How much time do you spend on screens each day?
Screens are a huge part of our lives, factoring in to work, school, communication and entertainment. If you live in America, you almost certainly own a smartphone, ready to ping you with the latest text, news or social media notification, day or night.
At times, our screens can seem inescapable—not that we always want to escape from them. Hey, I get it: I work for Plugged In, which involves watching all sorts of screen-based entertainment, yet when the workday is done, I still often find myself scrolling through my phone or browsing TV at home.
But what if there was a way to take a step back from our personal screens, to instead pour that time back into our relationships with God, family and friends?
Good news! Plugged In is offering just that through Screen Fast 2025! We invite your family to join us as we take a week to unplug from screens and reconnect with our loved ones. You can sign up here!
But maybe you’re wondering why a fast from screens would even be a beneficial thing for families to do. More good news! Here are three easy benefits of doing a screen fast …
Benefit #1: Boost Your Family’s Happiness and Peace
More than 70% of teens say that they feel “happy” or “peaceful” without their phones.
Pew Research Center
Screens can be stressful, especially ones connected to the internet. The temptation to check our messages or the news can be constant, and it can rob us of meaningful interactions with those around us or some much needed rest.
Taking a break from our screens can provide an opportunity to truly relax, recharge and reconnect.
Benefit #2: Protect Your Brain
A study found that excessive exposure to screen time may negatively affect brain functions, including learning and memory.
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Screens aren’t inherently bad, but they can become a problem when we overdo it. And, boy, it sure is easy to use them too much. We start to crave that dopamine hit that our devices provide, which can desensitize our brains and lead us to seek more stimulation from those same screens. And that becomes a big problem when unbridled screen use reduces cognitive capacity or leads to neurodegeneration—for both kids and adults.
Fasting from our devices can give us a clean break from unhealthy tech habits and provide illuminating perspective. After a screen fast, you’ll better understand how you and your family are affected by screens. And you’ll be better equipped to make some positive changes in your tech habits moving forward.
Benefit #3: Improve Family Interactions
Preteens’ recognition of nonverbal emotional cues increased significantly in the absence of screen-based media.
Computers in Human Behavior
More time looking at a screen means less time interacting with others, whether it’s family or friends. And that can lead to a diminished understanding of nonverbal communication, an important skill to build and maintain. When our devices hurt our ability to communicate in person, face to face, that’s a problem. And it’s not just an issue that kids struggle with: About 50% of teens say their parents get distracted by phones when having a conversation with them.
By participating in a screen fast, your family can enjoy in-person interactions free from device-related distractions. That can lead to better communication and intentional family time as you gift each other with undivided attention.
Join Us for Screen Fast 2025!
If these benefits sound good to you, why not consider joining us for Screen Fast 2025? It’s completely free, and when you sign up, you’ll receive tons of great content to guide you and your family through a weeklong fast. It’s the perfect opportunity to reset your family’s screen usage and take steps to build healthier tech and entertainment habits in your home. Sign up today!
