Why unplug from Technology?
Almost completely regardless of age, all day long we use some form of technology, whether we are at school and using a computer for homework or research, at work in front of a computer all day or scrolling through social media getting updates on friends. It is rare that we unplug and enjoy a break from technology. We are so connected with technology that things like Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS) now exist. PVS refers to the false perception that one’s phone or other devices are vibrating when they are not. A study by The Pew research Center claims that 67% of cell phone owners find themselves checking their phone for messages, alerts, or notifications even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating.
This is not a knock-on technology, it is a necessary part of our lives, but it does make it clear that we need to invest time in hobbies or do activities that help us unplug, even if just for a little while. Unplugging from technology for a while can help you feel more centered and grounded in the present moment. Painting a DIY Sports Art kit, allows you to do just that. For 1 hour or however long you choose to spend on your DIY Sports Art kit at one time, the technology is left behind and you focus solely on what is in front of you.
Solitude is Hard to Find
Solitude grounds us to the world around us. It provides the stillness and quite needed to reflect and detach from the stresses of life, like work or school. Even if just briefly, it is beneficial to your overall happiness and well-being.
In a world where outside noise is coming quicker and louder than ever, the need for solitude becomes more apparent. But true solitude will always require effort and intentional action of shutting off the noise and the screens.
These are some tips to help you unplug:
- Make a schedule – Power down for one period, whether it be one hour per day, one morning or evening per week, whatever works for you, get off technology. Switch off your phone, computer, and tablet. Don’t check social media or your messages. This can be in the morning, afternoon, evening… whenever it may be, choose a time that works best for you and is conducive to your schedule and try your best to stick to it. Disconnecting from technology disconnects us from the world and enables us to discover ourselves.
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- Pick up a hobby – You could finally spend time on that hobby you have always been meaning to pick up. Having a pastime will enhance the quality of your life and boost your relationships if you ask a family member or friend to join you. Physical or creative hobbies like sports, hiking, art or music can also benefit your overall health in several ways.
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Once you unplug, the next challenge is finding what to do with the time. Make a conscious effort to plan more activities that do not include technology to keep yourself distracted. Too much time spent on gaming, smartphones, and watching television is linked to heightened levels anxiety. From personal experience, when I would unplug, I often found myself tempted to pull out my phone, because I didn’t know what to with myself. I found the best way to unplug is to simply find better more enjoyable things to do. I found that in art.
Creation Over Consupmtion
Our free time is spent either consuming or creating. Most of the free time we spend in front of technology is spent consuming – playing games, browsing the internet, watching movies and videos, listening to music, and scrolling social media. Unplug and spend more time creating.
Most people find it much easier to consume rather than create. Creativity takes time, patience, and space to be inspired. Oftentimes, creativity necessitates isolation from our busy lives. None of these things come easily in our busy lives.
Instead of accepting the challenge to create, we often find escape in our phones. We scroll through our news-feeds, live vicariously through other people’s lives on social media, and pacify ourselves with various outlets of instant gratification. Instant gratification is just that: instant, temporary and fleeting.
It takes some effort, but it is very possible to access the creative impulses of our childhood. When we create, we thrive.
DIY Sports Art kits provide an easy way to embrace creating art. All DIY Sports Art kits come with everything you need to get started and complete your piece of art, from the canvas to the paints and paintbrushes and even the wall hangers to mount your finished piece.
The added value to a DIY Sports Art kit or painting in general is that you can turn your finished work into actual art pieces. Decorating your home with your masterpieces is a great way to share your hobby with visitors. In addition to this, many have expressed seeing a finished painting as one of the reasons why they love it.
Completing a painting whether you are new to the hobby or have been painting since childhood, provides a sense of accomplishment. The gratification we feel continues our wave of positivity, which elicits more happy feelings.
