Jun 4, 2019 4 min read

I read last week that a new study found that, on average, Americans spend nearly 11 hours a day staring at a screen of some type. Perhaps it is computers at work, then the television at home, and in between it might be our phones or iPads. Regardless, 11 hours a day staring at a screen is a lot.

The study did not indicate this next comment, but my belief is that the more time people spend disengaged from other human beings, the less consideration for feelings that exists. People feel emboldened to be mean, as it is much easier to be cruel or unkind to someone when you’re not looking them in the eye, not having to hear their reply, and especially not having to see their emotional response to the words.

For an example of what I mean, read down through the comments on any Facebook post or article from a famous person or on a topic that tends to be divisive, such as politics or religion. The attacks become personal quite quickly, leaving aside common etiquette, manners, or even just civil discourse.

I took a hard look at my own screen usage after reading that study. While I firmly believe that I have never – and would never – attack someone’s personhood because I disagreed with their comment or position, I certainly saw areas where I could trim my time in front of various screens for other reasons.

In addition, because my example matters, I decided that as a household we would spend one evening a week after supper without television, cellphones or computer. As I expected, our first foray into a screen ban last evening was quite challenging.

My husband was upset that he could not watch the weather before bed (I assured him it would have changed by 6 a.m. anyway), my daughter was upset that she could not text her friends (I offered her the use of the landline), and I even found myself irritated a couple of times because I wanted to look things up online.

Only my son seemed undeterred. He was excited that we were playing cards and that he had my full attention while playing. He wanted to play gin, but how he explained the rules didn’t seem to jive with my recollection. I picked up my phone to Google it and had to remind myself that the prohibition I had implemented for everyone counted for me, too.

We took a break to load the dishwasher, and after a few more hands of cards, I still didn’t hear it running. Lights were blinking, and even after resetting it, I couldn’t get it going. I picked up my phone to Google tips on fixing it, and again remembered the screen restriction.

See? This is exactly why a rest from screens is needed! Somehow, I have become so accustomed to having instant access to information that I can’t get through one evening without it.

After a little more grumbling, I regrouped and went back to playing cards. We played a few more rounds of weird-rules-gin, and then a few hands of go fish, and I tried to teach him cribbage. That is a work in progress, as is my ability to be screen free.

Interestingly enough, I was ready to go to bed and go to sleep at a decent hour and awoke feeling much better than I have in weeks. Hopefully, that will be enough to help me curb my technology usage and enjoy more time with my family.

Laura Zoeller can be reached at zoeller5@verizon.net.