As the new year rolls on, we are taking a step back to reevaluate our relationship with our devices and offering solutions to take back control of our digital wellbeing. Hint: read more (paper) books.

By Xische Editorial, February 14, 2022

We are well into the new year, but it’s never too late to consider some helpful tips and strategies to improve mental health. Let’s face it: the world is still a very tense place. The pandemic remains an ever-present threat. The global economy is up and down. We all continue to suffer from uncertainty about what will happen in 2022. Complicating matters is that we have never been more addicted to scrolling on our phones. How many of us are guilty of lying awake at night scrolling through social media feeds or the latest news? It’s an unhealthy situation that we can take small steps to remedy. As January comes to a close, let’s consider some practical measures we can take to inspire better living in ourselves and our communities. 

We have to start with a discussion about our phones. Getting off one’s phone is much easier said than done these days, but even thirty minutes a day can make a big difference for one’s mental health. This is especially true if that screen time break happens before bed. Getting better sleep this year will dramatically increase your happiness. There are myriad solutions to reducing screen time. Apple has recently updated its popular iOS software with advanced features to block time-consuming apps like Instagram and TikTok. 

These features are great, but the choice to put down the phone is ours at the end of the day. Instead of starting off with a grand gesture such as deleting a social media app, it is best to start small. For example, every night at 6 pm, try to put your phone in another room for 30 minutes. Once you have mastered that small block of time, you can move on to longer periods and start to really break down the addiction that we all suffer from when it comes to our devices. It’s also a good idea to think about the apps that live on your device. Are they distracting or do they genuinely serve a purpose? It’s okay to be discerning and choose only to use apps that genuinely elevate your day. 

The New York Times points out that “phone or screen overuse isn’t officially recognized as an addiction (or a substance use disorder, as experts call it) in the American Psychiatric Association’s official manual of mental disorders.” However, “there is a growing number of mental health specialists who recognize that people can get addicted to their smartphones.” So it’s a good time to get this situation under control. 

Another time-tested method is to reach for printed material. We have sung the praises of reading physical books to reduce screen time for years. Set a book reading target in 2022 and make sure to read them in their physical form. If you live in Dubai, check out Kinokuniya for one of the world’s best selections. Reading before bed … what a radical way to increase one’s happiness! Recent studies have shown that reading printed material can increase one’s attention. Just like with the smartphone, don’t be hard on yourself about finishing books. The best readers are the ones that will put down a book that doesn’t grab their attention. Start with a modest goal of reading for 20 minutes, put down books that don’t interest you, and let your mind expand. 

Keeping with the printed and tangible theme, old-fashioned arts and crafts are a great way of establishing a healthy routine this year. In their recommendations for a happier year, the Washington Post suggests we pick up a new craft. Crafting, the paper notes, is a great way to inspire calm because it moves our attention from the normal anxiety triggers of the day. Crafting can also boost accomplishment since a crafter creates something from scratch. Even if you aren’t the most creative or artistic, picking up a craft in the company of friends and family is a great way to get your mind off the daily grind. 

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Through little tweaks and changes, we can make 2022 a great year of healthy living. The most important thing this year is to be gentle with yourself. We are still living through an unprecedented pandemic with ample uncertainty. So, put down your device, pick up a book, and spend some quality time with yourself and your loved ones. Here’s to a great year ahead.