media, texting, playing games or emails and not being present, what role model are we to our children?

What or who are important to you? What about self-care? Are you doing enough for you? What about engaging, connecting and playing with your loved ones? Here are some helpful tips I am personally doing at home. If you have any questions, I would love to hear from you. anthea@branchingforward.com

• Put your phone on airplane mode one hour before you go to bed.

• When you wake up in the morning, try not pick up your phone.

• If you use your phone as an alarm clock, turn the alarm off and then spend time focussing on your breath. Take 3 deep breaths and shift your thoughts on 3 positive things that you can do throughout your day. Trust me, this little tip will change the way you go about your day.

• Try not looking at your phone or having it readily available at any mealtime. Focus on the the people you are with and engage in conversation.

• Take a social media break which means deleting the apps from your phone for one week. I did this for 3 months and it was amazing.

• Take time out of your day to unplug & be present. Try putting your device on silent and put it away for 1 hour a day and have some personal time or connect with your loved ones. Perhaps go for a walk, get outside, find a motivating podcast or inspirational music, and enjoy? What things do you love to do that you’ve lost track of?

• When loved ones want to connect with you, especially teenagers, I encourage you to put your device away and show up and be ready to listen. They need us as much as we need them.