The Screen SWITCH OFF - Why we need to practice regularly

Have you noticed when you feel:

  • Anxious, unsettled, distracted

  • Stressed

  • Not good enough, low sense of self

  • Impatient, wound-up/wired

  • Broken sleep

  • Constipated(!)

Take a moment to reflect on how much “screen time” you have exposed yourself to in the last day, few days.

It makes us crazy!

I recently observed my niece and nephew ages 6 and 7 after 1.5 hours of screen time on ipads watching movies and playing games. To be fair to my brother and sister-in-law, they generally don’t have a lot of screen exposure (the do however have high levels of sugar in their diets which is another matter and something beyond my control!). When their parents took the screens away from them it was painful to hear. They cried, screamed and wouldn’t go to sleep.

I reflected on some of my own emotional patterns after long use of screens. (A little less of the tantrum kind!) but I can note how it make me very stimulated. I consciously don’t like to use screens for more than a couple of hours. However 2020 has brought a whole new level of dependency on technology for me.

Words from the wise:

This week I received a message from a wise elder, whose wisdom I value. I feel moved to share the sentiments with you.
 
By the way, this won’t be new to you because I know you are conscious of your wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around you.
 
This is the essence of their words:
 
Be vigilant about your daily screen time exposure
 
AND
 
Practice a regular SWITCH OFF.
 
I know, a big one right?
And I smile at myself because here I am writing this to you on my screen and you are reading it on yours.
I’m not suggesting don’t use it- it’s become an integral part of work AND home life.  BUT I am REMINDING you, US to use it consciously.
 
Technology can be a thoughtful tool. (THOUGHTOLOGY as opposed to NUMB-OLOGY or ADDICT-OLOGY). I know you see the difference.
 
 
Practice Abstinence:
 
I was told many years ago by this same teacher:
 
Never let ANYTHING you “use” become a cause of dependence. 
 
When you recognise something has a hold on you, practise abstinence from it.
Regularly.
 
 

Why practice the TECHNOLOGY switch off…. ?

Well… here’s my two penny worth:

The society we have all grown accustomed to has been built upon principles of taking, consuming and depletion of one thing in order to feed something else. The mass producers of food, substances AND social media/technology basically rely on us becoming dependent and addicted to their products.

 

WHY?  So that we continue to consume and consume… until …. what?

 

This ain’t the way forward!

This is a completely unsustainable way of existing.

The structure we become reliant on breeds greed, pain, suffering, image obsession and fear. This is why the cracks are appearing and I know you are aware of this.

Screens, wifi, 4+G and proposed 5G move us further away from our connection to the natural environment and into a state of individual and collective DISEASE.

Ayurveda and all ancient philosophies of life and wellbeing teach us that we are PART of the natural environment and NOT SEPARATE from it.  (You’ve heard me say it before and there’s nothing like repetition to transmit a teaching of truthJ).

 

If we wish to remain healthy and cultivate a harmonious sustainable way of existing, we need to pay heed to nature’s rhythms.

 

Why?

Ayurveda sees all things including us as different unique compositions of the five elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air and ethers.

Modern science would also agree that we are biological organisms. We have bio-rhythms and a pulse that the biology of our physicality sleeps, eats, excretes and is active through.

When we move out of our natural biological rhythms, we cause stress and disconnection for the body. We may feel this physically and/or emotionally and not be able to join the dots to the fact that it is because we are living out of synchronisation and in a non sustainable way .

 

One step further:

Ayurveda goes one step further to say we are made up of the same five elements in nature  AND fragments of Spirit. When we move away from nature we are also moving away from the pulse of Spirit.

 

The aches and pains of daily life:

This is what brings at a deep level what is behind body aches and pains, irregular hormones, digestive disruption, skin conditions etc.  It is a mostly a fear of not being good enough, a fear of not having enough… a fear of not being (or getting to a point where we are not longer) lovable.

It is also what perpetuates self loathing.

 

So what can we do? What does Ayurveda have to say about this?

A return or conscious daily connection to nature is our MAIN port of call. Start today by tuning in to the seasonal and daily rhythms. This is the keystone to supporting overall health.

 

My suggestion is:

Start TONIGHT!

Switch off by 8pm this evening.  
This has been the exploration for the participants on the 4 week Ayur-HOME-veda for Autumn course.  (Our next one will be a 12 day December special preparing you for winter rhythms). They are experimenting with a regular evening wind down and switch offs from screens etc. FYI- creating a “switch off” and evening wind-downs are a huge part of calming stress and anxiety, improving sleep all of which supports you OJAS (vitality, sensuality, immunity, mojo!). I know these are things that are important to you.  

 So, what does a “regular SWITCH off” look like?
For me it means I switch off my phone, computer, tablets and TV (to be fair I so rarely watch TV or movies) for a period of time. It could be from 8pm in the evening; half a day, a whole day… days even!
I know it’s hard when you have kids and partners… but you are a resourceful soul and you will be able to find ways around it. Practicing this regularly will help instil calm and centre and a more restful night of sleep.
Start with what is manageable and KEEP IT SIMPLE is my suggestion.
 
 
A few pointers:

  • Invest in an alarm clock. See here and use it instead of your phone as the alarm.

  • Put the phone outside your room.

  • Have a sensual bath, with candles and oils instead of browsing the net; doing work for tomorrow (try getting up earlier instead); online shopping; watching a movie or series.


And if you are up for it…

  • Turn off the WIFI router at the mains in your house overnight. Switch it back on in the morning. It also stops your household being filled with Electro-magnetic- frequencies (EMFs) that interfere with your bio-rhythms. It’s my current practice and many people, myself included feel an overall difference in sleep quality. Give it a go!

Other ways to ground after too much screen time:

  • Fresh air: Take a walk for 5-20 minutes (build up slowly) each day for next 7 days. Engage your senses: Look at the colours, smell the air and earth and feel the air on the skin.  Listen for the sounds of the leaves blowing.

  • Tree time: It’s a home-coming: If you feel up to walking outside to the nearest “tree” space, touch a tree. Close your eyes and breathe for 10-15 breaths, eyes closed. The vibration of nature literally “talks” and soothes the vibrancy of your inner landscape.  It’s a homecoming.

  • Sunrise and sunset: Mark when sunrise and/or sunset occur tomorrow. Close your eyes and be present for the exact minute that the sun transitions. It’s powerful.

SHARE with ME! Some of you have been doing this and it’s been lovely to hear your feedback on it! Post something here

Take good care and observe what SWITCH OFF brings you:).

 

  

Emily Reed