Sunshine before Screen time
There are many things in our modern world that can draw us in and then begin to control us. This includes our behaviours and they have an impact on how our brain functions plus our brain health.
The obvious one that comes to mind is smart phones. With its bright blue lit screen, exciting social media apps, entertainment games to distract us from our boredom to keeping us contactable and working 24hr a day if we want through email and more. This all in one device has become a huge and indispensable part of our lives. Unfortunately research is indicating that it is having an impact on sleep routines, brain health which is affecting us both mentally and physically.
If you feel you cannot go a day or even a few hours without being drawn to check your phone, it may have taken control of and hijacked your dopamine reward pathways pushing them out of balance and leading you down this path of physical and mental health challenges.
Many people find themselves each morning as soon as they wake up reaching for and checking their phones as the first act of the day. Even before getting out of bed they are pulled into scrolling through their phones. Unfortunately this is the worst thing any of us could do for healthy brain function. This only reinforces dopamine reward pathway imbalance, impacting many of the brain’s functions that are required to successfully navigate through the rest of the day.
A good thing to remember is that” Sunshine before screen time”. Everyone of us should delay picking up our phones until we have stepped outside and allowed the rising morning sun to set the brain and body on the right path for the days functions and challenges it has to face.
If you are unable to go a few hours without having to check your phone, you may need to consider a phone fast. This may look like setting yourself small but achievable goals that slowly breaks your cravings to be on your phone. Be aware that you may require a replacement activity to help you. This could be as simple as taking a walk in nature while leaving your phone at home or seeking out an accountability partner who can help check in on your progress.
Taking a phone fast will improve your brain function and the better habits you build around your relationship with your phone, the better your physical and mental health might just shine.