Take time out with techtimeout!

Here at Human Everything HQ we are thrilled to be partnering with our new BFF’s, techtimeout!

We have been talking for a while now about the need to take some time for yourself - in fact, anyone who does our Mental Health First Aid course get a Happiness Hour as part of their homework.

We recognise the need that as part of your mental health and wellbeing, you need to create a space where you can recharge and do something, just for you. That may be reading a book, taking the dog for a walk or playing the guitar. You can read more about our Happiness Hour in an earlier blog here.

Our friends at techtimeout have delved a little deeper into the world of technology usage and have come up with some alarming statistics. We’ve become so used to using tech - in particular, our smartphones, that we don’t do much without them.

Research in the UK has estimated that the average person checks their phone around 58 times a day.

From a mental health perspective, overuse of technology can contribute to feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression. This is without taking into account the impact on sleep (blue light impacts the production of melatonin, the hormone that signals to your body that it's time to sleep) which is not only crucial for the health of your immune system but directly influences your ability to deal with stress and store memories.

Checking your phone during another activity shifts your focus and it then takes an average of 23 minutes to completely refocus.

38% of adults check their phones after they have gone to sleep.

Britons spend the equivalent of 30 full days a year on their phones.

But don’t worry - we aren’t going to tell you that you need to throw your phones away. We would also break out in a cold sweat/possibly die if we were to lose our access to technology as well… but techtimeout have set you a challenge to have a healthier and more productive relationship with the technology that you use. Hooray!

The first step is to become aware of your technology usage. Just how much are you on your phone, and is it entirely necessary? I know that I sit on the sofa in front of the TV scrolling through various platforms, but it means that I am neither “here” nor “there”. Not being fully mindful or present is not only a waste of my time, it means that Colin doesn’t get 100% of me either, and neither does Edward. And when you think about it, it’s a terrible pity that we lose these endless hours…for nothing! because we don’t get that time back. I’m pretty sure that anyone you ask near the end of their life isn’t going to tell you that they wished they had spent more time scrolling through Instagram.

The next step is to take action and come up with a plan. What are you going to do to break the habit? They offer some tools and resources to help you (and even better, you can get your employer to pledge to this as well and take some tech time out as part of your organisation).

Lastly it’s all about setting new boundaries and building new habits to help you become much more conscious of your usage and recognise when you revert to old ways.

So when you take your Happiness Hour, try and make it analogue, not digital. Ditch the screen and get up and do something much more productive instead!