Do You Need a Tech Timeout? #TechTimeout #Foresters #ad @TechTimeout


“This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Foresters™ blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.”



Being constantly plugged in and switched on has become an element of society that is hard to eliminate. Being permanently turned onto tech isn’t necessarily healthy however and you should consider spending gadget-free time as often as you can. There are health reasons for spending time away from your computer, smartphone or tablet and below are the top reasons we think you should consider.

Focus and Productivity 

Constantly being plugged in has a detrimental effect on your productivity. When your phone is ringing, Twitter is zooming by and you’ve got twenty tabs open on your web browser, there’s just too much going on. These bursts of technological activity are not positively impacting upon your productivity and in fact are little more than distractions. Too much content and tech leaves your brain overstimulated and it makes it harder to focus on the task in hand.

Sky High Stress 

A UK study found that half of people questioned believed that social media had a negative impact on their lives as it made them rate and compare themselves over and over again to their peers on Facebook and Twitter. Social Media Anxiety Disorder is a term bandied about that although isn’t officially recognised is becoming serious. It can cause younger people in particular to feel under extreme pressure to live up to online expectations. Stress wherever it comes from can be dangerous and can lead to many things from lowered immunity to premature ageing.

Stunted Creativity 

If you’re finding it harder and harder to discover unique and innovative ideas it’s time to switch off. Enjoying nature and taking a walk around your local area can have a significant and positive effect on your creativity and it removes you from the digital world to process your own thoughts instead of everyone else’s for a change.

Sleep Trouble 

This is a no brainer. If you’re constantly plugged in then it’s likely you’ll take at least one device to bed with you and even if you have it on silent you’ll see it flashing away and not be able to stop yourself. Even using technology before bed can be problematic due to the blue wavelength of light that screens emit. This wavelength tricks the brain into believing it should be alert and therefore delays the release of melatonin which induces sleep. The dangers of sleep deprivation are well documented and can lead to obesity, heart problems and strokes.

Physical Pain 

Hunching in front of your computer will affect your back, your neck and even your legs. Spending hours sat down in front of a screen can lead to poor posture and the pains don’t stop there. Doctors have reported more incidents of thumb, hand and wrist pain due to the use of on-the-go smartphones and tablet devices and maybe it is time just to give it a break. Think about your health and think about your happiness. Of course being plugged in is probably essential to your life but do you need it 24 hours a day? One day the light will switch on and you’ll think ‘maybe I should sell my laptop’ and focus on some healthy, happy tech-free time.

For these reasons and more, life insurance provider Foresters recently launched a Tech Timeout challenge to encourage families to take a daily one-hour scheduled break from their electronic devices and reconnect with each other in a more personal way.

Foresters hopes that by launching Tech Timeout families will grow awareness of how our attachment to technology affects how we spend time together, even when we are in the same room. Foresters’ mission is to champion family well-being and encourage families to take the Tech Timeout pledge and “disconnect to reconnect” for one hour each day for a week. Use this time to enjoy tech-free activities as a family and think about new ways to spend time together. Families are encouraged to disconnect from all things electronic with the goal of helping spouses, parents and children build stronger bonds, communicate more personally and get more involved in each other’s lives. Foresters is always looking for innovative ways to help families spend meaningful time together.

I personally have to take a tech timeout everyday with my family for more than an hour. Since I work at home on the computer, I am always using my computer and phone like a business woman. But it's not fair for my family to not have "me" during that time. So daily, I do things with my family like playing outside, taking a walk, or even eating out so we can have quality time together. Through these tech timeouts, I am able to bond much better with my family because I don't take any technology with me at all. I leave it all behind and just think about my family instead of work.

Here's some awesome ideas on how to take a tech timeout with your family thanks to Foresters.



If your family needs a tech timeout, then you should take the pledge over at techtimeout.com



“This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Foresters™ blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.” 

Please note that new FTC blogger guidelines recommend posting the disclosure clearly at the top and at the end of sponsored blog posts. Updated .com Disclosure Guidelines: http://ftc.gov/os/2013/03/130312dotcomdisclosures.pdf

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