Stepping into the real world
Screens have dulled our ability to truly feel and connect, writes GulfWeekly's columnist Preety Praveen as she explores this month's Speak Your Mind topic 'how overexposure to gadgets especially social media affects mental health'.
There was a time when real friendships, quality time with family, and taking breaks from work were considered the most valuable aspects of life. Today, these meaningful moments are often overshadowed by phones, laptops and other gadgets.
Charging a phone seems more urgent than talking to the person next to us.
We are more concerned with checking the online status of someone we barely know than asking a loved one how they're doing.
Somehow, knowing a celebrity's daily schedule feels more satisfying than planning our own goals or spending time with those who truly matter.
How did this virtual world take over our reality? Or are we the ones who gave it permission to invade our lives? What should matter more, chasing 'likes' on social media or sharing a hot cup of coffee with someone who genuinely cares about us?
The truth is, this digital shift hasn't just changed our routines, it has reshaped our emotions.
The depth in our bonds, the grief of losing a friend, the sorrow of a breakup, or the pain of parting with a loved one has lost its emotional impact. Screens have dulled our ability to truly feel and connect.
Those late-night heart-to-heart conversations have now been replaced by scrolling through reels or gaming on our phones. Our excessive workloads have chained us to laptops, denying us moments of physical warmth and connection.
And yet, without guilt or awareness, we've comfortably adapted to this digital lifestyle — we even seem happy about it.
But we must pause and reflect: our real world should be built around real people and relationships. In moments of crisis, it's our loved ones who will stand beside us, not our phones or social media apps. A warm hug, a reassuring touch, a caring glance, or a few kind words will always offer more support than any screen ever could.
We must remember gadgets and apps were created to serve us, not the other way around. Let's ensure they remain tools we control, not forces that control us.
Make time not just for yourself, but for your family and friends too. Be present in the real world. Cherish the laughter, warmth and comfort that come from genuine human connection.
After all, we are human and with that comes a social responsibility to care for each other with compassion, attention and love.
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Gulf Weekly
5 days ago
- Gulf Weekly
Stepping into the real world
Screens have dulled our ability to truly feel and connect, writes GulfWeekly's columnist Preety Praveen as she explores this month's Speak Your Mind topic 'how overexposure to gadgets especially social media affects mental health'. There was a time when real friendships, quality time with family, and taking breaks from work were considered the most valuable aspects of life. Today, these meaningful moments are often overshadowed by phones, laptops and other gadgets. Charging a phone seems more urgent than talking to the person next to us. We are more concerned with checking the online status of someone we barely know than asking a loved one how they're doing. Somehow, knowing a celebrity's daily schedule feels more satisfying than planning our own goals or spending time with those who truly matter. How did this virtual world take over our reality? Or are we the ones who gave it permission to invade our lives? What should matter more, chasing 'likes' on social media or sharing a hot cup of coffee with someone who genuinely cares about us? The truth is, this digital shift hasn't just changed our routines, it has reshaped our emotions. The depth in our bonds, the grief of losing a friend, the sorrow of a breakup, or the pain of parting with a loved one has lost its emotional impact. Screens have dulled our ability to truly feel and connect. Those late-night heart-to-heart conversations have now been replaced by scrolling through reels or gaming on our phones. Our excessive workloads have chained us to laptops, denying us moments of physical warmth and connection. And yet, without guilt or awareness, we've comfortably adapted to this digital lifestyle — we even seem happy about it. But we must pause and reflect: our real world should be built around real people and relationships. In moments of crisis, it's our loved ones who will stand beside us, not our phones or social media apps. A warm hug, a reassuring touch, a caring glance, or a few kind words will always offer more support than any screen ever could. We must remember gadgets and apps were created to serve us, not the other way around. Let's ensure they remain tools we control, not forces that control us. Make time not just for yourself, but for your family and friends too. Be present in the real world. Cherish the laughter, warmth and comfort that come from genuine human connection. After all, we are human and with that comes a social responsibility to care for each other with compassion, attention and love.
Gulf Weekly
27-03-2025
- Gulf Weekly
Do good, feel good
As we come to the end of Ramadan, GulfWeekly's columnist Preety Praveen explores the impact that acts of kindness and service, which are commonly practised during the Holy Month, have on our mental health and wellbeing. We learn many things in life but there are some qualities that are inbuilt in our heart, mind and soul. One among them is a desire to do something for people and society. There is a Chinese proverb, 'If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.' Agreed that we all have many things to handle, ample responsibilities to cater to, abundant emotions to hold and enough work pressure. And I won't deny that all of this is enough to keep us engrossed and involved every single minute. But taking time out for a stranger, making an effort to reach out to a needy person and thinking about serving someone without any selfish motive can bring happiness, to both, the person doing the service and the person receiving it. When we help others, we often feel a sense of fulfilment, knowing we've made a positive impact. It strengthens relationships, fosters gratitude and creates a sense of community. When we help others, our brains release feel-good chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins, which boost our mood and reduce stress. Additionally, serving others often shifts our focus away from our own challenges, allowing us to gain perspective and feel more grateful for what we have. The joy of seeing others happy because of our actions also reinforces a sense of purpose and self-worth, contributing to long-lasting happiness. Simply put, helping others not only brightens their day, but it enriches our own life too. Some common feelings and experiences that one might enjoy when they jump into the ocean of kindness and service are – happiness, satisfaction, gratitude, connection, emotional upliftment, a sense of purpose, humility and empathy and relief from ego. In a nutshell, when one serves others with selflessness, the reward often isn't just external but internal - a profound sense of fulfilment, and personal growth. And that's the reason acts of service are a love language, meaning that giving or receiving them is a primary way the person (whose love language it is) experiences connection and care. And to sail in this boat of satisfaction, we don't even have to go out of the house. People whom you find in your vicinity, who serve you from the heart, take care of you, help you and make your life easy, beautiful and livable, need your kindness and attention. On a daily basis, you meet your house help, watchman, gardener, security guard and delivery man. Just think for once, when was the last time you took a few minutes to ask them how they are, what's happening in their life, or if everything is fine at their home? Acts of kindness and service strengthen the bonds within communities. These simple yet powerful gestures remind us of our shared humanity, fostering empathy and compassion that create a ripple effect, inspiring others to do the same. Even the smallest acts can make a significant difference in the world. (Preety Praveen is a psychologist and author.)
Gulf Weekly
19-12-2024
- Gulf Weekly
Toys for joy
Caring charity campaigners are collecting an assortment of toys to spread merry cheer among less fortunate children during this festive season, writes Julia Cassano. The Festive Toy Drive, being organised by the unregistered charity group A Box of Goodness for the eighth year, aims to gift each child with a toy to celebrate the season. 'The toys collected will be shared with underprivileged children of all faiths aged between two and 12, and those with disabilities,' A Box of Goodness founder Malay Miranthi Dole told the GulfWeekly. 'We want to spread smiles throughout Bahrain and make children feel loved and cherished. 'The toys should be unused or new as we strive to give the children high-quality products. 'Sharing our blessings has always been at the core of everything we do at A Box of Goodness and we intend to keep doing more to make the world a happier place.' Miranthi said she also believes it is important to ensure children are included and treated with the upmost respect and care as they are the future. 'It is our duty in a society to make sure our future generations are loved, nurtured, protected and cared for. Last year, we distributed around 350 toys to children of all nationalities and we hope to surpass that mark this year,' she added. Unwrapped toy donations can be dropped off at the Bahrain Rugby Football club in Saar and J M Willis' Cakes and Baked Goodies in Curv Mall Adliya. The locations are open for drop off until tomorrow.
