More Green Time, Less Screen Time
By Kelsey Howell
Every evening, I check on my apartment garden.
I test the moisture of the soil with my finger, split tangling stems, pull out small shoots of weeds, and fill up my watering can, if needed. I carefully water the soil, drying any stray droplets off the leaves with a towel. The puddles should sink fast; if they don’t, I’m done.
My garden is my pride and joy, but it’s also my medicine. I see this healthy habit as a break from the pandemic average of over 12 hours of screen time a day.
Back in 2016, it was alarming when average screen time jumped from 9 hours and 40 minutes to 10 hours and 40 minutes. Now, that time is peanuts in comparison. At the height of the pandemic, the average American adult spent 19 hours a day online, and many are finding it difficult to step down and disconnect.
However, this time away from screens and devices is necessary for mental health. High levels of digital media use are correlated with poor sleep quality and trouble focusing on daily tasks. I have had more than one friend say they watch less TV these days because they can’t keep focus for long enough.
If we’re too distracted to enjoy our methods of distraction, it’s time for a major reset.
At W5, we are encouraged to take occasional breaks from our computers and make use of the office balcony space. I like to head down the elevator and walk around the building. When a project seems insurmountable, it is helpful to take mindful stock of the temperature outside, the breeze, the ground beneath our feet. This is beneficial from both a productivity perspective and human-centric perspective.
A few helpful ways to take work offline:
· Thinking about a project on a walk
· Working on non-math intensive tasks with a pen and paper
· Discussing a project with a coworker
A few ways to take life offline:
· Home improvement projects
· Art projects―drawing, writing, composing
· Crafts projects―sewing, welding, woodworking
· Cooking from scratch
· Live performance
· Sports
· Board games
· Gardening