Feeling Burnt Out? This 24-Hour “No Phone” Rule is Changing Lives Across Ghana

Do you have screen-off days? With a lot of teaching and learning, work, commerce, and all going on online, a lot of people have forgotten the importance of things like staying away from screens for a while.

Prior to COVID-19, educators emphasised the need for parents to implement screen time so their wards could rest their eyes, do some physical activity, and generally rest their minds.

With a lot to catch up on in the syllabus or with work targets to be met before the year ends, most people are spending more time in front of their screens, and no one is emphasising the need for a break anymore.

No one can be blamed for not having screen-off days in their schedules, but a conscious effort must be made to inculcate the healthy practice of screen-off days or hours in the busy schedules. This can be done in various ways, using the help of gadgets or manually.

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Here are some ways of observing screen-off days manually:

1. Take a proper break to have a meal: Most people have their eyes on the TV or computer even while they eat.
2. Take a walk for a break instead of catching up on social media when you want to take a break from work.
3. Rest without gadgets. Some people read on Kindles as a form of rest; simply lying still or reading a hardcover book is better, especially if you have been behind your computer all day.
4. Schools and parents should give their wards two to three screen-off days in two weeks.

Using your smartphone, set screen-off time for the apps that take up most of your time. You will find that in your phone’s settings. It’s no coincidence that the markers of the gadgets have such features.

Even on your laptop, computer, or phone, you can set a shutdown time. Most people tend to work longer hours while working from home. There are people who work from 9 am to 9 pm without realising the time moves.

Remember to do the same for the gadgets learners use as well.

‘Health is wealth’ is not a cliché.

Health is really important, and we must endeavour to keep every part of our bodies healthy, especially after what COVID-19 has opened our eyes to.

Your eyes need to rest.