Screen Time

I have some good posts coming up this week! I am currently filming a little day-in-the-life bit so you can see what I do on the daily. I always love posts like those -- especially from other work-at-home moms. And I am also planning to share why I have decided to stop it already with the LuLaRoe obsession. I was going to just write my thoughts, but I also think it would be interesting to show you why. So, that will also be a video/post.

Today, I want to get out there one of the goals I added to my resolution list. It's a common one, but it is something I didn't think I had a huge issue with until recently. See, I was writing a freelance article and came across the statistic that the average adult spends over 10 hours a day on screens. Initially, I scoffed. "That's ridiculous!" And then I started estimating my own computer, phone, and television time.

Gulp. It's pretty accurate.

I'd say I spend about 4 hours doing computer work for my jobs and also some casual browsing each day of week. Stephen and I have the television on for around two hours each night, even if it's just in the background. And I have my smart phone on me (BTW: I am IN LOVE with my Cell Mate case. In love!) a lot of the time, I don't think I spend three hours on it -- but it might be close to that if you count browsing while nursing, etc.

So, say I spend maybe 8 hours a day on devices most days of the week. I don't like multiplying to get the total. It's too much. I've also noticed that I've been experiencing eye strain lately. I've been trying to follow the 20-20-20 rule (for every 20 minutes on a screen, look into the distance 20 feet for 20 seconds), but it's hard.

I'd love to say "but those hours of screen time when you're working don't count -- you HAVE to do that."

But they do count. At least toward the negative health effects, etc. I don't really know what to do about those. Still, I am hoping to cut down TV time and smart phone time by half to start. Maybe more. I am actually considering proposing to Stephen that we have a few TV-free nights. We don't have cable, but Hulu and Netflix have plenty.

Last night I started by cracking open my Alexander Hamilton biography. I like Chernow's writing style so much, I also ordered his George Washington biography. As if I'll be done with the 800+ pages anytime soon. (And I am going to start doing more library borrowing as well! I just know I'll be trying to read these books chapter by chapter for quite a long time.)

What have you guys done to cut down on screen time? We have phones banned from the dinner table. Otherwise, we've really let any rules slide. I am also looking into this whole single-tasking approach to see if it might make my work more efficient and less time-consuming.

Whatever the case, I'm signing off for the day.

More soon, though! And don't worry -- my review of Weight Watchers is coming up soon. I am down 4 pounds for January. But I've hit some bumps in the road. If you have specific questions you'd like me to answer, leave them in the comments below.

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