Not sure if you have a hangover from last night’s wine…or are you suffering from a screen time hangover?

It’s the eternal question of society today: how much screen time is too much? Most of us don’t ask ourselves this question until the inevitable “screen time hangover” has approached. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I salute you.

If you do, keep reading + take notes, save this article or send it to a friend who needs to hear the god-awful truth. 

Considering it’s 2022, I think it’s safe to say that *almost* everyone is attached to a device or screen for the majority of their day. For some, it comes with the job and for others it’s just the obsession with exploring, watching, and learning. 

I remember my first screen time hangover like it was yesterday — I was working a job that relied on inputting number after number, a phone that never stopped pinging texts and emails, and essentially all my downtime was dedicated to creating content/surfing Instagram to pass time – I was drained in every sense, the weight of my phone in my hand, the sound of an Instagram notification made the hair on my neck stand up. Capturing content seemed daunting and a simple phone call to mom seemed like a giant investment. 

It seemed crazy to go MIA for the weekend but I finally did it… fast forward 2 days later and I was brand new. I was refreshed from the time off socials, my creative juices were flowing + my connection with people seemed to be more intentional. 

If this sounds familiar and you’re wondering how I nursed myself back to health, don’t trip I’m giving you all my favorite screen time hangover remedies.

UTILIZE SCREEN TIME IN YOUR SETTING (iPhone)

This was probably my first step in the recovery process. Being able to see where I was spending the majority of my time made creating boundaries and healthy habits easier. Get weekly reports of your usage by app, and set app limits or downtime hours.

DO NOT DISTURB MODE (DND)

This one is my personal favorite. Whether you’re stepping into a meeting, heading to bed, reading, or even spending quality time. You can tailor DND to only notify you for things of the utmost importance, enabling you to stay present in whatever you’re doing.

TRADE YOUR SCROLL TIME FOR A WALK

You heard me, lace up the new balances and get your hot girl summer walk in.

DELETE “THAT APP”

I know this one sounds crazy, but if the walks, timers, weekly reports, and other boundaries aren’t working, don’t hesitate to delete “that app,” even if it’s just for a few days or even hours. You should eliminate your temptation and take charge of the time away from screens to achieve the reset you need. 

PODCASTS, PODCASTS, PODCASTS

If you’re weaning off the emotional attachment to your phone + ritual morning scroll sesh this is a great alternative. No matter the time of the day pop in the headphones and let the podcast do the work. 

DONT BE AFRAID TO TURN IT ALL OFF

Sometimes a hangover’s best cure is silence. Turn off the phone completely, I triple dog dare ya. 

TREAT YOURSELF TO A HANDS-FREE DAY

You heard me. Leave the phone at home, live your best life and use both hands for the day. 

Now it’s time for you to disconnect and get out of here!

xx — The Fairyblog Mother

P.S. If you run a business and want to avoid a screen time hangover, fill out our client application to see if we are a good fit to take over your socials.