Unplugging: It’s good for you

No doubt most of us love technology. And it plays a vital role in enabling us to work from home in this new normal. However, experts stress that mentally, we need to unplug and disconnect for a little while every day. It is especially important for family members to do so and give each other attention and energy.

Here’s how to start:

1) Assess the negative impact of technology, including any stress and frustration from being constantly “plugged in”. Identifying these difficulties will help you start to change.

2) Challenge yourself to take deliberate breaks. Try to increase your unplugged time. Be realistic, though, do it slowly.

3) Unplug together. Try to get other family members or those you work with to unplug with you. Doing it together provides encouragement and support.

While unplugging is not always easy, doing so will stop us from getting sucked into our phones, computers, TVs and other devices and screens. Importantly, unplugging allows people to reconnect with family during this sometimes isolating Covid-19 pandemic. It’s ironic, really, but we need to reconnect by unplugging.

SZE LOONG STEVE NGEOW

Kajang, Selangor