The school holidays
have just begun. During the break, you may be spending more time
online playing games and/or interacting with friends. With easy access to the
internet, you may lose track of time spent online.
Are you skipping
meals to go online? Are you giving up your sleep to chat online? Are you
spending less time with your friends and family to spend more time on your
phones and online games? Do you feel anxious when you can’t go online? Perhaps
you may be spending too much time online?
Excessive internet
use has been linked to health issues, such as irregular meal times, lack of
sleep, neck and back pain, obesity and even mental health problems, such as
depression and anxiety. You may also end up neglecting your friends and family
without realising it.
As responsible digital learners, it is important to
practise the three Cyber Wellness Principles. They are:
1. Respect self and others
2. Be safe and responsible
3. Be a positive peer influence
The first two Cyber Wellness
principles (‘Respect for Self & Others’ and ‘Safe &
Responsible Use’) remind you to maintain a balanced use of the internet to stay
healthy. The third Cyber
Wellness principle ‘Positive Peer Influence’ reminds you to role model good cyber
wellness habits and look out for signs of excessive internet use in your
friends. Look out for your friends who may be spending too much time online and
help them to seek help from a trusted adult.
Here are some tips to manage your screen time:
·
Prioritise
your tasks – for example, finish your homework before surfing the Internet.
·
Take
regular breaks from technology
·
Create
tech-free zones – for example, your sleeping and dining areas.
·
Pick up new hobbies and enjoy tech-free fun with your
friends and family
Remember: There are
many great things to do online but spend your time online wisely.
Have a restful break
and happy holidays!
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