Screen-free morning routines are becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to start their day off right without being distracted by their phones or computers. By taking some time each morning to focus on ourselves and our goals, we can set ourselves up for success throughout the rest of the day.
A screen-free morning routine is essential for achieving a healthy balance between digital life and real life. Without a regular morning ritual, it can be easy to get lost in the endless stream of notifications and emails that fill our lives. By taking just 10 minutes each morning to disconnect from screens and maintain a more screen-life balance, we can make sure that we are making the most of our day and living with intention.
The truth is, no one routine fits all. Some people prefer to start their mornings by journaling or reading, while others like to drink coffee or go for a walk. Whatever your preference may be, it’s important to find something that works for you and stick to it.
Starting your morning with a screen-free routine can help you start your day off right and set the tone for the rest of your day. Whether it's journaling, reading, drinking coffee, working out, or taking a walk, there are plenty of ways to kickstart your morning without getting distracted by screens.With this in mind, here are some of the best screen-free morning routines that will help you start your day on the right foot.
Starting your day with a warm beverage is an excellent way to begin your morning routine. Not only does it provide you with the necessary energy boost to get through the day, but it also helps to kick-start your metabolism and improve your mental clarity. Whether it's coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, having a warm beverage in the morning can help you set yourself up for success.
A morning journaling session can be a great way to set yourself up for success. Writing down your thoughts, ideas, and goals can help you stay organized and motivated throughout the day. It's also an opportunity to reflect on the things that you are grateful for, which can help put you in a positive mindset. Journaling is a great way to start your morning routine and make sure that you're feeling energized and ready to take on the day.
Starting your day with a walk is a great way to get some fresh air, clear your mind and get your body moving. A morning walk can help you to feel energized, motivated and ready to tackle the day ahead. It's also a great way to start off on the right foot and set yourself up for success. Walking in the morning can also help reduce stress levels, improve concentration and focus, as well as boost your mood. So why not make it part of your morning routine?
Reading a chapter of a book in the morning can help you focus, increase your productivity, and give you a sense of direction throughout the day. Not only that, but it can also help you relax and unwind after a busy night. Reading can provide insight into different perspectives and help you gain knowledge that can be applied to your everyday life. Whether it's fiction or non-fiction, reading a chapter of a book in the morning is an ideal way to start off your day on the right foot!
A good workout can set the tone for the rest of your day. It's an important part of a healthy lifestyle and it can help you stay motivated and energized throughout the day.
A morning workout routine can provide you with a variety of benefits, from improved physical health to increased mental clarity. It can also help you manage stress better and give you more energy to tackle whatever comes your way.
No single routine fits all - so find what works best for you. Maybe it’s spending 15 minutes jotting down your thoughts in a journal or taking an early morning walk to get some fresh air and clear your head. Whatever it is that helps you start the day with clarity and focus - make sure to incorporate it into your daily routine!
A screen-free morning routine can help you be more productive, creative and energized. By taking the time to focus on activities that don't involve screens, you can give yourself the opportunity to get in touch with your thoughts and feelings. Whether it's stretching, reading or journaling - a screen-free morning routine is essential for creating a positive mindset for the day ahead.
]]> Clean space, clean mind. Well, it's not necessarily a clean space if we have screens everywhere we go. If we are trying to get away from screens and focus on our self-care, we should first be aware of where the screens are and how we can eliminate them from our sight. Overall, this will help us stay focused while we take the time to spruce up our space!
Here are some ways to practice environmental self-care for your screens:
This way, you will reach for these activities to do with others instead of reaching for your phone and screens.
We highly suggest turning off all the unnecessary app notifications so that you can stay present and in the moment. When we get all our bings, beeps and vibrations from our smart phones, our mindset is now distracted by the thought of "What's on my phone that I need to look at". Start by doing these steps:
Go through all your apps and delete any that you do not use or need anymore.
Move all work or school related apps to the last page of your apps. Out of sight and out of mind.
Go to your smart phone's notification center, and change the apps notification to off.
For some apps with a high value, like the phone call app, try switching the notification to fewer bings and beeps.
Well, get moving on these three tips for staying present this holiday season. The best gift of all is your presence, so implement these tips now to be fully in the moment for the holidays.
]]>We're calling all early Christmas shoppers! It’s time to let your inner homebody out and reconnect with what matters. With the beginning of the fall season only a few days away, it’s time to prepare for the busiest season of the year. The pandemic might have changed the way we reconnect with each other but this year, let’s make the holiday season count by disconnecting from technology and spending a good quality time together.
If you agree 100% with unplugging for the holidays, check out these five gifts for unplugging that can help you and others disconnect from technology to spend a great quality time together.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a pre-holiday activity or if you buy one at your preferred marketplace DIY gift baskets are always appreciated. The best part about this gift it’s that it can be anything you want. From an office supplies gift basket to a self-care and wellness basket, it’s your choice. The process of creating a meaningful gift with small things they like, it’s what makes this DIY basket the perfect unplugging gift. It not only helps you unplug; it also helps them do so too and feel appreciated at the same time.
Start your DIY gift basket by buying small things this person likes, and don’t forget to add a card with an appreciation message at the end!
If you love soft, warm, and fluffy winter clothes, this is the perfect gift. Cozy gift sets have endless possibilities, and they can be another DIY gift! If you don’t like the premade cozy gift set at your local clothes store, create your own with tie-dye sweater and sweatpants set or soft blankets and bathrobes. Anything that helps create a relaxing detox environment for a relative or friend can be part of this gift. And don’t forget to add a scented candle to the mix.
Books are the most precious gift for book lovers in the house. True book lovers never have enough books. On special holidays, books can be the perfect companions for those homebodies who love to read a good story while sipping hot chocolate during winter mornings. Plus, what better way to unplug than with a good book?
Books can also be a great activity idea to share with your relatives during the festivities. Have you tried having a small book club discussion? It’s never too late to try new things.
Selfcare and wellness boxes are the most underrated but always appreciated gifts. We see them all the time during the year. It’s the best solution for a small token of appreciation. They are an impersonal but caring gift when needed. And guess what? Selfcare and wellness boxes have become so popular that they can be the best gift to receive during a post-pandemic year. We all love a good scented candle, a sweet body lotion, small essential oils, and even body wash with a fluffy sponge. It’s cute, simple, and it smells delicious.
Selfcare and wellness boxes are the best gifts we always share but might never have time to buy for ourselves, which is why it makes them the perfect unplug gift for the holidays. You can do a DIY self-care and wellness box and share a self-care routine that could help someone else unplug too.
DIY presents can be better than common gifts. These gift ideas can show a person how much you love them and thank them for being in your life. Holidays are about spending time with your loved ones and being grateful for the little things. Share these gifts ideas with others who will appreciate your effort to give them a nice little break to disconnect from the world. It’s time to unplug!
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You’ve probably heard this a thousand times before: “If I had more time, I could sleep, clean, cook, exercise, and work in one day” It’s true. When you work full-time, have kids to take care of, and a life to keep up with, it’s hard to focus on setting it down and getting housework done. Time slips from your fingers. However, it’s possible to find the balance between all those things.
The answer is in a few simple keywords: Time management. Healthy boundaries. Schedules. Organization.
Once you find the best rhythm for you, these daily tasks will become a piece of cake. Set it Down can also help you with it. Allow yourself to try these easy five ways to find the balance between working and housework.
The best way to make anything work is to make it part of your daily routine. Daily habits are the key to find balance when you barely have time to breathe. According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, the average person takes 18 to 254 days to create a habit.
It might seem long, but the solution is to stop overthinking it. Just do it. Make your housework, even small tasks, a part of your daily routine. Soon it would become a regular activity, and when you notice, it will be a habit in your daily routine.
We often hear that overwork is the key to success. It's false. Hard work, perseverance, and resilience are the key to success, and it’s something we can do during our regular work hours or maintaining a healthy work schedule. Over the years, we have normalized overworking without paying attention to our mental and physical health. And that brings more negative consequences than good.
Constant exhaustion and impediment to executing daily tasks it’s not a badge of honor. According to Inc, in an eight-hour day, the average worker is productive around three hours. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also mentioned that even though Americans work 8 hours every day, 2,000 full-time workers are not working for most of the time they spent at work.
Set healthy boundaries when it comes to working to avoid the exhaustion and excuses that prevent you from doing housework or even taking some time for yourself. We work in schedules for a reason. Our bodies have a limit. So, know when to take a break and focus on something aside from work.
When starting housework, you don’t have to do everything in one day. Every person is different. If your schedule is too tight during the week, try dividing tasks or taking a day off during the weekend to focus on house chores. The best way to divide tasks is by setting a weekly schedule, adding small cleaning tasks each day. Avoid torturing yourself with it, but try completing most of them until you can look at your tasks list and be pleased with the results.
Homes to love suggest setting a timer every time you’re doing these tasks. Sometimes tackling jobs faster can help you to do them more easily.
Housework doesn’t have to be a stressful activity. If your daily work life is stressful enough and you’re always looking for ways to de-stress, add doing house chores to your list of de-stress activities. Many people do it.
Cleaning is also an exercise. The movements involved in carrying stuff from room to room, going up and down the stairs, scrubbing windows and more can be what you need to start de-stressing. According to Verywell mind, cleaning done right can bring benefits like relieving stress and exercising.
Procrastination is one of our worst enemies. I know it’s my biggest challenge, and it’s probably the same for other people out there. Once you lose track of your activities, it’s almost impossible to go back to them. Laziness is a big distraction and the main reason for an unbalanced life. It’s surprising how much time we can spend distracted with our phones or stuff happening around us. Those distractions are time that is not coming back.
According to a study published in The Muse, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to a task once you get distracted. And getting out of this “distraction zone” can be the biggest challenge of your day.
It’s time to say goodbye to distractions and focus on your day. Even a brief conversation can be your detonator. We are not saying to avoid it at all costs. Keep to a minimum and remind people that you’re busy at the moment. When you finish, it can be easier to give others your full attention.
And always remember to take a break. No matter how busy you are with work or housework, time for yourself is always required. Take five minutes, thirty, or even an hour break, depending on how long you plan to work. A break will help your body not to pay for the consequences of overwork in the long run. Attach to your schedule and timeframe to always maintain a balanced life.
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Do you remember when you were younger and your parents would tell you not to sit too close to the television? It’s strange how times have changed because prior to the pandemic, I don’t think I visited a single restaurant where there wasn’t some young child with an iPad practically glued to their face and whatever video they were watching at top volume.
Due to COVID-19, most of us have spent a lot of time inside and online whether it be for work, schooling, or even just to pass the time. I know I feel my heart sink whenever my phone sends me an alert about how much screen time I’ve had for the day. It’s always way more than I’m expecting.
But how is all this extra screen time, whether it be for business or pleasure, affecting our body physically? There’s been a lot of talk around blue light and how the added time on our devices could be damaging our eyes. Maybe you’ve seen your favorite influencer showing off a brand new pair of blue light blocking glasses, claiming they were necessary for someone whose career had them constantly looking at their screens.
I am someone who is on my computer a lot and I’ve toyed with the idea of purchasing blue light glasses for a while now. My eyesight is not great and I already wear glasses most of the time because I’m nearsighted. The last thing I want to do is weaken my eyes any further.
But, are blue light blocking glasses worth it? Especially when many of them come with a ridiculous price tag?
Well, let’s dig a little deeper:
In 2017, the University of Houston published a study in which they detailed how they'd surveyed a group of 22 people aged 17-42 regarding their sleeping schedules with and without blue light glasses. When the group wore their glasses for three hours a day, they reported feeling better rested in the morning and their nighttime melatonin levels had increased by 58%.
This information isn’t exactly new.
The National Sleep Foundation has been suggesting that you put your phone away at least 30 minutes before bed for a few years now, so I’m not exactly convinced that I need to make the purchase. Putting my phone away a little earlier than normal is free, whereas blue light glasses can be quite expensive with some of the highly rated pairs retailing upwards $75 USD.
Harvard Medical School released an article in 2019 which claimed that blue light does not damage the retina. The article explains how we get 10x more blue light from the sun than any device. During the day this is a positive thing as blue light can improve one’s mood and increase their alertness.
This becomes a problem at night, when one wants to sleep and it has been proven to mess up one’s biological clock. In regards to the accuracy of blue light glasses, there’s a link to another article which discusses the lack of evidence suggesting that blue light blocking glasses protect your retina at all and details how an advertiser of the glasses, Boots Opticians, had recently been fined for misleading claims regarding such.
Finally, in 2021, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (which is the study of the eye) released their report which described how any pain felt while looking at a device was eye strain and not any permanent damage to the retina. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also had something to add to the discussion of the usefulness of blue light glasses by saying that they do not recommend the glasses for the same reason as the Harvard Medical School: lack of evidence.
There is no current evidence to suggest that blue light is damaging to your eyes and there’s no need to drop major dough for the blue light blocking glasses. However, this, of course, doesn’t mean you should spend every waking moment behind a screen! There’s still plenty of research that suggests how doing so could be damaging to one’s mental health. For now though, remember to take some time before bed to put away the device and prepare yourself for a restful sleep. ]]>
Having spent so much time at home, many of us have been trying to find some new hobbies to help pass the time. Painting is considered creating art, and creating art is always an option. But going to a supplies store like Michaels can be overwhelming. There’s so many different types of paper, paints, and even brushes! Which do you choose?
Well, I’m here to help!
Have you ever painted a birdhouse or on a t-shirt before? Yes? Then you may be familiar with acrylic paint! Acrylic paint is very versatile and can be used on many different surfaces such as wood, metal, fabrics, and ceramics. The paint, which is made up of pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer, is water-soluble (dissolves in water), but when it dries is water-durable (can withstand water)!
Acrylic paint does not require water to activate, is quick to dry, and can be found for relatively cheap prices, making it one of the better choices for beginners!
Clare Hall and King’s College Chapel, JMW Turner, 1793
Watercolor is a type of paint that is made up of dry pigment that has been mixed together with gum arabic and is activated by water. The more water used with watercolor, the more transparent the paint will be. For best results, you should only use paper that’s advertised as watercolor friendly!
Watercolor can be tricky to worth it, but it can be a fun option to try!
Similarly to watercolor, gouache paint (pronounced like squash) is used with water. There are a few differences between the two though. Unlike watercolor, gouache dries very quickly and has an opaque/matte finish. Gouache does tend to be more expensive than watercolor, so it may be a good idea to start with watercolor before moving on to gouache (I, unfortunately, speak from experience … a very expensive experience).
Finally, we have oil paints which are made up of particles of pigment that have been dispersed into a drying oil (usually linseed). They have a very slow drying time and can be manipulated by the artist either by adding multiple layers of paint and/or scraping the paint off or around the canvas with a palette knife. Oil paints have been around for quite a long time and have been dated back to the 13th century! They are great for an artist who likes to work with paper, cardboard, or canvas!
Paint is an amazing medium. It’s so interesting to see how different ingredients added to the pigment can create different types of texture and opacity!
It can be a little nerve-wracking to begin a new hobby. Sometimes you can’t help but worry ‘what if I’m not good at it’ especially when you’ve spent money on supplies! It’s important to remember that skills take time to develop and that no one is able to paint ‘The Starry Night’ their first time picking up a brush, not even Vincent van Gogh, himself! Trial and error is part of the process! In order to flourish, you can’t just make good art, you just have to try!
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Yoga is a good way to de-stress and increase your flexibility at the same time. But there are a lot of different Yoga moves and having to attend a class at a gym can be both expensive and overwhelming. You may be familiar with some yoga terminology like ‘child’s pose’ or ‘downward dog,’ but there’s plenty of other beginner poses you can do right at home!
Not sure where to begin? Look no further, below I’ve compiled a few different sources to help you get started on your yoga journey!
Before we begin, let’s acknowledge the benefits of yoga. According to John Hopkins Medicine there are several benefits to doing yoga including back pain relief, stress management, and improvement in strength, balance, and flexibility. Set It Down’s mission is to help others become mindful of how often they’re looking at their screens and yoga can be a great way to de-stress and improve both one’s physical and mental health at the same time.
Sounds pretty good, huh? Here are three free sources you can use to help you through your first few rounds of exercises:
First up, we have my personal favorite Adriene from Yoga with Adriene. She is a well-known yoga Youtuber with a large fanbase of over 9 million subscribers.
One of my favorite things about Adriene, is that she stresses the importance of listening to your body and only doing the poses that your body can handle. If you have body image issues or you’re just really nervous about starting to exercise, Adriene is a supportive coach and I highly recommend her!
Another solid source that stresses body positivity is Yoga Journal. They have several different teachers who are all different shapes and sizes. They’ll show you the best kind of yoga for your body type from beginners to experts!
As someone who struggles with body image myself, I found it helpful and encouraging to learn from those who have similar body shapes to my own. Exercising can be tricky and a little terrifying especially for young women in a world that seems catered to people with a specific type of build.
Jessamyn Stanley, who is featured in the image below, is an amazing yogi who's supportive and welcoming to her audience! I highly suggest you give her video a try!
Finally, our third option is the channel Yoga with Kassandra. Similarly to our other two yogis, Adriene and Jessamyn, Kassandra promotes body positivity through her yoga. She is known for her soothing voice and welcoming vibe.
In her video, 30 min Beginner Yoga, Kassandra introduces several poses that will help you build strength and begin to improve your flexibility. Her comments section is full of others beginning their yoga journey who are excited and encouraging of their fellow beginners! It’s a great community that loves to support one another and the perfect place for a beginner to start.
Feel free to give any of these lovely women a try! Exercise can be tricky and scary to begin, but these yogis are open and willing to both teach and listen to their audience. Who knows? Maybe just giving it a shot will lead you down a path that helps to bring a positive and beneficial change to your life! A just maybe, you will start practicing yoga without the need of a screen!
]]>Screen addiction can affect everyone. From young children to grown adults, too much time staring at a screen can bring negative consequences to your life. You might not notice immediately, but screen addiction can be the one responsible for many bad habits in your day-a-day.
Fortunately, we’ve made a list of those less-desired facts you didn’t know about screen addiction. But first, let’s define what screen addiction is:
According to Kathryn Lorenz, MD, of Upper Valley Family Medicine, part of Premier Physician Network, screen addiction is "a group of behaviors that are negative, with some negative outcomes, that can happen when you use too much technology during your day.”
“Prolonged use of watching TV, video games, scrolling through social media – all of that use acts like a digital drug for our brain.”
You didn’t notice before? Don’t worry about it. It won't happen again. Today, we’ll make sure you know how screen addiction affects your mind and body, and how this can affect your children as well.
This sounds good since we’ve heard before that dopamine is responsible for pleasure. But with screen addiction, it works like a drug. It consumes your nervous system and affects the brain. According to Dr. Lorenz, screen addiction releases dopamine in a negative way because it affects your impulse control like how cocaine works.
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter. It helps us strive, focus, and find things interesting, so let’s not waste it staring at a screen all day.
This is worse in children than adults, but it’s still a cause of lack of creativity. To solve problems, most of the time, you’re required to think outside the box. But how can you do that if you have no creativity? It happens to everyone. I too struggled to get good ideas because I preferred to watch TV, play video games, or watch random videos on YouTube, instead of seating down to do my job.
That’s how you affect your problem-solving abilities and creativity. When you stare at a screen for too long, you lose focus on reality. Time goes by and you don’t realize it’s late until the sky is dark outside. The same things happen with early exposure to screens in children.
A study in 2019, tried to prove how screen addiction was harming children’s creativity. The poll revealed that more children had imaginary friends five years ago. From 1,000 responses of nursery owners and staff, less than half revealed that children at their nursery had imaginary friends. But 72% stated that fewer children had imaginary friends now, and 63% believed it was due to screen addiction.
Another reason to set down your screens. Mental health is as important as physical health. Many studies out there tried for centuries to discover the cause of depression and anxiety, but it turns out that it has many factors. One of those is screen addiction.
New studies revealed that children and young adults that spend seven hours or more a day in front of a screen (aside from school work) were more easily distracted, less emotionally stable, and had more problems finishing tasks and making friends compared to those who didn’t.
Sit in front of a screen is easier than any other activity in the world. It doesn’t require much energy or movement. You just sit down and watch a show for hours until it’s time to go to bed. With those types of habits is easy to lose interest in other activities that require time and effort.
A red flag of screen addiction, and probably the easiest one to spot is this one. If you prefer to stare at a screen instead of joining the real world in more active activities, then you might be suffering from screen addiction. Yet don’t panic, you’re still on time to stop this toxic behavior and join the world outside.
Screen addiction makes you vulnerable to chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
According to Activehealth, “spending too much time on screens spikes your insulin and blood glucose levels, and also leads to accumulation of fat in your bloodstream.”
The only way to avoid this is to reduce the time you spent on a screen and keep yourself physically active. Your body will thank you for it.
Screen addiction is not something we should take likely. It brings many long-term consequences with it that affect children, young adults, and adults all the same. The only way to stop it is to recognize the red flags on time and come to terms with the fact that we can’t live our lives through screens. There’s always time to set it down and go outside to exercise or have some old-fashioned fun outdoors. So, be aware of the red flags at all times and enjoy life!]]>
You’re out and about at the grocery store and it’s crowded or maybe you’re about to take a test that you aren’t certain you can pass. Anxiety is rising up within you, making you shake and tremble and you feel as though your heart is going to burst from your chest. Maybe you’re even just home alone, sitting on the couch and you can’t help but feel scared though you’re not quite sure why.
Trust me, you’re not alone.
I have been in all three of these situations. Sometimes my anxiety seems to come from thin air even if nothing is happening and I have no ‘real’ reason to feel scared. Usually, my first instinct is to grab my phone and use the internet as a distraction. Not only is this not the best idea regardless, but half the time I end up reading something (whether it be news or drama on Twitter) that makes me even more anxious than I was before!
The internet has made it easy to know the moment an event is happening whether it be a good thing or bad. There’s even settings on some watches and phones that automatically send you an alert when news breaks. It feels as though you can’t escape!
So what do you do?
Well, recently I’ve been introduced to a new grounding technique that I’ve found pretty helpful and I hope that by sharing it, it’ll help you too!
As you may know from elementary, there are five senses: sight, touch, sound, smell and taste. For this grounding technique, we’re going to focus on each sense and go one at a time.
Let’s begin with sight. Look around the room you’re in. Select five items and take in their appearance. Do you have a picture in your room? Whose in it? What color clothes are they wearing? Maybe you’re at school or in the library and are studying for an exam! Do you have books near you? Read the titles. What do they say? Does the book look old and worn? Is the cover stained? Focus on each of these items and take in every inch of them, including their imperfections! Imagine you’re describing them to someone who has never seen that specific object before.
Once you’ve completed that first grounding technique, it’s time to move on to touch. Find four items with different textures. It can be the pen you’re holding in your hand, the desk your books are resting on, the cool metal of the legs of your chair, and the dusty, old carpet beneath your feet. Run your fingers along the item. Feel for any indents or points of the object (safely of course!). If you can, hold the item in your hands and feel the weight!
Are you ready to move on to the next grounding technique? Okay, next is sound. Close your eyes and listen to the room or area around you. See if you can pick out three specific sounds. Open your window and listen for the sound of cars going up and down the road or your neighbor's dog barking. Maybe it’s summer and you can hear fireworks going off in the distance. Focus on those sounds until they fade away.
The fourth sense and grounding technique is smell. Can you pick out two distinct smells? Do you have a candle lit? Or maybe your friends and/or family are cooking a meal in the next room? Even the lingering scent of your roommate’s burnt popcorn from the night before counts!
Finally, it’s time for the fifth sense and grounding technique: taste. Have you eaten something really good recently? Or sipped a nice iced coffee? Remember that taste. How did it make you feel? Did it taste good or maybe it reminds you of a positive memory?
Now, take a deep breath. In through your nose and out through your mouth. One more time. Hopefully, you’ll feel a lot more relaxed and if not, the exercise will have at least helped distract you from your panic for a little while or even decreased the level of nervousness you’re feeling! If you still feel overwhelmed, I would suggest going through these grounding techniques again, but pick new objects to look at or find something else to touch, preferably something that comforts you, like a soft blanket.
You may think this whole thing about grounding techniques seems a little silly and maybe it is, but it works and I speak from experience. Prior to taking my driver’s test, I focused on the feeling of the steering wheel beneath my fingers. I listened to the sound of cars racing past and honking their horns. I felt a little silly doing it with my friend in the passenger seat, but it really did help and made it much easier for me to succeed!
Please give these grounding techniques a try and I hope it can help you feel relaxed and keep yourself present!
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Having conversations with those you haven’t seen in a while can be anxiety-inducing. I’m familiar with the feeling myself and have at times made myself physically ill out of fear at the idea of interacting with an old friend after a lack of communication.
Because of this, I began to rely heavily on Snapchat and Snapstreaks as a way to keep up with my friends from high school and college.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term Snapstreaks, I’ve provided the definition below:
Now, I can understand the appeal of Snapstreaks. I still have a few myself. I don’t mean to sound like a hypocrite with this article, but I’m trying to find a way to sever my ties with Snapchat as well and figured I’d share with you what I’ve learned so far.
While in high school I would have several streaks going daily. My memory isn’t great and at times a friend and I would lose a streak due to my forgetfulness. It was common to tease the party who broke the streak and it was never malicious, but as an anxious and sensitive person I always felt guilty for being the one to break it.
To me, it felt as though I was showing my friend how little they mattered to me. To me, this action said: I couldn’t even be bothered to take a photo real quick to send to them within twenty-four hours? I was certain I’d hurt their feelings.
Now if that’s how they really felt, they sure didn’t say or show it. But I knew that when places were reversed and another friend broke our streak and didn’t immediately try to reinstate it, I was worried I was bothering them and that they’d just been humoring me by replying in the past.
I’ll admit it does sound silly when it’s written out in front of me, but this was a real fear I had in high school, college, and shortly after graduation. Keeping up with school friends is difficult once graduation ends. People move across the state and out of the country and it’s hard to make time to keep in touch.
So here’s my idea and I’m going to try it too: Let the streaks run out. Break them all!
At one point I had my friend from freshman year in a streak for 365 days. It ran out and I had a literal panic attack because it was my fault. Was she angry? No. Was she a little bummed out? Yeah, sure, but it didn’t ruin our friendship.
We were ‘talking’ everyday when we were doing streaks but there wasn’t anything important being said. It was mostly pictures of a black room sent a few minutes to midnight with STREAK written in all caps.
We haven’t talked in a few months actually, but prior to writing this article, I reached out over text and we had a little conversation. Was I super stressed beforehand? Definitely. But it went fine, we caught up throughout the day when we had time and once it was nighttime I said ‘goodnight and talk soon.’ And that was it.
It’s important to push oneself to have actual conversations whether it be via phone or in person. Just taking the stress off having to send a Snap for my streak every day has already improved my relationship with my friend. I know her better from one day of texting than I did from 365 days of snapping random objects and dark rooms at one another.
So, try it out. Break your streak and set aside a day - it can be every week, every month, whatever works for you - and reach out to your friend, even if it’s through text. Make it your goal to have a conversation with them throughout the day (or through one long phone session) and at night cut it off, so you don't have to worry about leaving anyone on read.
I promise it’s a much better way to keep in touch and the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Are you one of those people that can’t seem to focus at work? You do your best to concentrate, but you aren’t able to follow the “No phones allowed” rule, and end up getting in trouble? If you’ve suffered through these awkward moments more than once, this article is for you
We’ve all been in a place where phones control our lives. Some of us might still be there. You get a notification or miss your phone for long hours. And when you finally find it, you start scrolling through social media, forgetting what you had to do in the first place. Even for a few seconds a day, that little action can get you in trouble at work. Once it's enough to disturb your train of thought and affect the task you were on.
It’s inevitable to check your phone while working. We've all done it. But if doing so is affecting your creativity at work, here are five tips to avoid looking at your phone while working.
The easiest and hardest action to take. Most people can't work without knowing where their phone is. And let’s be honest, if your job requires you to be on the phone all day, this is not the best option for you. Yet at the same time, it’s not impossible.
Most companies provide cellphones with the same purpose: to make job-related calls. But if you're already at the office, do you really need it? Try sending an email or using the office's phone to make a quick call. In-person meetings between coworkers at the office are also an option.
We know the pandemic limited everyone's communication options. But emails are also a professional way to communicate with clients and coworkers. Yet if you feel this is an impossible task, put your phone away in a place you can't see it while working. You will hear it ring if you need it, but the notifications on the screen won't distract you from your task.
You will notice the difference a few days later. You'll have more completed tasks and more time to relax once you're done.
If the company you work for has a “No phones allowed” policy, your phone's silent mode will become your best friend. Put your phone away and turn off the ringer. It's the easiest method to waste time in unnecessary calls or messages during work hours. Plus, it'll save you from an embarrassing ringtone playing during an important meeting.
It’s a small and easy step to help you keep your concentration during work. But what if you're waiting for an important call? Let them know in advance about your availability. That way you can be sure they'll call you during break hours or after you’re done for the day.
Don’t look for excuses to keep your phone ringing that would get you in trouble or cause stress. Screen addiction is hard to control. Your mind will create a thousand chaotic scenarios before you finally decide to turn the ringer off.
One of the most common reasons for this is a possible emergency. People feel like an emergency might happen while they're away from their phones. They worry they won't know about it on time or won’t be able to call for help. If this is your case, don’t panic. This feeling is normal. We all experience it when we’re away from our phones for too long, but there’s no need to desperate. There's always a solution.
Let your family and friends know about your work schedule and the “No phones allowed” policy. Then, give them a direct number of your workplace. That way, in case of an emergency, they can contact your company and someone can let you know of what is happening.
We receive thousands of calls a day or none at all. From all those calls, three are important and the rest are the spam robot calling you for your SSN. We all get them. They’re annoying but they’re enough to get the attention of your tasks and give you an excuse to check social media. And during those few minutes, you checked likes and notifications, you forgot what you were saying in that email to your boss.
If putting away your phone and turning off the ringer is not enough, let it go to voicemail. Allow people to know you’re busy sometimes. Being one call away it’s not a literal translation. You don’t spend all day on your phone waiting for someone to call. You work, you exercise, you eat, you sleep.
If the call is important, but you’re busy and can’t answer, that’s ok. You’re allowed to be busy. You’re not missing out. Let your calls go to voicemail if you feel like it would help you finish your tasks on time. Keep in mind that if someone needs to talk to you, they will leave a message or text so you can call them back
Schedules are good for everything, and that includes using your phone. They help you organize and stay on track for the day. Especially, if you need to save time. Setting a schedule can be your lifesaver if you’re not a mobile-friendly person at work and have no other option. Focus first on the busy tasks that you can do without your phone and set a time to do calls and text clients. Sometimes, one hour a day it’s enough to make calls and check for messages without disturbing your routine.
Be honest with yourself. Most of the time, the reason to check your phone is not work-related. In times like this, use your break time to answers as many texts as you want. You'll avoid trouble and remain creative during work. After a few days, you won't have to check your phone again away from lunch hours.
And if all the above fail, set a time before or after tasks to focus only on activities you have to do with your phone. The secret is organization. Set healthy boundaries for yourself and others. If you feel like your phone is controlling your life, this will help lessen the charge. It will also help your ideas flow easier than before. Stop breaking your concentration from tasks to check notifications. As you follow these steps, you'll notice the difference in your routine. Enjoy the free time you have left to unplug and unwind!
Repeating these easy actions every day can help you create a habit in your life. You'll have the opportunity to create and explore new hobbies every day. Give it a try and set it down!
Before I begin this list of board games, I would like to give credit where credit is due and say that these games were suggested on this reddit thread. If you like this list and want to find more lesser-known board games, I suggest giving the full thread a look through.
Okay, picture this: It’s storming outside. Badly. There’s lightning and thunder and the rain is coming down in such thick sheets that you can’t see very far out the window. A common fear for when such a storm hits is this: what if it take out the powerlines and the Wi-Fi? What then?
Is the loss of Wi-Fi a serious fear? Probably not, but I’ll be honest it is something I think about. Especially when the storm is taking place in the afternoon to late evening. It’s not like I can go to sleep and it’s been a long time since I’ve purchased a physical book, so what do I do?
Bring out the board games!
For this article, I decided to do a deep-dive into 3 lesser-known board games for you and your friends/family to enjoy!
If you’re like me and were an emo kid in high school, this is the perfect board game for you! There are several different editions of this game but the original was created in 1987 by Stephen Hand and is based off the classic novel Dracula, which was written by Bram Stoker in 1897.
Depending on the version of the game you’re playing, you can have up to four or five players.
Objective:
Dracula’s goal is to reach Influence Space 13 which he can do by turning people into vampires via encounter cards. The objective of the Vampire Hunters is to locate Dracula and defeat him.
So, how do you play?
It’s a little complicated at first, but I’ve found a scan of the full rulebook here. Let me give you a short synopsis:
One person plays as Count Dracula and the other 4-5 people play as the Vampire Hunters: Abraham Van Helsing, John Seward, Lord Godalmg, and Mina Hacker.
The game features two game boards, a large one for the hunters and a smaller one for Dracula (which is hidden from the sight of the Hunters). There are two phases in the game Day and Night. The Hunters get the move during both phases, but Dracula only moves at Night. Both groups wander around their boards in hopes of fulfilling their objectives but there are plenty of cards that can either help or hinder their plans!
This game can last from 1 to 3 hours and can be purchased at Walmart and Gamestop!
If you’re looking for something a little more family friendly than why not give Cloud 9 a try! As with Fury of Dracula, I’ve found the rulebook here in case you’re interested and would like to learn more. 3-6 players are necessary for this game and unlike Fury of Dracula which suggests the minimum age one should be to play is 10, this game is from ages 8 to adult!
Objective:
The objective of the game is to have the most points by the end and the game ends whenever a player reaches 50 points. If there’s a tie, as multiple people can win a round, the game continues until someone has the most.
So, how do you play?
Basically, players earn points by staying in the basket of the hot air balloon. As it goes higher the amount of points one can earn from staying in the basket also increases. Each player takes a turn being the balloon pilot. In order for the balloon to rise, the balloon pilot must match whatever is rolled on the dice with the cards in their hand. If they don’t have the cards needed, they cannot make the balloon rise and instead it will fall.
It’s a simple game and easy to pick up! A nice, relaxing experience in comparison to Monopoly!
If you’d like to give Cloud 9 a try it can be purchased at Walmart and Gamestop!
For our final board game, I’ve selected one that I have experience playing! My brother introduced me to this game last summer and our extended family had a lot of fun playing a few rounds.
As with the other games listed, the rulebook can be found here. This game is for 3-5 players and the youngest in my family who played was 8 years old!
Objective:
The objective of the game is to earn the most points as a merchant via the merchandise you sell through the Sheriff.
So, how do you play?
Each player selects a merchant and similarly to Cloud 9, everyone takes a turn playing the role of Sheriff. Each person is then given a small pouch that classes and several cards. The cards are red or green and feature different items on them like bread and apples. Each card is assigned an amount of points and cards that are red are contraband and are worth way more than the green cards.
Each merchant will select a number of the cards from their hand and slip it into the pouch. They can choose all green cards, all red cards or a mix of the two. The Sheriff will then interrogate each player, asking them what is in their pouch. The merchants can choose whether or not to lie to the Sheriff and the Sheriff has the option to open the bag if they don’t believe them.
If the Sheriff opens the bag and the merchant was lying, the merchant owes the current sheriff the total number of points of whatever was in the bag (which can be given to the Sheriff via cardboard coins).
However, if the Sheriff is wrong and the player wasn’t wrong, the Sheriff owes the merchant money. At the end of the round, the merchants go around and reveal what they placed in their pouches. If the Sheriff didn’t open their bag, they receive coins for whatever contraband they were able to sneak through.
The person with the most coins at the end is the winner.
A fun added rule to this game is that the merchant, when being questioned by the Sheriff, can bribe the sheriff with coins to keep them from opening their pouch. I know in my personal game, my aunt gave the current Sheriff way more coins not to open her pouch than the amount she gained from contraband at the end! It seemed like a silly move at the time, but that’s what makes the game more fun!
If you’re interested, the game can be purchased on Amazon, Target, or found at Walmart.
Have any of these games peaked your interest? Why not give one a purchase and try it out? Rainy days are perfect for board games and puzzles, but these can be played in any weather and are a great way to connect with friends and family!
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It’s that time of the week again. The weekend is just around the corner and you are thinking “What are my plans for the weekend?”. Well, if you have no plans for the following days and are considering spending a relaxing time on your own, don’t think about staying on the phone for three days in a row. We got you covered!
Relaxing doesn’t have to be scrolling through social media all day or texting friends non-stop. In today’s article, we show you five non-screen hobbies you can try in your free time, and how this could benefit your mental and physical health.
No better hobby than spending time with your friends and family in a nice place. There is a therapeutic feeling about it not many can explain. But we’re indeed living hard times and not everyone is ready to dive back into the wilderness in a crowd.
So, sit back and relax while you explore 5 hobbies you can try in your free time.
Aside from creating beautiful pictures and landscapes, jigsaw puzzles have many benefits that can improve your mental health. Jigsaw puzzles exercise both sides of your brain. Your left side focuses on an analytical level while your right side is your creative master. When you build puzzles, you’re giving your brain the exercise it needs to improve your creativity, give you more attention to detail, boost your problem-solving skills, and even improve your memory.
Besides all that, jigsaw puzzles are a great hobby if you have kids at home. They come in all sizes and with all types of pictures that can become the perfect family activity to unplug from screens. And while you build together, you’re also improving your teamwork skills, your mood, and productivity.
This is the perfect hobby for those who love plants. With the right Macrame Kit, you can give your plants a beautiful decorative look, and guess what? Macrame is also a great creative activity that helps you put your phone down and improve your health.
It’s a proven therapeutic activity. Macrame forces you to put your body into action by pulling and working cords, which helps to strengthen your hands and arms. Plus, it’s a good way to loosen the joints. According to Rootz, some people consider macrame meditative because it brings peace and calmness to the mind.
Jogging and running are not the same. Jogging involves aerobic exercise with less effort than running, and that is what we are looking for. Something relaxing that can help you get away from your screen addiction. If you’re not a fan of staying at home in your free time, but you also don’t want to be outside in a crowd, jogging is the perfect hobby for you.
It not only improves your mood. Jogging is a great way to relax and maintain a physically healthy body. It helps you lose weight, develops bone strength and muscles, is good for your heart and your respiratory system, and it prevents infections and communicable diseases.
For all fitness lovers out there, this is the perfect hobby for you.
Probably the best-known activity to get away from screens. Reading a good paperback book is still one of the best and easiest hobbies to put your phone down and unplug. A good story is always a fascinating way to keep your mind entertained in something good.
Reading a book strengthens your brain, it helps build your vocabulary, increases your ability to empathize, alleviates depression symptoms, and much more. It’s still without a doubt one of the best hobbies you can adopt in your life.
A hobby that many in the house would love, especially the little ones. Cooking dishes you love or baking in all its forms brings many benefits that will make you consider start cooking right now.
It’s a healthy and creative idea to unplug and unwind. Cooking is meditative because it takes all your attention and it’s easy and repetitive. Baking boosts your positivity because it allows you to be creative. You can do whatever you want with it and you can eat it afterward.
Many studies proved that people who bake are happier because cooking relieves stress, improves social skills, enhances your ability to plan and organize, and boosts your self-esteem. The best therapy is still culinary therapy.
To unplug and unwind only takes a few seconds and creativity. Fortunately, we help you with it. We have these hobbies and more creative ways to spend time with your family or relax on your own while putting your phone down. Just check the blog and the products page to see all the new ways we can help you unplug! Every week, we have more articles for you. So, don’t waste time and Set it Down.
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Unplug, unwind, repeat.
If you came across this great movement on your own or you are looking for a reason to join, you are in the right place. Take a look at our definition of Set it Down and why you should join our movement!
Our official definition for Set it Down is a movement that motivates individuals to set down their screens so that they can start gaining meaningful experiences. But we stand for much more than that.
We help you put your phone down to unplug and reconnect with yourself. We want to remember simpler times when we didn’t need to have a phone in our hands every ten minutes to check social media.
Set it Down movement motivates you to get away from screens for most of your day and immerse in this world of self-care and nostalgia for those golden days.
We give you resources to go out and start a new hobby with friends and family. And if you are not a fan of outdoor activities, you don’t have to worry. From conversation starters to indoor activities such as puzzles and macrame kits, we give you a chance to explore them all on our site.
We welcome everyone willing to put their phones down, disconnect from screens, and let go of that screen addiction that has been chasing them for a while. If you need more convincing, you can always check our blog post section to discover all the ways you can unplug and start living the Set it Down movement.
But Set it Down it’s not only for those who believe in screen addiction. If you randomly came across this movement, and you’ll love the opportunity to try something new and exciting with great benefits for your mental and physical health, you are welcome too!
We are mindful and an all-inclusive company for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities.
And if that caught your attention, in addition to all the reasons why you should join us and the things we can offer, take a look below at some great benefits of setting it down that can make a big difference in your life.
Set it down and set goals for yourself. It can be on a personal or professional level. It doesn’t matter. Taking the attention off of your phone, for even a few seconds a day, helps your brain focus on other things it didn’t have the time to do before because it was too busy catching up with your Instagram’s news feed.
Goals provide direction and focus for long-term goals you want to accomplish. But as usual, if you don’t feel like putting your phone down and start thinking about the future, allow yourself to set it down by replacing the time you spend on the phone with a new hobby that doesn’t require screens.
You will notice the difference after a few months. Ideas will flow more easily in your head and you will be able to set goals and accomplish those things you had put on pause because of your phone.
Let’s be honest. After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do when you get home is to keep working. You are probably thinking about taking a glass of wine while scrolling on your phone or catching up with a good show. Those are also great unwinding activities, but it’s not what we want to try here.
In Set it Down, we want you to commit and do your best, so you can be the best version of yourself you can be. We want you to take care of yourself and we will motivate you as much as we can with everything we offer. But replacing one screen with another, it’s not going to help you set it down.
Putting your phone down will help you even in small amounts. You don’t have to start big. You can start with baby steps. But as the days go by, and you reduce the time you spend on your phone, you will get more time for yourself and stay productive in those little things you always postponed.
And again, we are talking about attention to detail. When we set it down, we are looking to relax and give our eyes and mind a break. According to data, Americans check their phones 96 times a day, which is once every 10 minutes.
With that type of addiction, it’s hard to stay motivated at work, school, or any other activity you want to do because your brain is on constant alert. It doesn’t matter if you don’t look at it. While you are doing other stuff with your phone close to you, you are thinking, “Do I have a message?”, “What time is it?”, “My phone has been quiet for a while, I should check on it.”
See what I’m talking about?
Setting it down helps you lower those anxiety levels. Even if you don’t notice you are doing it, by letting go of your phone for a few minutes every day, you will stay motivated in your daily activities and it will help your mental health since your brain will finally be able to focus completely in one thing at the time.
It can even improve your memory. So, set it down and stay motivated!
Join the movement today to keep learning many ways you can improve your life with small actions. Set it Down is the curious, fun, and adventurous space you need to relax and discover new things. Join today and Set it Down!
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In case you haven’t noticed yet, spring is here! It’s time to get those gardening tools in motion and head to the stores. Don't waste this beautiful weather by spending all your time inside looking at a screen. Your garden is calling for you!
It's a new season with new activities you can use to help you get away from your phone, and if you love outdoor activities, what better time than spring to leave your phone behind and head outside?
Today, we have a new activity that can become your new obsession this spring: Gardening!
Yes, I said gardening.
But I'm not talking about mowing the lawn or spending hard hours of work on the field. I'm talking about the cute part of gardening. The one involving beautiful flowers or watering plants. Maybe a new birdhouse for your garden. Something small and fun that will help you feel relaxed outside of four walls.
Still not convinced? Let me tell you some fun facts about gardening that might change your mind.
Gardening has many benefits that can help you feel relaxed and keep your anxiety levels to a minimum. And to give you an idea of what I’m talking about, read these three reasons to start using gardening as your detox activity:
And that is just the beginning.
Adopt a new hobby
Your first reason to make gardening your new unwind activity can always be adopting a new hobby.
Whether you want to reduce the stress of your everyday routine or you are simply searching for new outdoor activities, why not join the movement and start a new hobby that is good for your physical and mental health? Your body will thank you for it!
It boosts your self-esteem
Gardening can give you a sense of agency and empowerment not many activities can accomplish. There is a good feeling in learning how to grow plants on your own and claiming your own space on earth.
If you don’t believe me, check the facts. Many eco-studies prove that gardening has been historically used as “a way to resist injustice and claim space in a world that doesn’t always respond to your needs.”
So, what are you waiting for? Gardening can become the motivator you need to put your phone down and finally put those ideas in your head into motion.
But if you are looking to boost your self-esteem without any commitments, gardening is a great way to drop anxiety levels and even treat depression symptoms.
You don't really need poetic motivation to make your garden look pretty.
It’s a great family activity
Your time to unwind during this spring and moving forward doesn’t have to be a “solo” time. Gardening is a great family activity if you have kids and can’t afford time on your own.
Some people find it easier to put their phones down during their free times when they are accompanied by loved ones. And if you are planning to include gardening in that free time, make it a group activity!
Gardening reduces stress, but not only that. Being outside surrounded by nature and exposed to sunlight can help you boost your Vitamin D, and for kids, early exposure can help them reduce the risk of allergies and autoimmune diseases.
We are sure the kids will also love to spend some quality family time outside!
Gardening can also be an excuse to relax and spend time remembering simpler times. It's up to you. There are many more reasons to start using gardening as your unwinding mechanism.
Did you know it's also good for your heart? Gardening is an amazing cardiovascular activity.
We could talk all day about all the benefits you can find in gardening, but we trust you will discover all of them while on the job. Time to pick up your gardening tools and put your phone down.
This is the sign you needed to unplug and unwind on the outside!
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Instead of using your phone as your alarm clock, try using the old-fashioned analog alarm clocks. We have also been loving sunrise alarm clocks. These alarm clocks stimulate the sun rising in the morning which allows a more peaceful transition from sleep to being awake. It takes about 30 minutes to reach their peak before the noise of the alarm goes off. Promise us, it's a lovely way to wake up instead of a quick burst of loud sounds from a random phone alarm! We suggest checking out the Hatch Sunrise Alarm Clock or the Philips Sleep & Wake Up Light
Once you get our analog alarm clock, there is no need for any devices in the bedroom. Experts suggest that individuals should avoid screens at least 1 hour before bed. The blue light from our screens suppresses the melatonin needed for a healthy circadian rhythm and a good night's rest. Replace your phone in your bedroom with a book or a journal.
Of course, getting to bed at the same time every night is key. If you are unable to have a normal bed time, then start adding in a nightly routine before trying to close your eyes. Maybe 10 minutes of nightly meditation or stretches, a shower, and then hopping in bed with a book.
Have you ever woken up with no covers on you in the morning? Well maybe the thermostat is a little too high. It is suggested that the bedroom is around 65 degrees at night for a comfortable and good night sleep.
Daily Sun exposure is absolutely necessary for your health and your sleep. Go out side for a walk (preferably without your phones) or go sit in the park and read a book. Exposing yourself to bright light during the daytime hours will boost your ability to fall asleep at night.
Have additional thoughts on this? Feel free to reach out! We would love to hear your advice.
Set It Down and Sleep!
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Meet Amanda Da Costa of New York. Amanda was a professional soccer player who is now using her skills to help others lead a healthy life. Her business, Advantage Training, combines psychology with physical fitness to help individuals find a sustainable way to lead healthy and fit lifestyles. She believes that a healthy morning routine is key to having a great day. If she isn’t playing soccer or training with individuals, then she is taking her dogs on adventures or cooking with her fiancé. She has control over her screen usage- creating “digital non-negotiables” like not looking at her phone before 9 am or setting down her screen on Saturdays. We had a great time learning from her and she makes us want to put on our cleats and hit the soccer fields. We know many of you will find her routine and “digital non-negotiables” a great resource and a great way to start setting it down! Keep reading for our Q & A!
Name, Age: Amanda Da Costa, 31
Where are you located? New York
What is your background? I was a professional soccer player for 7 years and played Division 1 soccer at Florida State University for 4 years. I played and lived in England for 2 of those years and spent the other 5 years playing in the NWSL in the US moving from city to city. I also played for the Portuguese National Team in the European Championships. I was lucky to combine my love for travel with my love for soccer. Currently, I am 3 months away from being a licensed Psychologist as I finish up my master’s degree, while running my own company- Advantage Training. Advantage Training combines psychology with soccer and physical fitness to help individuals of all ages find a sustainable way to lead healthy and fit lifestyles. I work with adults who want to reach their fitness goals and youth athletes looking to become ballers on the soccer field and earn college scholarships.
What is your day-time routine? I wake up and turn my coffee pot on! Then I let my dogs outside, and I go outside with them-- I love getting in some sunlight first thing in the morning to help me regulate my circadian rhythm and wake me up! Then I foam roll or stretch to get some blood flowing while I drink some water and a cold press juice. Then I finally have coffee while I make my breakfast…notice how my phone is not involved at all during my morning routine. I am telling you my morning routine rather than my day-time routine because I think your morning routine is the most important part to your day. Building off of a healthy start filled with nutrients, sunlight and movement, allows me to make healthier choices during my day…which can sometimes be unpredictable.
Favorite Hobby/Hobbies? My favorite things to do are to be outside with my two dogs. Whether we are hanging out in our backyard or going for walks or hikes, my favorite thing to do is to spend time with them. I also love movement of all sorts—it’s cliché to say that exercising and working out is a hobby of mine, but it really is something that is a non-negotiable for me when it comes to my day. It’s also something that me and my fiancé love to do together. My other hobby is cooking, I love spending time in the kitchen and preparing healthy meals or treats. I find it very relaxing and a creative outlet!
Favorite Hobby when you were a kid, before access to loads of screens? When I was a kid I was obsessed with soccer- which seems like the obvious answer to this question for someone who became a professional soccer player. I couldn’t get enough of the game and played it all day 24/7, inside or outside. In general, I was a really active and creative kid. I was ALWAYS outside, getting dirty, being adventurous and I loved using my imagination. Me and my best friends would play outside all day with our imaginary friends, making up games and magical scenarios that seem ridiculous now---but to this day when I get together with these friends these are the memories that have stuck with us after all of this time….and we also didn’t have social media…we had dial up internet LOL!
What makes you the happiest and best self? I am my happiest self when I am immersed in the moment around me and when I am outside. I feel happiest when I am enjoying my favorite hobbies, with the people that I love. Honestly, I am happiest when I am not on my phone because that means that I am doing something genuinely worthwhile- without the need for looking at it.
What is the biggest struggle for you when it comes to screens/your phone? (Lack of control, scrolling, nothing...). My biggest struggle with my phone is what my fiancé and I call “getting sucked in”. This means when we get stuck aimlessly scrolling. I know that I am doing it, but sometimes it is just really hard to stop. I get very little fulfillment out of scrolling through Instagram- it doesn’t bring me joy and is used more of a filler if I feel like I have nothing else to do. Sometimes it starts off as innocent. I had a busy day and get to just sit and relax, scroll through Instagram and see what’s going on. But then it escalates and I find myself stuck into my phone, not using my mind or emotions. I sometimes catch myself subconsciously comparing myself to what I see on the screen in front of me which is NEVER a good thing—but these media platforms are designed to just this.
How do you digital detox? I have “digital non-negotiables” that I put into place that I MUST stick to. It is just a rule that I have set for myself. While it was challenging in the beginning, it is very easy now and something that I don’t even have to think about anymore. I don’t go on my phone in the morning while I am getting ready. I will look at my phone for the first time when I get to work in the morning around 9 AM while I get settled into my work environment and before my day takes off. At night I put my phone down by 9 PM so I am not using a screen or exposing myself to blue-light before it is time for me to go to sleep. I do go to sleep late- I settle into bed at 11 and read, and then I fall asleep between 1130-1145. I have recently started doing unplugged Saturdays which have been life changing. I have seen a dramatic difference in my mood on Saturday’s---think of it as a light fluffy feeling free of responsibilities—and it’s something that I actually look forward to doing now.
What were the “Rewards” of setting it down? Not going on my phone first thing in the morning sets the tone for me for the rest of the day. If I go on my phone right away, then that habit will likely continue during the day and I find that I am not productive or creative if this happens. Being off my phone helps me connect with the world around me in a more satisfying way. I feel better about myself and can pay more attention to my mental health and self-worth. I can’t explain why but detaching from technology psychologically brings us back to the primitive and natural state that we are meant to be in- interacting with our environment, peers, and more importantly, ourselves.
What is your best advice for someone who wants to help implementing screen free activities? My advice is to start off with a small window—like putting a limit on your morning or nighttime usage and sticking to it until it has become a habit. Don’t add in any other restrictions before this becomes habit. Going “cold turkey” might not be sustainable for curbing your technology habits in the long run and the goal is to make setting down your devices part of your life!
Want to learn more about Amanda? Check her out at these locations:
Instagram:
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Meet Emily B. She is a 20 year-old, self-care enthusiast who is studying English and History of Art at University in England. Her mantra- Look after number one. How does she do that? By doing one self-care activity every day. We think that is one awesome and super important mantra to have.
Emily's favorite hobbies include reading and socializing with friends. While socializing hasn't been do-able lately, she has really stepped up her self-care game. She's been getting crafty in the kitchen, playing old records, and finding some beautiful flowers in the garden. Ever heard of "deadheading your flowers"? Well, Emily did that the other day and said it felt super calming... maybe we should all go give our gardens attention and deadhead those old blooms.
We asked Emily about her biggest struggles with it comes to screens and her phone. Here's what she said: Oh where to begin? I'm always unlocking my phone to then lock it again without clicking on anything. I also often get my phone out and just hold it, just to have it near. I suppose it's a comfort thing to hold my phone but it just makes it so much easier to check too regularly and get sucked into it. I've also made a really bad habit of taking it EVERYWHERE with me. I don't just mean taking it to the shops, I mean I will carry my phone with me to the kitchen even if I'm only going to grab a drink and come back. Like why do I do that?? Can I really not spend a minute without it in my hand?!
We love her honesty and how many of us can relate to those struggles with our phones. She nailed it- it's totally a comfort thing to hold our phones and bring it everywhere. We asked Emily a bit more questions in our interview. Keep reading for more spotlight.
Favorite Hobby When You Were A Kid? - Playing spies with my brother. We'd go around the house and collect things we could use as a secret gadgets. Think camera tripod, garlic crushed and crocodile clip!
What Makes Your The Happiest and Best Self? Looking after #1. I make sure to do one self-care activity a day. Sometimes big endorphin-releasing runs or sometimes making sure I am being present and in the moment.
You Recently Did a Screen Time Detox, Why? I'd seen it was good for your mental health- but the real kicker was when I recently watched a video*. It explains how easy it is to get dopamine from your phone because it's a little exertion and high reward, compared to something like reading where it takes longer to get the reward. Naturally, your brain encourages you to go for the easy route. This video also explained that spending time without your phone almost resets your brain. The result- you're more productive in hobbies you enjoy, even if it takes longer to get the reward.
Is There Anything From Your Social Media Detox That You Want to Keep Adding Into Your Routine? I noticed how regularly I check my phone. I went to grab it so many times before realizing it was elsewhere. Now- I'm trying not to pick up my phone unless I have a reason to use it. I was surprised how LITTLE I actually NEED my phone.
What Were the "Rewards" of Setting It Down? I was SO productive. Before, I was struggling to motivate myself to do things that I actually love to do. During the detox, I found them easy to do. I spent the day hiking, taking in the views without checking my messages, and taking photos. I really experienced the hike more. I then spent the evening reading 1984 by George Orwell. Pre-detox, I wasn't enjoying it much and it was taking me ages to get through. I'd check my phone every two lines and then try to find my place again. During the detox, I read a good chunk of the book and enjoyed the story a lot more because I was focusing on it. It was eye-opening.Will Screen Time Detoxes Be A Normal Thing? Absolutely. Every couple weeks or so. I think it will be especially useful if I've got a lot on and need to really focus one day.
Best Advice for Someone Who Wants to Try to Set It Down: Absolutely Do it. And if you're planning it but 'haven't got round to it', that's an awful excuse because there will never be a good time and you'll never do it. I honestly didn't realize a lot about my relationship with my phone until I turned it off. It's worth doing to learn more about yourself and how you can improve your lifestyle.
Where Can We Get Motivation and Self-Care Tips From You? Check out my Instagram account, @ems_selfcare. I'm working on my mental well-being by doing things I enjoy and hopefully inspiring and influencing others to prioritize their mental well-being.
*Video: https://youtu.be/9QiE-M1LrZk
]]>Check Out Emily at @ems_selfcare on Instagram. She's motivating others to prioritize their well-being and mental health!Thanks for Setting It Down, Emily! We are super thrilled that you put yourself first on a daily basis. You go, girl!
Now is not the time to Set It Down.
Now is not the time to be silent.
Now is not the time to turn off the news.
Now is not the time to go on with our day and think that racial injustice is a problem for someone else to address.
Now is the time to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
It is the time to understand and to stand up for those that have been silenced.
It is the time educated our-selves on systemic racism and the discrimination against Blacks, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
It is the time to support and amplify marginalized voices.
It is the time to donate to organizations that support BIPOC and the fight against racial injustice.
It is the time to rally for racial justice.
It is the time to watch documentaries on racial inequality, the Civil Rights movement, and race in America.
It is the time to read books about systemic racism and institutionalized oppression as well as books on Black achievements and resilience throughout American History.
It is the time to support BIPOC owned businesses.
It is the time to turn our businesses into a real change agent.
Set It Down has taken a pause this past week to listen and reflect. We, along with many others, are recognizing our frustration due to the unfair treatment of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Black Lives Matter.
We are listening and having the very needed and uncomfortable conversations with friends and family. Systemic Racism needs to be acknowledged, challenged, and changed. Set It Down is committed to building an equitable business and be part of the solution.
Since the beginning, Set It Down has been motivated to help individuals. We strive to create a business that contributes to being an agent of change in our homes, the country, and the world. We are committed to the inclusion of all BIPOC individuals and creating racial justice.
How will we do this?
We will be reviewing our business over the next couple of weeks. In it, we will be looking into our business policies and practices and make sure that our future operations will not contribute to any greater systems that perpetuate inequality.
We will also be donating to various organizations that are committed to ending racism and injustice. Set It Down events will be inclusive of all BIPOC and we will make sure that events are serving minority areas throughout the country. That is just the beginning.
Now is not the time to set it down. Now is the time to use our devices to educate, donate, and to amplify the voices of those that have been silenced.
Now is Not the Time to Set It Down- Black Lives Matter.
Anti-Racism Resources:
Award-Winning Initiative by New York Times Magazine's, The 1619 Project.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Just Mercy, a film on Bryan Stevenson’s work as a civil rights lawyer on death row in Alabama.
13th, a documentary about the criminal justice system and the racial inequality and discrimination within it. Watch on Netflix.
When they See Us, a series on the Central Park Five. Watch on Netflix.
Code Switch, a podcast by NPR on race.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Antiracist Book Club, an Instagram book club focused on BIPOC authors.
Places to Donate:
NAACP, the National Association of Advancement for Colored People organization committed to ending racial injustice and discrimination in the major areas of education, politics, social, and economics.
National Bail Fund Network, an organization "producing tools and resources for organizers using community justice tactics to creatively tackle multiple drivers of criminalization and incarceration— including, but not limited to, money bail, court fees and fines, probation and parole, pretrial detention & supervision, and immigration detention & supervision."
]]>This week's conversation starter is about time.
If you had an extra hour each day, what would you do?
Wow. A whole extra hour every day! That’s not possible… or is it?
If you add up all the time that you are checking email, opening social media apps, and texting each day- chances are you spend more time on your phone than you think.
Many of our devices are actually tracking our time on the phone. It isn’t only tracking our time but it is also categorizing how we spend our time. 2 hours social media, 33 minutes email, 40 minutes games, and more.
If you want to gain an extra hour each day, then checking your screen time and usage on your phone can be a good way to start pinpointing the area that is taking up most of your attention.
Then, start setting limits for each category. Decrease your social media from 2 hours to 1 hour. Or delete a specific app that you don’t necessarily need.
Try it out for a week and you will realize how much time you are able to spare so that you can do other things!
That's a whole lot of free time! You could fly kites, plant a garden, or go on a nice walk around the neighborhood. What about get really into baking bread and start giving the bread to your friends. Who knows, maybe one day that small passion of baking bread will turn itself into an actual bakery business that is super successful! (That happened to my boyfriend).
You may have so much free time that you look at it as boredom.
Please, don't!
If you look at it with the mindset that it is another hour of being bored, then you just haven’t found that something that really motivates you.
Think about what you did as a child. What were your favorite hobbies? In your pre-screen years, what would you do? Would you build Legos, create scrapbooks, or play soccer with your friends? I bet you can find something that will motivate you.
Since being more aware of my screen usage, I have created an extra hour or two daily. Check out how I did that on this post. As of right now, I use my extra hour for working out, reading, or working on the Set It Down movement. If I feel over-worked then I’ll sit down and get into my book.
I will use my extra hour to work out if I am feeling overly anxious. When I am in the mood to be crazy productive, I’ll work on the movement. I guarantee that in the summer my extra hour will be focused more on outdoor adventures or gardening.
So what about you? If you had an extra hour each day, what would you do? I’d love to hear! Please comment below. Make sure you share this post with your friends and family.
Best,
Allie
]]>Modern days are technology-based. We use our phones for work, pleasure, research, interaction, and for pretty much anything else. Besides the vital role that technology plays in our society, negative effects do exist, and our personal life and mental health can be at risk.
Have you ever heard the quote "Life is what's happening when you're not looking at your smartphone"?
Our technology is making our life easier on so many aspects, but it's our duty to draw a line between comfort and addiction.
The answer is YES - and this is one of the most important reasons why you need a digital detox.
Unfortunately, internet/computer addiction is now recognized as a proper mental health disorder and ranks up there with drugs, alcohol, and gambling addictions.
Just think that the average American checks their phone 80 times a day*, and we check emails and social media every 6 minutes.**
Taking a digital detox is the fastest and most effective way to reduce screen time and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones.
By mindfully reducing your use of technology, you will alleviate physical and mental symptoms, such as:
Are you controlling your life, or your devices are? Are you checking your phone anytime you have to wait, or don't know what to do?
The goal here is not to completely ignore our devices, but to create a healthy habit and co-live with our technology.
Try to be conscious of your technology use.
You'll be surprised how much free time you will gain, and your productivity will be over the roof! When we decide to focus on our life and then ask for a little help from technology, we are peacefully co-existing.
Technology was invented and is constantly updated to ensure our lives can be a bit easier, so let's try to work on that.
Now that we are all home due to the COVID-19 I urge you more than ever to reconsider your relationship with your devices. And some people are killing it!
Remember, it's not about being perfect but being mindful.
Hit that airplane mode more often!
Build the habit of using the offline mode every time you have to focus on something or you want to relax.
And then start living again.
You could read a book, focus on your work, stay with your family or loved one, nourish your hobby.
A couple of weeks ago I caught myself saying:
"How I wish this person was online. This way, I'd know how to approach it."
Unfortunately, there was no way for me to take it back and I had a hard time realizing it...
But I was dealing with technology addiction. I had forgotten how to talk to people anymore because, nowadays, we can simply slide in their DMs, react to their latest Instagram story or following them.
This is not how the offline world works.
It's useless to say... But building relationships offline is the core of our human nature. We are social animals and we need to interact often in order to keep our mental health safe.
The ironic thing is that we think we are interacting 24/7 every time we are online, that often times we don't realize how lonely we are. Especially when we are in a room full of people and we are talking to our phones.
There is nothing wrong with using social media now and then, we are talking about social media abuse.
Why not trying to limit your social media time? It can be as easy as setting a reminder, and there are countless apps you could download to help you achieve this goal.
When you start to feel bored again, grab a book! Or call someone, cook something delicious or write down your thoughts.
Using your phones right before going to bed might be the cause of your disturbed sleep pattern.
Have you noticed that the more you watch TV or your phone at nights, the hardest it is to fall asleep?
The blue wavelengths are beneficial during the day, as it boosts attention, reaction time, and mood; but can be very disruptive at night!
Nowadays blue light blocker glasses are becoming more and more popular, and for a reason.
We are dealing with a ridiculous amount of digital information and we spend more and more time in front of screens (whether it might be for work, study, or fun). Using a pair of blue light blocker glasses can help you relieve some of those symptoms, but the goal still remains reducing our screen time!
Besides getting yourself a pair of blue light blocking glasses, stop every digital activity 2 hours prior to bedtime. Not only you'll fall asleep faster, but you'll sleep better!
Sometimes we complain about not having enough time, but we are self-sabotaging by wasting so much time on social media.
Nowadays, the problem lays in considering social media as me-time, and refusing to put our phones down because "we are free".
Our goals require time and dedication, and we can easily make time for them by setting intentions with our screens.
It can be as straightforward as limiting your screen time with an app, or you could hide your phone somewhere else while you are relaxing.
Don't let the idea of "I have nothing to do" fools you! You need to recharge yourself as much as you charge your phone, and even more!
If you want to declutter your mind and stop multitasking, then you need a digital detox
]]>
I’m going, to be honest, when COVID-19 started to disrupt our daily lives I thought that Set It Down was done. A movement that is trying to convince people to set down their screens so that they can start gaining more meaningful experiences was not of interest to anyone. I myself was looking at my phone more than ever just to stay up to date with all the latest news about the pandemic in the world and locally. We needed our screens to help stay informed.
Fast forward a week and my mindset about the Set It Down movement started to change. I began to realize that this may be one of the most important times for the movement and for individuals to realize their addiction to screens. It is obvious that screens have shown their value when it comes to staying connected via Facetime, Zoom, Hangout, and all those great apps. This quarantine, however, has added a lot more screen time to our routine.
The Quarantine Routine: Wake up, scroll through phone, virtual workout on workout app, virtual hangout with friends, work on screen, Zoom call for work, check news notifications, start playing around with new apps, binge watch new Netflix show, scroll on IG and share quarantine related meme, scroll some more before bed. Maybe add an hour of cleaning or an hour of a new hobby in the mix.
I got sucked into that quarantine routine for an entire day before I had to put my phone on airplane mode and go on a stroll and clear my mind. It was information and screen time overload. When I got back into my house, my boyfriend and I both cringed when we realized we should turn our phones back on- it was the responsible thing to do on day two of quarantine (or so we thought). We didn’t want to get sucked back into the hole. I know that many of you started feeling exhausted from excessive screen time as well. I asked the Set It Down community how they are setting it down during the quarantine.
Deleted Facebook App --- Bye-bye social media.
Anytime I go on a Walk or Run, I leave my phone. -- Hello Fresh Air!
No Screens While Eating --- Good Food, Good Mood.
Leave my phone on the charger in my room --- No more distractions from my phone!
Gratitude Journal --- I am thankful for...
Read Books and created a virtual book club! -- onto Novel #5
Wood Working with Do Not Disturb -- I can focus on saving my fingers from the saw!
No phones allowed in Bedroom -- more intimate moments!
Started playing card games at night instead of a movie -- My brain is getting smarter!!
I made a garden and tend to it daily without my phone. -- Watch me grow!
Started Knitting -- New hobby, woohoo!
Watercolor with my phone on airplane mode -- Getting my creative side working.
Do Not Disturb while cleaning the house -- Gotta get it squeeky clean!!
They took control of their excessive screen time. They didn’t want information overload or foggy eyes from too much blue light. They took control and they felt so much better. New hobbies were made, books were read and more things were created! In a way, the quarantine made them realize their excess screen use and allowed them to start making changes.
One person gave the feedback that “It is very hard” about putting away her screens. It is an incredibly hard thing to do. We are seeing many new articles saying that screens are the new cigarettes. We are addicted and it is incredibly hard to break free from since they are almost everywhere. Even if we try not to use our phone, it is inevitable that each of us has had second- hand screen use- the phenomenon where one person pulls out their phone, so you then do the same. So, we feel you. It is very, very hard to put down your screen. Start by slowly adding screen-free time into your daily routine. Eventually, it will get easier because you will want to set it down.
Have you been able to set down your phone during the quarantine? We want to hear from you! We want to hear about all the ways you are setting down your phone while you are sheltering in place.
If you feel like you are wasting time on your smartphone, we can help! Subscribe to our newsletters at https://setitdown.com/ We are currently creating something that will help you eliminate some of the phone distractions in your life. When you subscribe to our newsletter you will be notified the second the product releases! We can’t wait to share what we have up our sleeves.
Make sure you check out our other blog posts as well! https://setitdown.com/blog/
]]>Seth Godin, one of the many leaders in the entrepreneurial world, wrote a blog post that hit the nail right on the head. We decided to share it here so you can get a taste of it.
When you bought your first smartphone, did you know you would spend more than 1,000 hours a year looking at it?
Months later, can you remember how you spent those hours?
When you upgraded to a new smartphone, so you could spend more hours on it, did you think about how you had spent so much of your ‘free’ time the year before?
If we wasted money the way we waste time, we’d all be bankrupt.
Did you like Seth Godin's "Wasting It"? If you want more of Seth Godin's blog material, make sure you check out his website. Click here to access Seth's blog.
If you feel like you are wasting time on your smartphone, we can help! Subscribe to our newsletters at https://setitdown.com/ We are currently creating something that will help you eliminate some of the phone distractions in your life. When you subscribe to our newsletter you will be notified the second the product releases! We can't wait to share what we have up our sleeves.
Make sure you check out our other blog posts as well! https://setitdown.com/blog/
]]>In January 2020 I decided to start make changes to my relationship with screens and social media. Before 2020, I became aware and disgusted of my screen time since I started using it for “work”. I was just like everyone else, just mindlessly staring at screens every moment of the day. So, why not create a business that I know everyone can relate to? You may not think you relate, but let’s face it, we are all addicted to screens. This article might give each of you a boost to find out that we can still have lives and have screens!! Let’s see what 10 things I have discovered (or re-discovered) about myself since I started the new decade by setting intentions with my screens.
Setting intentions with my screens can be tricky. Start small. The way I began to set intentions was to simply put my phone in a homemade box when I am home. The box is next to an outlet so that I can charge my phone. It is in an area where I cannot reach for my phone and it is also out of sight and out of mind. The next thing I did was to only allow myself access to social media or email 3x a day for 5 minutes a day. Lastly, I thought of two things I would like to try for the month. Reading and being in the present moment were my two. In the first two months of the decade I have already discovered at least 10 things that have been beneficial to my life since setting intentions with my screen. My productivity, creativity and motivation are just a few to note.
I have discovered (or rediscovered) a lot about myself since I began setting intentions with my screens. It is crazy to realize what I have lost since owning a smartphone. Start setting intentions with your screens in the new decade, even if you don’t think you have an addiction. Again, start small. One thing to ask yourself is, “What is one thing you would do if you have an extra hour everyday?”. If you begin to set intentions with your screen, you’ll realize you have a lot more free time than you thought. For the next two months, I am setting new intentions. I will use an alarm clock instead of my phone. I will also create more time to go after a new workout goal. Setting Down my phone allows me to create more time for this workout goal as well as for other goals.
So get to it. Start setting intentions for your screens in the new decade now!
If you liked this article and want to read more about the Set It Down movement, then you should sign up for our newsletter, share and repost!
Let’s make sure we keep out conversational skills intact as the screens have taken over many of our lives! If you need some icebreaker questions, check out our Conversation Starter blog posts!
]]>Isn’t it ironic that this Set It Down movement is created to get people off of their screens yet we are marketing through that very online portal? Well, honestly, no. Where else are we going to get your attention? Yes you. The person looking at the screen. You are who we are looking for.
Those that need to be marketed to most are the ones that are on their screens often. If we are able to get to the dead center, in front of you on your screen, maybe that will make a difference. We hope that we are able to inspire you to put away your work email when you walk in the front door. We hope that you pick up a book instead of mindlessly scrolling through all those apps on your phone.
The Set It Down movement was started to help bring more meaningful experiences back to peoples’ lives away from the screens. It isn’t a movement to completely shut out the advances of technology. We all need technology in some form for work, commuting to work, for personal life and more. But our life now consists of us being online more than ever before. Currently, in today’s society, some may say that we depend on technology a bit too much. Most would agree that they are addicted to their screens. They would also say that they don’t know how to put down screens. Are there any solutions to our addiction and to our technological imbalance that we have put upon ourselves? The short answer is yes.
Yes, we can all put down our technology. Yes, we can limit our screen time. Yes, we can end our addiction to screens. How? Well, we have to be intentional and motivated to set down our screens. It takes practice but you can do it. Think about it… 10 years ago we weren’t nearly as addicted to our screens as we are in the present day. You can beat the screen addiction. Let's Get Motivated! Join the Set It Down Movement!
Set It Down is here to help motivate and encourage you to intentionally set down your screen so that you can start having more meaningful experiences in your life. It is here to help you find alternatives to using your screen when you have downtime. Throughout time you will feel equipped to have great conversations again, play fun interactional games, read more books, increase your productivity, become more creative and so much more. You will find yourself bringing old and new hobbies back into your life, having more meaningful relationships, and feeling motivated to get off your butt and onto your feet. Let's Get Motivated! Join the Set It Down Movement!
If you need more inspiration, check out our 50 conversation starters! You can download them for free here!
Thank you for joining the movement. We know you are going to rock it! Check out some of our conversation starters! Or, check out some of our downloadable prints!
Cheers,
The Set It Down Team
]]>What is your perfect weekend? With all the work that we do in our week we need to make sure that we appreciate our weekends. Some of us love going to the malls on the weekends while others love to travel. Share with us your perfect weekend!
My perfect weekend… so many things I love doing so this one is hard. To start, I have found that my favorite weekends are the ones out of cell phone range. So, first thing is first, I put my phone on airplane mode as soon as I am done with work. Uplugging from screens can feel so great and be so beneficial. The other necessity to a great weekend means that I have my partner Ben and my two dogs Teeko and Murphy with me.
Next part of the recipe for a great weekend: I love when I eat a great feast on Friday night. Ideally a locally raised steak with some unbelievable sauce, steak fries and natural red wine. After a nice dinner conversation, I love taking time for board games, puzzles, or a romantic-comedy movie.
Saturday would consist of a lazy morning without an alarm. Eggs Benedict with poached eggs and lemony hollandaise sauce is the breakfast I crave. Once I am full I usually get ready to head out for a weekend adventure! I like the warm months more than the cold, so ideally we would drive to an area that has great mountain biking, hiking, and fly fishing. Around Telluride, Colorado, we are fortunate enough to have a lot of access to these activities. If we can get two out of the three activities done on Saturday then that makes for a great day! Saturday night also means we are camping! We will pull out our camping chairs, our camping stove and some backcountry Annie's Mac and Cheese. Typically, we are exhausted as soon as the sun sets so we don't normally start a campfire. If we can, we will sleep in the bed of our truck but we don't mind cramming into the two man tent with the four of us if we are backpacking into the site.
Sunday, we wake up to the sound of the birds as our alarm clock. We will enjoy cowboy coffee and cinnamon raison bagels with cream cheese. We will begin our adventurous day by heading out on an early morning bike ride on a close by trail.
Once we are done with that, then we will hike a little to a pristine fly fishing spot. Fingers crossed that it is a great dry fly fishing day! I love being on the river all day.
It really is so therapeutic for one's mindset to stand in the river and enjoy the sounds and feels of mother nature. No work is on my mind thanks to unplugging from my screens and allowing myself to enjoy the outdoors. Once we feel happy and exhausted then we will begin to head home feeling refreshed and in high spirits.
What about you? What is your perfect weekend? Is it going on a 20 mile run or is it going to the movies to watch the hottest new movie. We all have different interest so this is a fun conversation to start with others around you! If you are around the Telluride, Colorado area then you should check out: https://www.telluride.com/ . They are the best resources for finding things to do around the local area.
Come back weekly for new conversation starters! Conversation starter questions are for everyone. There is no doubt that technology and increase in daily screen time has taken away valuable conversation time we used to have with the people around us. You can use them around the dinner table, while on a date, with your friends or colleagues. We are encouraging people of all ages to have more conversations, where ever they may be.
Let's make sure we keep out conversational skills intact as the screens have taken over many of our lives!
Conversation Starter: What Is Your Perfect Weekend? Access all our other conversation starter questions by clicking the button below:
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]]>Each week, we will challenge you with some thoughtful questions you can ask your friends, family, lover, or even yourself. Our goal is to enable you to engage in powerful and deep conversation as much as possible and, if you truthfully answer those questions, we are sure you'll learn something new!
Think hard about this one. Give yourself an honest answer. Share it with your friends or have them answer for you! You may find out something about yourself that never crossed your mind!
Answers from Allie: Optimistic, Adventurous, Unpredictable.
I've always thought of myself as an optimistic person, and I try to share the high spirits with anyone I can. I never look forward to bad thoughts but rather a go-getter personality with an “I’ll live” mentality if something goes wrong. If I ever have a scary or important task, like a presentation, I always try to think of where I would be in a week. It helps calm me down drastically.
I do think that a lot of my optimism is from being surrounded by adventures and nature. Adventuring always you to feel so many emotions and you will always come out to a beautiful location, sunset or overall trip. Adventuring outside fuels my happiness and mentality. It must be the green landscapes, wind on your face, and the sun shining brightly.
What about unpredictable? Well, I was voted the most unpredictable in high school. I also believe that is true for me. Not many people can guess what I am thinking of or where I will be living in the next year. What new business venture am I thinking of? Who knows- I write down a new idea almost daily. I love being unpredictable.
Now it's on you! What are the three words that describe you? Why so?
Pin this for later!
Whether it be a chapel or an open field, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Share your spot with your friend, spouse, or random stranger. But be careful! If it is a "secret" spot, you may want to go with your second favorite spot so you don't spoil it for yourself! :)
I have many answers to this. My "home" has been unstable for the past decade as I went to college, worked different jobs, and love to be nomadic. So, I'll share my most beautiful places from every "home" I have experienced.
It was located on a small point on the Atlantic Ocean. Only my closest friends have seen this spot. If I ever had a bad day, I would drive there to smell the ocean, feel the salty breeze, watch the waves break along the beach.
Her house made the area even more beautiful. It was an old cape house with ivy on all its sides, and huge rhododendrons were surrounding the entire property.
It was recently demolished after our family had to sell the property from my grandmother's passing. I went back this past winter and I cried as the house was no longer there. In its place, however, was just a bare "park".
It was almost as magnificent as the house...
I mean not really.
But it was better than a new enormous, unoccupied house. It was a peaceful open grass spot. Looking over the beach and the ocean. The most beautiful place I know.
This is where I spent most of my summers growing up. It was such a magical place that I still remember this one spot very clearly.
When I was 12, I went on a backpacking trip in one of the lesser-known wildernesses. I remember walking over a hill and came across this unbelievable pasture full of wildflowers and an abandoned homestead. It was definitely the most beautiful place near home, or what "home" meant while I was there. I've never been back but I sure would love to.
I was lucky enough to be born into a family full of sailors.
In summer, my parents would spend their holidays on the boat going north to Maine, Nova Scotia, and Labrador.
They loved that boat so much, that they now reside on the very same boat in the Bahamas. Poor them, right?!
One of the best places I've been while traveling on the boat was Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. There, there were countless small colorful houses and mossy forests. You can probably guess why I loved that place.
When I was in college, the most beautiful place near home was Chautauqua Park.
It is well known to all the tourists and locals and can be sometimes very busy. However, if you catch it at the right time of year, on the lesser-known trails, you can have the whole area to yourself.
I would make sure to take a different route every time I walked from campus. I could see the beautiful old growth trees and some spectacular houses.
I had the most magical time when I was studying abroad. I was on a wonderful program and I had the chance to live in a very cool place.
My favorite spot was in the Usumbura Mountains. To get there, I had to go on an amazing hike, which I hope I'll get the chance to go again!
And finally, Telluride. If you are a summer geek like me, you'd love to explore the high basins in the summer. I love flowers and the feeling of sunshine hitting my shoulders.
If you want to see some spectacular sights, you'll have to hike above waterfalls. There, you'll to find the meadows and the colorful wildflowers.
If you're not really into hikes... Walk on the alleys of Telluride, you will see some pretty cool houses!
Wow, those were a lot of places! Thinking about my favorite places awakened some of my dearest memories too.
Now it's on you!
What is the most beautiful place near home? Share it with us in the comments below!
Each week, we will challenge you with some thoughtful questions you can ask your friends, family, lover, or even yourself!
Our goal is to enable you to engage in powerful and deep conversation as much as possible and, if you truthfully answer those questions, we are sure you’ll learn something new!
Conversation starters are meant to be icebreaker questions and can be used on any kind of occasion, such as catching up with old friends or even on a romantic date.
Would you like more conversation starters? Then don’t miss out on our 50 conversation starters for families, couples, or friends! You can download your copy below!
]]>Are you going to set your phone down and try them out?
Switch up your food cravings this winter. Instead of going out for every meal, why don't you try picking up a recipe book and start creating unbelievable breakfasts, lunches and dinners?
How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman is a straightforward and simple book which will have you cooking in now time. “Essential Recipes” starts you off in every chapter and once you make one meal your confidence will definitely grow! Another plus to cooking, you will save a lot of money. I mean a lot.
A study from Forbes found that on average, it is 5 times more expensive to eat out than cooking from home. Imagine what you would do with that spare change if you started making your own meals every week.
Yes Board Games. Our society has turned into so much screen time that we think board games are a thing of the past.
Well, friends, they aren’t. If anything, they should be making a comeback. One of the most underrated hobbies to try this winter has so many positive aspects.
Health Fitness Revolution recently published the top 10 health benefits of board games. It isn’t just about having fun or family time. Board games help with memory formation, cognitive skills, reduces risks for mental disease, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and so much more. Start collecting those board games again!
Some of the top board games include Risk, Exploding Kittens, Chronology and Catan.
Now is the time to explore your creative mind. Ten years ago was probably the last time you picked up a paintbrush and lay it on a canvas. Your impression of your masterpiece was probably not the best.
Well, it is time to try again. Go out and get a kit. Make yourself a station in the corner of your house. Maybe near a window for the natural light?
Watercolor, acrylics, oil or pastels, let’s see what your imagination draws up this time! Your masterpiece doesn’t necessarily have to be a picture or portrait. You could paint on specific quotes that really motivate and inspire you. Try out this Beginner Painter Kit.
Well this is an obvious one. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Warm hot tea on the table next to the cozy chair. Some classical music in the background setting the scene. Cue the grandmother who is knitting your winter hat and then you have all the cozy winter activities in your living room. Knitting is becoming more and more popular these days. It is soothing, repetitive and can be very easy to learn. Learn how to knit the hat that you will wear all winter or the blanket that you will cuddle into each night. Here are some of the best knitting resources you should check out: Knitting Book for Beginners, Knitting Start Kit & the Yarn Spools in Various Colors.
After a long day, the thought of doing anything else can seem hard.
Since winter solstice has already passed, our days are going to start getting longer and longer. A good way to unwind from the day is to throw a kite up in the air and let your feelings fly. One day you may want to make it dance slowly in the wind. Other days you may want to make it jump and twirl and make it race around.
Whatever your mood might be, kite flying is one of the most relaxing hobbies to try this winter.
Check this Go to Kite or, if you want a funny one, try these funky kites.
Did we miss your favorite hobby? Let us know, so we can add it!
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