Be a rolemodel

Show your teens that life exists beyond the screen.

Many of us have become addicted to our Smartphones and they certainly can help to facilitate our busy lives. However it is vital that we build into our schedules time for a screen detox; and also if we are parents/carers/ teachers, that we model this to our children.

Behavioural scientist Paul Dolan, and author of ‘Happy Ever After’ views social media as promoting young people to do things that extrinsically ‘look good’, rather than intrinsically ‘feel good’.

As neuroscientists have discovered a Teenager’s brain is still fragile and developing, especially in the pre-teen years.

There has been an increasing amount of research that suggests a huge cause of depression and anxiety, more so in pre-teens, comes from the over use of social media.

Some screen detox ideas to do yourself/ and or model with teenagers.

1. Start by putting down mobile phone, or shutting down screens for 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

Close your eyes and say to yourself 3-5 things you are grateful for.

Focus on these things and let them soak in for as long as you can.

2. Put down mobile or screen, close your eyes and focus on 3 breaths to activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which slows down our heart rate and lowers our blood pressure. Breath in through your nose for 3 deep belly breaths and out of your mouth for 5.

Try to do this daily and if you have teenagers, especially early teens, model this behaviour by doing it together.

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