Start Thinking....... So You Can Stop Destructive Screen Habits

Living your life without looking at screens is nearly impossible now, but do you really need to look at them 10 or 11 hours per day? Ya, that’s the average amount of time people spend looking at screens. Is changing your screen habits hard? You bet! But only if you try to change everything at the same time! Big changes are difficult, and take time, but there are many easy steps you can take right now. Take many steps, even small ones, and pretty soon you're getting somewhere. BIGTIME! ​

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Healthier Screen Habits Today
An easy first step is just to look, right? Start looking for specific screen habits you want to change, just 2 or 3. Maybe it’s spending less time on social media, reducing the interruptions at work, or binging less Netflix! Even if you don't accomplish anything immediately, you are preparing yourself. Thinking, about change, sets your mind and your motivation in motion.

Thinking about change doesn’t mean you're looking for an excuse to avoid difficult tasks. You wouldn't expect to quit cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine all at once, right? Just make things better today, in any small way. Seeing results will motivate you for the more difficult steps. Consider some of the following simple actions:​

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1. Once you’ve thought of 2 or 3 screen habits you'd like to change, write them down. That’s it. This makes the possibility more real and gets your mind working. Eventually, you can make this "wish list" into real goals, with a specific plan.
2. Now that you have written down the 2 or 3 habits you want to change, talk to a trusted friend or family member that you know will support you. By talking about it, you are taking another step to make it more real. They also might have some ideas for you. Even better, they may want to join you!
3. Close your eyes 5 minutes a day for a week. Think about the screen habits you want to change. Keep a notebook handy to jot down any ideas that might lead to steps on how you might change your habits. If closing your eyes doesn’t do it for you, maybe go for a walk instead. Walking can often gives us that thinking time. ​

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​I could go on, but I don't know what your goals and needs are. The point here is to get you thinking, and then taking whatever actions you can. If you think about all the different ways screens are disrupting your life, you will probably get overwhelmed. If you thought about the whole process of getting a college or university degree, you might never do it, but it's easy to take 1 course or semester at a time, right? (And then one more, and one more...).
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​So start thinking and making that list!

Until next month folks,
Pierre

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