Summer is the perfect time for your family to plan for time to connect without using technology. The research suggests that even short breaks from our phones (20-30 minutes here and there) can result in better mental health and overall wellbeing. As we plan for these device-free breaks the results of phone-free experiments tell us:
Teens are willing to try breaks from their devices, but it is hard to do on their own:
- Having their devices at their fingertips makes them hard to put out of their minds. They might need your help with putting their phone in an inaccessible location.
- There are expectations from peers and others for them to respond using their apps. Help them give their friends a heads up that they won’t be responding for the period of time they agree to do the phone-free break.
- The setting matters. If everyone around them has access to phones, taking a break will be nearly impossible. The adults in your family could agree to be phone-free in solidarity with them.
There are things teens will miss when on their device break:
- They are used to the rhythm of frequent notifications and instant responses. It will feel different and may be uncomfortable.
- Teens are accustomed to having music at their fingertips. Taking the time to listen to other sounds might be an unfamiliar experience.
Teens should practice the skills they may struggle a bit with:
- Making face to face connections with people they don’t already know might be unfamiliar. Consider helping them with asking good questions and other conversational techniques they can try.
- They may need help coming up with ideas for what to do without the aid of their technology.
Teens should pause and reflect after each short break from devices:
- Appreciate the beautiful sights and sounds around them.
- Experience getting to know others in a different way than they are accustomed to.
Encouraging teens to take short breaks from devices can be something we do with positive intent and planning. We should avoid taking devices away from teens as a consequence since it can unintentionally give the impression that a phone is a reward of some kind. The truth is that our society has become reliant on the systems and services available to us on our phones, but taking short breaks is also a good way to care for our well-being.