Today, screens are everywhere, whether we like it or not. Screens dominate our daily lives, for work, study, social connection, and leisure, for planning, and basically, for the majority of tasks. Screens are efficient and helpful. And often necessary. However, too much screen time leaves us tired, distracted, unable to focus, and stressed.
Trying to balance screen time often feels like another draining emotional effort, and no screen seems boring; what do I even do? Sit and stare at the wall? But non-screen hobbies, simple leisure activities, and very small life adjustments will give you a break physically and mentally without making life boring.
In this post, we explore enjoyable ways of decreasing screen time without feeling bored or disconnected.
Go for Walks and Outdoor Activities
This is one of the simplest and fastest ways to reduce screen time. Moving outdoors for walking, jogging, cycling, or simply being in the garden doing some small chores or enjoying instantly refreshes the mind and benefits physical health.
You don’t need big ideas. Even a small walk around the neighborhood can help clear your head and give rest to your eyes. Getting some sunlight is also useful in regulating sleep patterns that screens tend to disrupt.
Families can make off-screen time a social time. Try to have fun, connect with the family members, children, and pets. Shared activity and bonding will be more rewarding for everyone than sitting in different corners in front of your screens.
Rediscover Reading
Reading is not as good for your eyesight as walks and outdoor activity, but mentally, books are the classic alternative to screens. Printed pages, especially soft beige-colored paper, allow the brain to focus and enjoy without constant distractions and notifications; the lack of a shiny screen is still preferable for the eyes.
Even short reading sessions up to twenty minutes before bed create a mental break, let the brain slowly focus on this calming activity, and allow the body to relax.
If you need to unwind both physically and mentally, audiobooks can be handy for walking or jogging and listening to the story at the same time. You can also cook or do household chores.
Creative Hobbies
Now, here you should be attentive and actually pursue the hobby you really like. Many people are reluctant or afraid of doing hobbies they really genuinely enjoy, sometimes because of childhood trauma (“you will never be a singer!”) or because the hobby seems “not serious” for an adult person.
So they try to engage in hobbies that are trendy (like crocheting or scrapbooking) or join someone else’s hobby (like wives trying to enjoy fishing with their husbands), but it doesn’t work well at all. Sooner or later, they get back to their screens.
Therefore, the key here is to find something you enjoy and are ready to do for hours without a screen. Art, music, crafts, and gardening are exciting if you enjoy them, and screens cannot match this enjoyment. Pursuing non-work activities that are also entertaining provides a sense of accomplishment and relieves stress.
Creativity, even in small portions, even as simple as coloring or doodling, is healing physically and mentally. The best part is that you can start small with ten minutes of doing the new hobby, and see how it goes.
Board Games and Card Games
If you have time and, preferably, company for tabletop games or card games, perfect. Games have always been a way to challenge the mind, have fun, and connect. Board games and card games combine strategy, luck, and social interaction in a way screens rarely do.
Of course, you can always play card games and other games at the best online casinos Canada recommended by Casinos Hunter website or similar reviewers, because these games can feel more exciting, but it is still screen time! If you are into this type of game, better try to organize a card-playing evening with the family and friends.
Playing games with people you know and like encourages teamwork and problem-solving. A game night doesn’t need to be long or complicated; even a quick round of a classic card game or a small board game can provide entertainment and mental stimulation. And don’t forget to put all your phones away!
Cooking and Baking
Cooking can be an amazing hobby that is also practical. If you learn to also be creative during cooking, and then get the feeling of accomplishment when the family enjoys what you cooked, this will be an excellent alternative to spending time in front of the glowing screen.
If cooking seems too boring or you already do it on a regular basis, try baking. Baking requires attention to detail, precision, and creativity. Even if you fail for the first few times, very quickly this activity will become rewarding. Moreover, sharing your baked goodies with others will add a social layer that screens do not replicate.
Journaling and Writing
Another simple and classic tool for relaxation, mindfulness, and effortless focus is writing by hand. If you feel stressed and overwhelmed, journaling helps process your thoughts, track habits or patterns, reflect on life, and stop repeating the same thoughts in your head again and again.
Writing by hand also triggers finer connections between the physical movements of the hand and fingers and your brain’s response, boosting self-awareness and creativity. Writing is very affordable and accessible, private, very flexible, and gives a sense of accomplishment and relief.
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