Seven Days of Gratitude · Day 5: Staying Connected through Technology

Recently, I have been VERY grateful for technology and social media while I stay at home.  Technology has been such an integral part of our lives for so long that it can be easy to take it for granted, and we can forget that it's a luxury. I use it for work of course, but also increasingly to stay connected with family, friends and patients, and to inspire others and be inspired by others. While it's not a substitute for an in-person connection, technology has helped ease our global pivot to staying safe at home to be less painful. FaceTiming and video calls with our loved ones has never felt so important. Zoom happy hours anyone? Group online fitness classes? They both bring connection and joy. Groceries, medicine and other goods ordered and delivered through technology is enabling countless people to stay safe at home. And let's not forget the other medicine - laughter - right at your fingertips when a forwarded funny meme arrives, and in your own laughter you forward it to your friends, sharing some joy. Laughter is healing, and technology brought it to you in seconds. The use of technology and social media can help us stay informed, learn new things, keep our appointments, spark new ideas, and help us feel less alone. Like anything, there are pros and cons to technology / social media and an increase in use. It's important to remember that technology and social media are meant to enhance our lives, not diminish them. Take measures to help balance your use and lessen the likelihood that it becomes a distraction or detrimental to your health. Need to focus on something? Put your cell phone in a drawer, on silent. On your computer, minimize distractions by closing all tabs that do not directly relate to the task at hand. If you're eating or watching television, do those activities 100% without your phone nearby. It's important we practice mindfulness, stay present, and have breaks too, from our electronics. Set dedicated time to checking your phone and social media throughout the day, and remember not to get caught in the mindless scroll from bed. 

Thankfully our children have continued their learning and are doing many extracurricular activities online. Kids are also having playdates arranged by parents through Houseparty, Zoom or Skype. An increase in technology for school can lead to sedentary kids, however. Break up the day between online learning for kids if you can by turning on music and announce it's dance time! And when they're danced out, point them to their bookshelf, where they can engage in another activity I'm grateful for, reading a good book! #StayAtHome #gratitude #ConnectedTogether #mentalhealth #technology #laugh #Learningathome #mindfulness #socialmedia

Photo by Dhaya Eddine Bentaleb on Unsplash