10 LIFESTYLE
THE FOUNDER February 2022
Are Digital Detoxes the Way Forward? REBECCA DE SÁ | CONTENT WRITER
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Social media damages teenagers’ mental health, report says’, ‘Social media and the law: could your next tweet get you in trouble?’, ‘Is social media killing intellectual humility?’. These are just a handful of recent headlines centered around the influence of social media and technology in society. Technology has become such an integral part of our lives. In today’s day and age there is really no need to leave the house. At the click of a button, groceries, entertainment, education, and social interaction can all be delivered without a person ever having to leave their sofa. There is no denying that the growing dependence on technology has severely distorted our perception of the world. And in this multi-media age a deep sense of isolation and claustrophobia is inevitable. Technology is great. There are no two ways about it. But a constant reliance on it is what leads a lot of people into a social media addiction, and this can have a detrimental effect on mental health, interactions in real-life, and perceptions of self.
So, it is no wonder that more and more people are now choosing to live their lives a little less in the limelight through deleting all their social media accounts. In fact, many are even opting to trade in their flashy smartphones for more prehistoric, less adaptive, models.
Technology has a major influence on quality sleep. Avoiding screens, especially before bed, will significantly improve a person's sleep cycle which will generally lead to better mood and health.
Taking frequent scheduled breaks away Digital detoxing has from social media has immensely grown in been shown to reduce a popularity over the last person's stress levels. By year, with many influencers living life in the here and accrediting their positive now, people can begin outlook on life to regular to appreciate the little breaks from social things around them that media. But what exactly are often glossed over. constitutes a digital detox Technology and the and what are the other world of social media benefits of it? are extremely powerful As the name suggests, a digital detox refers to a period of time when a person will abstain from using technology, or if this is not possible, at least all social media. ‘Detoxing’ in this way is said to help a person focus better on real life priorities.
tools, if harnessed correctly. Practicing mindfulness when it comes to engaging with the virtual world will ensure that damaging habits have a better chance of getting curbed. Digital detoxing offers a simple way to remind a person of the distinction between online and real. If frequent productivity Having this time away slumps sound familiar, from technology is vital then a digital detox could for a balanced outlook significantly improve levels on life. of concentration. The distractions of the virtual world can be highly time consuming. Taking time away from technology will help a person to reassess their priorities and focus more on the things that they need to get done.
Source: OpenClipArt
The Benefits of Owning a Rice Cooker ANNA MORENO | CONTENT WRITER
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eing a student often means you may not always have time to cook a proper, nutritious meal. You may find that as your schedule gets busier throughout the year, you are ordering a lot of takeaways, or putting pizza in the oven twice a week. Microwave meals can also be quite expensive. To save some money in the long term, consider investing in a rice cooker. You may find that cooking nutritious meals is a lot easier and you do not have to stress about your dinner so often. While rice cookers can be quite expensive, they are useful item to have in the kitchen. Here are five benefits of owning a rice cooker. 1. It can save a lot of time As previously mentioned, one of the main benefits of owning a rice cooker is that it cooks automatically. Unlike pasta, which you may have to supervise, the rice cooker will cook by itself and turn off automatically when the food is done. This means you can wash your rice, put it in the rice cooker, and leave the kitchen to complete any tasks in the meantime while your dinner cooks by itself. Rice cookers are perfect for students and busy working individuals. 2. You can save some money If you are a fan of rice, you can invest in a big bag of Japanese or Taiwanese rice and store it away to use all year round. This may save you some money if you find yourself needing to restock your pasta or smaller rice packets. There is no need to buy a big expensive rice cooker either. There are many different sizes, and you can get an affordable mini rice cooker which is perfect for one person.
