Power to Thrive

Unplug this Christmas holidays and invest in family time

Our kids are watching, learning and absorbing what we do every day.

How we model our relationship with tech will shape their experience with it.

Moms and Dads often ask us, how can we be a better example to our children when it comes to smartphone use.

A few best practices👉👉👉

✅ NIX NOTIFICATIONS
Your phone wants your attention! Every day, we are bombarded by a constant stream of dings, flashes and red badges screaming for our attention and pulling us away from our family. Turn down the digital noise by going to Settings on your phone. Then click “notifications” and turn off the badges, banners and notifications for everything except for calls and texting.

✅ OPT FOR GRAY
Experts say when your smartphone is in black and white versus color, you are less drawn to it. We tested this setting and found that it reduced interest in the phone and its applications across the board. Try grayscale for a week to see how it changes your phone habits. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters > Select > Grayscale.

✅ GO BARE BONES
The less we have on our phone the easier it is to resist. Take your phone down to the bare bones to see how it impacts your phone habits. Remove email, social media apps, games, and news apps. Move anything nonessential for daily use from the home screen of your phone.

✅ PHONE LAST
Make a practice of not using your phone when something else will do. How many times do you check your phone to see what time it is or use your phone for an alarm clock? Invest in a watch and an alarm clock for all your family members. Choose to read a real book or use a Kindle instead of reading on your phone. Go old school and subscribe to a print newspaper and magazines to stay up to date on the latest news.

✅ OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND
To keep tech use in check, it is best to keep it out of sight. Designate a cabinet or drawer in your home for phones and tablets to keep them out of the line of sight. Carve out pockets of the day to unplug and put devices away.

You've got this parents 🙌

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