Dear Reader,
Mysoon Ayuob, M.D., a family medicine physician for the Mayo Clinic, highlights five reasons why spending less time on a screen is good for your health.
It improves your physical health. You know that physical activity is good for your health, but devices could be cutting into your exercise time. Maintaining healthy habits can be hard when you spend lots of time using screens.
Walking away from screens can affect your physical health by: - Helping prevent obesity and conditions related to excess weight, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
- Freeing up more time for exercise and socializing
- Leading to better sleep
- Helping cut down on snacking and mindless eating, which can happen when you eat in front of the TV and other screens
It frees up time to have fun playing and exploring. Exploring and learning about the world is an important part of life. Instead of spending time on devices, encourage yourself and your family to try new activities. Go for a bike ride or walk, visit a park, check out a museum or explore a local nature trail.
Activities that don’t involve screens can be just as exciting as what is on them. Try coloring (it’s healthy for adults, too), reading, crafting or other activities that use your imagination. Decreasing screen time allows more time for play and creative activities.
It helps you make social connections. Consider this: When you are using a device, you are disengaging with something else. Is that something else important to you? Perhaps it’s a child, friend or significant other. | 
