Latest news with #GlobalDayofUnplugging
Fox News
31-03-2025
- General
- Fox News
Global Day Of Unplugging
Global Day of Unplugging aspires to encourage individuals to step away from their electronic friends and make human connections in an era when everyone is attached to their phones. Head of brand and marketing for the Global Day of Unplugging, Becky Tahel, shares the history behind the day and why this movement is so important. The goal is to combat the loneliness epidemic and rebrand phones as a tool for information, not a replacement for connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Check out the blood moon, bond over March Madness and spend those FSA funds: 13 health tips for a great month
Buh-bye, winter. Between daylight saving time (March 9) and the start of spring (March 20), brighter, longer and (fingers crossed) warmer days are ahead. There's a lot to love about this time, including the milder weather that makes being outside so much more appealing and the fresh produce coming to rescue you from a root-vegetable rut. It's time to bloom, baby — and the tips below will help you be your best, healthiest self this month. 🌕 Check out the blood moon. Experiencing awe benefits your mental health, so mark your calendar for the total lunar eclipse — the first one visible in the U.S. in nearly three years — happening overnight on March 13-14. Because the moon will take on a rusty red appearance as it passes the Earth's shadow, this eclipse has been dubbed a 'blood moon.' The best time to see it will vary depending on your time zone, but plan to stay up past your usual bedtime. 🏀 Make a March Madness bracket. Know bupkis about college basketball? Doesn't matter. Joining your friends, family or co-workers in a little friendly competition can strengthen social ties and foster fandom (like when that random underdog you picked solely because of the cute mascot actually wins). And who knows? You might suddenly become passionate about researching teams' strengths and weaknesses and get more emotionally invested in the game — all of which is good for your brain and your well-being. (It just so happens that our pals at Yahoo Sports have an online bracket creator here.) See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 💸 Use it or lose it. If your 2024 flexible savings account didn't expire at the end of last year, you'll have until March 15 to use any remaining funds on qualifying services or health-related purchases. Can you squeeze in a last-minute dermatologist appointment you didn't get to last year? Need new eyeglasses or have a prescription to fill? If you have no other pressing health issues, you can spend your remaining balance at the FSA Store, which is stocked with everything from cold meds to fancy light therapy masks. 🍀 Get lucky. It's a big month for people who believe in luck — like finding a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick's Day or getting the plastic baby in your slice of king cake this Mardi Gras. While these lucky tokens are unlikely to make or break your day, being open to luck is tied to having an optimistic mindset that psychologists say can help usher in good things, not to mention less stress and a more positive attitude. Being positive and playful (aka 'lemonading') can also help you better navigate life's challenges. 🔌 Unplug. Global Day of Unplugging runs from sundown on Friday, March 7, to sundown on Saturday, March 8. It's a challenge to ditch your screens (and turn off those incessant phone alerts) and enjoy life without digital distractions. These tech-free tips will make it easier to switch off. 🥣 Have cereal. No pancakes for me, thanks: It's National Cereal Day! Before you fill your bowl on March 7, consider which types of cereal offer the healthiest bang for your buck (and, sadly, it's not the one with little rainbow marshmallows). ⏰ Spring forward. Time to start turning in early. Daylight saving time goes into effect at 2 a.m. (which will become 3 a.m.) on Sunday, March 9. The good news is that this means the days are getting longer and you can finally remember what it's like to leave the office while the sun is still out. The bad news is that, on top of losing an hour of sleep, the time change can have some disruptive effects on your health. Your best bet is to ease into it by moving your bedtime up 20 minutes each night before the change. Another pro tip? Change your clocks on Saturday. 🧽 Clean up. It's spring-cleaning season again, but don't groan. Having a clean space comes with all sorts of mental and physical health benefits (ask anyone with allergies), and you're getting some incidental exercise when you mop floors and scrub counters. But if doing a big deep clean feels overwhelming — we get it! — try breaking it up into specific, doable tasks. Maybe on Monday you descale your coffeemaker and/or tea kettle; on Tuesday, you put on your favorite podcast and tackle your bathroom tiles until it's over; on Wednesday, you fill a bag with expired castoffs from your pantry and fridge … you get the idea. 🥜 Go nuts. The first day of March, aka Peanut Month, happens to be National Peanut Butter Lover's Day. Assuming you don't have a nut allergy, peanut butter can be a nice little protein-packed treat — but you want to watch out for varieties with lots of added sugar and high sodium. Natural peanut butters made with just peanuts and salt are your best bet, and, as Today notes, you can just stir it before consuming to get rid of that oily top layer. Make a PB&J, spread it on apple slices or plop a dollop into your morning oatmeal. 🎬 Plan a movie night. It's Oscars season, and if you don't know your Anora from your Emilia Pérez, there's still time to catch up. See which Best Picture contenders can be streamed here, and don't feel bad about all that binge-watching. There can be mental health benefits to watching a movie — even one you've seen dozens of times already — whether it's Conclave or Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. 😁 Watch your mouth. March 20 is World Oral Health Day, which means it's a good time to consider how well you treat your teeth. A few things we've learned lately: Chewing ice is a no-no Saltwater gargles can help alleviate gum irritation, tackle plaque buildup and soothe canker sores You should wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking anything acidic (like coffee or orange juice) before brushing your teeth Take extra care (or avoid) when eating snacks like popcorn and Goldfish crackers 🚰 Drink up. Raise a glass of H2O for National Kidney Month. Along with diet, exercise and healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels, being hydrated is an important part of reducing your risk of kidney disease. How much water a person should be drinking each day is highly individualized — age, sex, activity level and the climate in your area are just a few factors to consider — but 2 (for women) to 3 (for men) liters per day is a good target. A fun water bottle can help, or you can try starting your day with a glass or two before you get your coffee fix. 😋 Chomp on celery. Let's give it up for National Celery Month. If you think celery is too watery and stringy, you're not necessarily wrong — but you are overlooking this humble veggie's health benefits. Celery hydrates, helps fight inflammation and contains antioxidants, plus vitamin K, potassium and plenty of fiber. Chop some up and add to a salad, or smear a rib with some peanut butter or cottage cheese for a healthy snack. You can also use celery leaves to enhance a salad, pasta or soup (or even make your own pesto), while celery seeds, which have more of a bitter taste, are also having a moment.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Excessive phone and screen use tied to manic symptoms for one group, study finds
A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco, indicates that pre-teens with greater exposure to certain types of tech use could be at a higher risk of developing manic symptoms. Published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the study analyzed a nationwide sample of 9,243 children in the U.S. between 10 and 11 years old. Young people who spent more time engaged with social media, texting, videos and video games were more likely to have "inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, rapid speech, racing thoughts and impulsivity — behaviors characteristic of manic episodes, a key feature of bipolar-spectrum disorders," a press release noted. Limit Of 3 Hours Of Weekly Screen Time For Kids Has 'Positive Effect' On Behavior, Mental Health: Study "This study underscores the importance of cultivating healthy screen use habits early," said co-author Kyle Ganson, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, in the release. "Future research can help us better understand the behaviors and brain mechanisms linking screen use with manic symptoms to help inform prevention and intervention efforts." Read On The Fox News App To mark the Global Day of Unplugging (March 7), Verizon hosted its first-ever "digital wellness summit" in New York City to share insights with the public about the safe use of technology. Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group, discussed the importance of setting digital boundaries, especially for kids. "Digital wellness should be for every age, but really we need a new blueprint as parents, because we've never been through this before," Sampath said at the event in the Big Apple. "This digital age is new to us all. There's no time in history we can reclaim how we handle that." In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Sampath shared compelling statistics on phone use, including findings from Verizon's 2024 Consumer Connections Report. Kids and teenagers use social media for four to five hours a day and receive between 250 and 275 notifications daily, the report revealed. Kids were also found to touch and pick up their phones about 150 times per day. A quarter of these events occurred during school hours. "This is what sparked us to think there is a healthier relationship people can have," Sampath said. Dr. Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, attending psychologist at Boston's Children's Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, also spoke at a panel at the Verizon event and in a follow-up interview with Fox News Digital. The expert noted that kids spending "hours and hours" of their free time on their phones can be "problematic," especially considering the possibility that they'll experience threats such as cyberbullying and hate speech. Kids And Smartphones: How Young Is Too Young? Experts Reveal Important Recommendations "We know that these are associated with depressive symptoms and other mental health concerns," she said. "We also know that there's so much positive for social connection, learning and fun, so we have to balance those two things." She pointed out that some social media apps are "designed to keep you stuck" through the loop of an algorithm. This problematic use can lead to poorer functioning at work or school and can negatively impact sleep and relationships, Sinclair-McBride warned. "Are they able to live their life and do the things they want and need to do in a positive way? If there are concerns in any of those areas, that's usually a sign of something needing to be reassessed." Sinclair-McBride encouraged parents and grandparents to learn about the apps children are using and teach them to be "critical consumers" of content by training them to detect scams, misinformation or AI-generated content. "Slowing down and being more thoughtful and mindful about what you're doing is, I think, the first step in modeling that as a parent," she told Fox News Digital. What Is 'Brain Rot'? The Science Behind What Too Much Scrolling Does To Our Brains "Parents can also look at their own use and [ask], 'Am I on my phone too much? Am I too addicted to social media?'" The CEO also urged adults to set boundaries involving phone use, whether it's limited to certain spaces in the home or specific times of day. Sampath shared simple advice for families to ensure a healthy balance between tech use and unplugged activities. "Go for a movie. Go for a walk. Go and play a game or just hang out with friends. Or just hang out with your family in your kitchen and do fun things," he suggested. "I think kids are going to have to be comfortable sometimes doing nothing … reading a book, just hanging out," he said. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Kids are going to have to get way more comfortable doing that – that's part of a healthy boundary, and it's part of a good relationship with technology." Sampath also encouraged Americans to take advantage of living in areas with "some of the best weather" and "the best natural sights in the world" by exploring outdoor spaces and moving more. "You want to create space to have fun. You want to create space to play. You want to create space to have physical activity, to have real relationships," he said. "It has long-term benefits on mental health … When you do things in real life, you feel happier." For more Health articles, visit Sinclair-McBride echoed the advice to get outside and "touch grass." "The time that people spend with digital technology needs to be balanced with real-life stuff, whether it's sports, the arts, creative activities, reading or actual hands-on, tangible things," she said. "I think people are in this mindset that this generation only wants to do digital, digital, digital," she added. "They still like other stuff, too. We have to give them options, space and freedom to have that time."Original article source: Excessive phone and screen use tied to manic symptoms for one group, study finds
Fox News
08-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Excessive phone and screen use tied to manic symptoms for one group, study finds
A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco, indicates that pre-teens with greater exposure to certain types of tech use could be at a higher risk of developing manic symptoms. Published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the study analyzed a nationwide sample of 9,243 children in the U.S. between 10 and 11 years old. Young people who spent more time engaged with social media, texting, videos and video games were more likely to have "inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, rapid speech, racing thoughts and impulsivity — behaviors characteristic of manic episodes, a key feature of bipolar-spectrum disorders," a press release noted. "This study underscores the importance of cultivating healthy screen use habits early," said co-author Kyle Ganson, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, in the release. "Future research can help us better understand the behaviors and brain mechanisms linking screen use with manic symptoms to help inform prevention and intervention efforts." To mark the Global Day of Unplugging (March 7), Verizon hosted its first-ever "digital wellness summit" in New York City to share insights with the public about the safe use of technology. Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group, discussed the importance of setting digital boundaries, especially for kids. "Digital wellness should be for every age, but really we need a new blueprint as parents, because we've never been through this before," Sampath said at the event in the Big Apple. "There is a healthier relationship people can have." "This digital age is new to us all. There's no time in history we can reclaim how we handle that." In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Sampath shared compelling statistics on phone use, including findings from Verizon's 2024 Consumer Connections Report. Kids and teenagers use social media for four to five hours a day and receive between 250 and 275 notifications daily, the report revealed. Kids were also found to touch and pick up their phones about 150 times per day. A quarter of these events occurred during school hours. "This is what sparked us to think there is a healthier relationship people can have," Sampath said. Dr. Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, attending psychologist at Boston's Children's Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, also spoke at a panel at the Verizon event and in a follow-up interview with Fox News Digital. The expert noted that kids spending "hours and hours" of their free time on their phones can be "problematic," especially considering the possibility that they'll experience threats such as cyberbullying and hate speech. "We know that these are associated with depressive symptoms and other mental health concerns," she said. "We also know that there's so much positive for social connection, learning and fun, so we have to balance those two things." She pointed out that some social media apps are "designed to keep you stuck" through the loop of an algorithm. This problematic use can lead to poorer functioning at work or school and can negatively impact sleep and relationships, Sinclair-McBride warned. "Are they able to live their life and do the things they want and need to do in a positive way? If there are concerns in any of those areas, that's usually a sign of something needing to be reassessed." Sinclair-McBride encouraged parents and grandparents to learn about the apps children are using and teach them to be "critical consumers" of content by training them to detect scams, misinformation or AI-generated content. "Slowing down and being more thoughtful and mindful about what you're doing is, I think, the first step in modeling that as a parent," she told Fox News Digital. "Parents can also look at their own use and [ask], 'Am I on my phone too much? Am I too addicted to social media?'" The CEO also urged adults to set boundaries involving phone use, whether it's limited to certain spaces in the home or specific times of day. Sampath shared simple advice for families to ensure a healthy balance between tech use and unplugged activities. "Go for a movie. Go for a walk. Go and play a game or just hang out with friends. Or just hang out with your family in your kitchen and do fun things," he suggested. "I think kids are going to have to be comfortable sometimes doing nothing … reading a book, just hanging out," he said. "Kids are going to have to get way more comfortable doing that – that's part of a healthy boundary, and it's part of a good relationship with technology." Sampath also encouraged Americans to take advantage of living in areas with "some of the best weather" and "the best natural sights in the world" by exploring outdoor spaces and moving more. "You want to create space to have fun. You want to create space to play. You want to create space to have physical activity, to have real relationships," he said. "It has long-term benefits on mental health … When you do things in real life, you feel happier." For more Health articles, visit Sinclair-McBride echoed the advice to get outside and "touch grass." "The time that people spend with digital technology needs to be balanced with real-life stuff, whether it's sports, the arts, creative activities, reading or actual hands-on, tangible things," she said. "I think people are in this mindset that this generation only wants to do digital, digital, digital," she added. "They still like other stuff, too. We have to give them options, space and freedom to have that time."
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Eat cereal, turn off your phone and go to bed 20 minutes early ahead of daylight saving time: 13 health tips for a great month
Buh-bye, winter. Between daylight saving time (March 9) and the start of spring (March 20), brighter, longer and (fingers crossed) warmer days are ahead. There's a lot to love about this time, from the milder weather that makes being outside so much more appealing to the fresh produce coming to rescue you from a root vegetable rut. It's time to bloom, baby — and the tips below will help you be your best, healthiest self this month. 🔌 Unplug. Global Day of Unplugging runs from sundown on Friday, March 7 to sundown on Saturday, March 8. It's a challenge to ditch your screens (and turn off those incessant phone alerts) and enjoy life without digital distractions. These tech-free tips will make it easier to switch off. 🥣 Have cereal. No pancakes for me, thanks: It's National Cereal Day! Before you fill your bowl on March 7, consider which types of cereal offer the healthiest bang for your buck (and sadly, it's not the one with little rainbow marshmallows). See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. ⏰ Spring forward. Time to start turning in early. Daylight saving time goes into effect at 2 a.m. (which will become 3 a.m.) on Sunday, March 9. The good news is that this means the days are getting longer and you can finally remember what it's like to leave the office while the sun is still out. The bad news is that, on top of losing an hour of sleep, the time change can have some disruptive effects on your health. Your best bet is to ease into it by moving your bedtime up 20 minutes each night before the change. Another pro tip? Change your clocks on Saturday. 🧽 Clean up. It's spring-cleaning season again, but don't groan. Having a clean space comes with all sorts of mental and physical health benefits (ask anyone with allergies), and you're getting some incidental exercise when you mop floors and scrub counters. But if doing a big deep clean feels overwhelming — we get it! — try breaking it up into specific, doable tasks. Maybe on Monday you descale your coffeemaker and/or tea kettle; on Tuesday, you put on your favorite podcast and tackle your bathroom tiles until it's over; on Wednesday, you fill a bag with expired castoffs from your pantry and fridge … you get the idea. 🥜 Go nuts. The first day of March, aka Peanut Month, happens to be National Peanut Butter Lover's Day. Assuming you don't have a nut allergy, peanut butter can be a nice little protein-packed treat — but you want to watch out for varieties with lots of added sugar and high sodium. Natural peanut butters made with just peanuts and salt are your best bet, and, as Today notes, you can just stir it before consuming to get rid of that oily top layer. Make a PB&J, spread it on apple slices or plop a dollop into your morning oatmeal. 🎬 Plan a movie night. It's Oscars season, and if you don't know your Anora from your Emilia Pérez, there's still time to catch up. See which Best Picture contenders can be streamed here, and don't feel bad about all that binge-watching. There can be mental health benefits to watching a movie — even one you've seen dozens of times already — whether it's Conclave or Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. 😁 Watch your mouth. March 20 is World Oral Health Day, which means it's a good time to consider how well you treat your teeth. A few things we've learned lately: Chewing ice is a no-no Saltwater gargles can help alleviate gum irritation, tackle plaque buildup and soothe canker sores You should wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking anything acidic (like coffee or orange juice) before brushing your teeth Take extra care (or avoid) when eating snacks like popcorn and Goldfish crackers 🍀 Get lucky. It's a big month for people who believe in luck — like finding a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick's Day or getting the plastic baby in your slice of king cake this Mardi Gras. While these lucky tokens are unlikely to make or break your day, being open to luck is tied to having an optimistic mindset that psychologists say can help usher in good things, not to mention less stress and a more positive attitude. Being positive and playful (aka 'lemonading') can also help you better navigate life's challenges. 💸 Use it or lose it. If your 2024 flexible savings account didn't expire at the end of last year, you'll have until March 15 to use any remaining funds on qualifying services or health-related purchases. Can you squeeze in a last-minute dermatologist appointment you didn't get to last year? Need new eyeglasses or have a prescription to fill? If you have no other pressing health issues, you can spend your remaining balance at the FSA Store, which is stocked with everything from cold meds to fancy light therapy masks. 🚰 Drink up. Raise a glass of H2O for National Kidney Month. Along with diet, exercise and healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels, being hydrated is an important part of reducing your risk of kidney disease. How much water a person should be drinking each day is highly individualized — age, sex, activity level and the climate in your area are just a few factors to consider — but 2 (for women) to 3 (for men) liters per day is a good target. A fun water bottle can help, or you can try starting your day with a glass or two before you get your coffee fix. 😋 Chomp on celery. Let's give it up for National Celery Month. If you think celery is too watery and stringy, you're not necessarily wrong — but you are overlooking this humble veggie's health benefits. Celery hydrates, helps fight inflammation and contains antioxidants, plus vitamin K, potassium and plenty of fiber. Chop some up and add to a salad, or smear a rib with some peanut butter or cottage cheese for a healthy snack. You can also use celery leaves to enhance a salad, pasta or soup (or even make your own pesto), while celery seeds, which have more of a bitter taste, are also having a moment. 🏀 Make a March Madness bracket. Know bupkis about college basketball? Doesn't matter. Joining your friends, family or co-workers in a little friendly competition can strengthen social ties and foster fandom (like when that random underdog you picked solely because of the cute mascot actually wins). And who knows? You might suddenly become passionate about researching teams' strengths and weaknesses and get more emotionally invested in the game — all of which is good for your brain and your well-being. (It just so happens that our pals at Yahoo Sports have an online bracket creator here.) 🌕 Check out the blood moon. Experiencing awe benefits your mental health, so mark your calendar for the total lunar eclipse — the first one visible in the U.S. in nearly three years — happening overnight on March 13-14. Because the moon will take on a rusty red appearance as it passes the Earth's shadow, this eclipse has been dubbed a 'blood moon.' The best time to see it will vary depending on your time zone, but plan to stay up past your usual bedtime.
