Did you know the average American spends more than 7 hours looking at a screen every day? When was the last time you looked at your phone’s weekly screen time report? Was it higher or lower than you expected? You can spend a lot of time glued to a screen with internet-connected activities such as social media, TV streaming, gaming, and even working. Being online has become the norm for most people, which is why you should be taking the time to create healthy internet habits.
Limit Notifications
You can limit notifications in a few different ways to give yourself a break from the constant stream of distractions. Your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” settings allow you to choose when notifications can or cannot reach you. This is great for when you are trying to get work done or trying to spend time unplugged. On iPhones, you can schedule notification summaries. These are specific times in the day when you get a summary of all the notifications you received since the last summary. You choose what apps you want to include in the summary and what app notifications you want to receive immediately. You can even turn off push notifications for apps that aren't important or delete unnecessary apps, so you won't be bothered by them. Go through all the apps downloaded on your phone to decide what app notifications are important to you and what apps you don’t need anymore.
Designate Device-Free Zones
Setting device-free zones in your home can ensure your family spends time each day unplugged. This is important for both adults and children. When it seems impossible to escape technology, these zones of relaxation and recuperation encourage healthy internet and lifestyle habits. Device-free dinners allow everyone to talk to each other and share about their day without scrolling through social media. Family game nights also let you have fun and create memories without technology to distract you. Keeping smartphones, tablets and even TVs out of bedrooms helps promote healthy sleep habits, while also giving everyone a much-needed timeout from constant stimulation. The best thing to do is set device-free zones and times that make the best sense for your family.
Monitor Internet Use
One of the best ways you can create healthy internet habits is by monitoring internet use. As mentioned above, there are more than enough internet-connected activities to keep you in front of a screen for an excessive amount of time. Set age-appropriate internet limits for your family or set specific times for your Wi-Fi to be turned off. With the Plume Wi-Fi system, you can set internet freezes for specific times of day, for indefinite amounts of time or for custom timeouts on any profile or device. Just like with designated device-free zones, monitored internet use and timeouts allow your family to take breaks to participate in non-connected activities.
Good habits come with time! By practicing the healthy internet habits listed above (and so many more), you can take a timeout from the internet and connected devices. Always remember: The internet is a tool. Don’t let it take control of your life and always strive to have healthy internet habits.
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