Well-being

Screen Free Sunday

3%

If 500 people commit to not using any screens on the last Sunday of January (Jan 27th) we’ll all do it!

  • 5 weeks

    To go

  • 500

    Target

  • 16

    Participants

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Project Starter

Barbara Putman Cramer

Short description:

In 2019, we take our first leap towards building a global screen free movement. A movement that celebrates moments of reconnecting with ourselves and others. How? By going screen free every last Sunday of the month.

In January, we start with 500 people and by using the magical power of exponential growth we double our numbers each month, and become a movement of 1 million people in December.


Are you in?

Start small by committing to a first screen free Sunday in January. If you like it, join for February and spread the word offline or online (in moderation of course ;). That’s the way towards doubling our impact, each month.


Our collective commitment can trigger many small scale experiences of deep connection with our families, friends and yourself, as well large scale international attention and debate on the topic of digital detox. We believe both the large and the small scale have potentially huge benefits for our own well being and happiness.

Start date:

28 Nov 2018

End date:

26 Jan 2019

Hashtags:

screenfreesunday

Goal / impact

Our vision is a world with a new global holiday. Every last Sunday of the month is a screen free Sunday. A distraction free day to engage with the people and activities that matter most to us.


New technologies have enriched our lives greatly, so we’re not advocating the abolishment of screen time altogether. What we are advocating for is simply rebalancing our time.

If 500 people commit to not using any screens on the last Sunday of January (Jan 27th) we’ll all do it!

Other comments

Why now?

Psychology Professor Adam Alter in his TED Talk on Why Screens Make Us Less Happy demonstrated there is a disturbing trend of our ‘personal time’ being filled with ‘screen time’. Up from a little less than 50% in 2007 to almost 90% in 2017.


Facts

The reason we need collective down time is unfortunately not just our own funky opinion. There is a growing amount of research illustrating the consequences of our screen addictions and the potential upside of recurring moments of detox. Some highlights include but are certainly not limited to:


  • 85% of American adults check their phones during conversations with family & friends (Source)
  • 72% of European children felt that since getting a smartphone they feel more pressure to be available at all times to family and friends.
  • China was the first country in 2008 to recognise internet addiction as a clinical disorder (Source)
  • Texting during a conversation makes the talk less satisfying for the people having it (Source)
  • The mere presence of a cell phone during a conversation — even if no one was using it — is enough to make people feel less connected to each other (Source)
  • When spouses frequently take to their phones mid conversation, they’re more likely to experience depression and lower marital satisfaction (Source )
  • 67% of mobile phone owners find themselves checking their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating. Some 18% of cell owners say that they do this “frequently.” (Source)


Benefits

  • Less time on your screens and more time immersed in nature increases creative thinking and problem solving skills (Source)
  • Use time to reconnect with yourself and others
  • Unplugging gives you time to do activities such as reading a book, go for a walk in nature, spending time with family and friends or exercising etc.
  • Living in the present and not get distracted by any notifications
  • Feeling energized on Monday filled with new ideas


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