I WILL: Disconnect to Reconnect

SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE FUN.

It can help you can keep track of old friends and distant family, and it’s great for sharing what’s going on in your life with the people who care about you. But there’s a dark side to the always-on, always-connected, always-informed world of mobile phones and social media. It can skew how we perceive ourselves, promote unfair comparisons, and create an unrealistic world view. It’s important to balance online and offline life in order to reduce stress and simply be in the present.

Start Small: Turn off all your digital devices after 9 p.m. twice a week. Set a timer for online games or social scrolling.

Finish Remarkable: Any time you sit down for a meal with friends or family, put your phone on “Do Not Disturb” and drop it in your bag or your pocket. Ask the people you’re eating with to do the same.