We are more connected than ever before—technology has gifted us the ability to reach across time zones, share life updates instantly, and hold dinner table conversations with loved ones far away. Yet somehow, we’re feeling more disconnected—both from others and from ourselves.
Pause in an airport terminal, a coffee shop, a train station, or even your hotel courtyard. Notice how many people are looking down at their phones. Yes, they’re connected—to news feeds, to work emails, to socials—but not connected to each other or to the present moment.
And there’s growing evidence that this kind of disconnection takes a real toll on our mental health:
· A 2019 population study found that teens spending just one hour a day on screens—phones, tablets, TV—had more than double the risk of being diagnosed with depression or anxiety compared to low-screen-time peers theguardian.com.
· A recent controlled trial showed that blocking mobile internet for just two weeks led to significant increases in participants’ mental well‑being, life satisfaction, focus, and even decreases in anxiety—comparable to antidepressant effects psychiatrist.com.
· Around 30% of adolescents with addictive screen behaviors reported suicidal thoughts and emotional distress frontiersin.org+15theguardian.com+15bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com+15.
On the flip side, digital tools can keep us connected—but only when used purposefully. Simple things like texting your best friend or video calling your mom can reduce loneliness. Still, the real power lies in unplugging deliberately.
This week, I invite you to power down so you can power up:
· Pick a nature moment—your garden, a patio spritz, or a weekday sunset—and step outside without your phone.
· Spend just five minutes being present. Touch a leaf. Breathe in the morning air. Feel the earth under your feet.
· Notice: how your thoughts settle when your screen is silent, how your energy feels when it’s just you and the living world around you.
When we give ourselves that pause, something magical happens: our creativity blooms, our stress softens, and our connections—both internal and external—find space to grow.
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