Unplugging and Unwinding: How to Limit Quarantine Screen Time

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By Alex Teerlinck

In case you haven’t heard, we’re in the midst of a global pandemic. This is certainly an unprecedented time in our lives and it’s ok to feel confused, upset, and lost. While social distancing, one thing I’ve been struggling with is putting down electronics. Not just my phone, not just the news. Technology is one thing we can have during quarantine, but it’s important to check in to make sure we’re not getting too much of it. Hopefully this article will inspire you to have some down time from your screens and hey, maybe you’ll even try something new!

Set classwork limits.

It’s inevitable to spend hours in front of a screen simply because of the reality that is online classes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a couple of hours to yourself between classes or before starting your work. You know your schedule better than anyone else- block off one or two hours everyday to do something non-technology related that makes you feel relaxed. When you get back to your work, you’ll be feeling calm instead of burned out.

Make that recipe you’ve always wanted to try.

The only place we can go during quarantine is the grocery store, so take advantage of that (safely, and while staying 6 feet apart, of course). Easter’s coming up and I’ve seen a ton of cute baking recipes on Pinterest- the possibilities are endless.

Do some yoga.

Alright, this one’s admittedly a cheat, but luckily a lot of great resources have been moved online free of cost given the current situation. Yoga is a great way to relax the body and the mind, and can also be a workout to get endorphins flowing too! If you’re new to yoga, Yoga by Adriene is a channel on YouTube filled with specialty workouts, and if you’re feeling adventurous, even a 30 day challenge (my mom and I just started it!). For those looking for a challenge, CorePower Yoga just put a bunch of free classes online.

Do some journaling.

I feel like this finds its way into every article that I write, but putting your feelings on paper is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. It’s also a great way to disconnect from the sometimes frantic and overwhelming social media posts that seem to be flooding our feeds. You can find lists of prompts to check in with yourself and get to know yourself better pretty much anywhere on the internet, so copy them into your journal, put the phone down, and get writing!

Practice self care!

If you’re starting to feel tired, upset, frustrated or any of the above, take some time out of your day to reset the mind and the body. Take a bath, do a face mask, get changed, do whatever makes you feel your best. When you’re at your best, you’ll do your best. I know it’s easy to sit in bed in PJ’s all day and while it’s certainly comfy, it may not help you be your most productive.

I hope that this list gave you some ideas for your next ‘unplug’ session… the main goal is to take some time off of social media, (Netflix is never a bad thing–the whole world seems to be watching Tiger King) but the world outside of our screens can be pretty great too. All in all, I hope you all stay happy and healthy in both the mind and the body, and please, please practice social distancing and be responsible!