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Taking your phone to bed at night may be tempting, but the blue light that comes off of screens can confuse your brain into thinking it's daytime. This can lead to not getting enough sleep and insomnia.
Bullying doesn't just happen on the playground. Mean texts, rumour spreading, gossip and threats are all examples of cyberbullying. This type of bullying happens online, making it especially hard to deal with since it can be difficult to control and may leave you feeling like there's no escape or safe space to turn.
Navigating the DOs and DON'Ts of healthy screen behaviour.
GREEN LIGHT. GO AHEAD.
Unplug and play
- Play a board game.
- Go for a walk.
- Read a book.
- Make your favourite recipe.
- Play an instrument or sing a song.
Create and learn
- Learn something new.
- Create using code.
- Compose a song.
- Write a story.
- Make up your own game.
Connect
- Video chat with a friend or relative.
- Chat with a friend from school.
- Engage in community events.
Care for yourself
- Use a health app.
- Join an online exercise class.
- Learn how to stay safe online.
- Monitor your screen time on your phone.
Yellow Light. Pause and think.
Decide if the screen time is good or bad.
- Ask yourself if this screen time is helpful.
- Think about whether your parents/caregivers would approve.
- Consider whether this could hurt you or others.
Limit screen time
- No more than two hours per day of recreational screen use (gaming, social media, mindless scrolling) is recommended outside of schoolwork.
Make time for rest
- Turn off your notifications when you are not using your phone.
- Log out and power down at bedtime.
- Take an occasional vacation from your devices.
Think about what matters most
- Spend time on what is most important to you (e.g., school, family, friends and hobbies).
- Decide ahead of time when you are going to check social media. Try doing it at a specific time instead of just when you feel like it.
RED LIGHT. STOP.
Talk to an adult
- Let someone know if you or others are being bullied.
- Tell someone if you often feel unhappy or anxious.
- Share if you often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Turn screens off
- Stop at least one hour before bedtime.
- Power off devices when you are not watching.
Resist the urge to document every moment of your life.
- When you're having fun, enjoy it. Don't worry about getting pictures of it, or what others will think of it.
- Live in the moment and accept that you can't be everywhere.