This blog post comes from one of our group’s wonderful hosts and leaders. We’ve asked our members to share their advice and thoughts.

Typically in uncertain times, we find comfort when we gather with loved ones. We find the courage to carry on in the eyes of those who know our untapped capabilities. How do we cope when gathering is restricted? We flood the socials with video happy hours, multiplayer games, and shared viewing. In an isolation crisis, we are lucky the tech industry has released new features, add-ons, and increased bandwidth, to help us all cope.

My daily screen time report has more than doubled. I am happy to be as connected as I am on the socials but I am concerned about the effects on my mental health. It gives me a sense of belonging to easily share my experiences and view the stories of the ones I care about. I receive an influx of messages, calls, and tags that leave me drained. Under normal circumstances, I would have already unplugged but this is uncharted waters for all of us.

I am taking this opportunity to be more connected and in tune with myself. I am striving to find a new balance and set digital boundaries. The COVID-19 outbreak is lasting longer than I was mentally or physically prepared to handle. I want to preserve my initial idea and thoughts about staying at home with endless cups of tea, quality family time, and music for every hour. I have compiled a list of some helpful ways to set digital boundaries.

Morning: Set the tone for the day. Connect with your needs and wants. Enjoy the quiet or blast some tunes. Set small goals for the day and prioritize them. Avoid checking messages or the news. I promise that if there is anything earth-shattering you will be notified. Certain things can wait until you feel ready for them.
Socials: Don’t let calls interrupt the task at hand unless deemed necessary. This will help your mind to be more clear and present. Take advantage of your cell phones various tools and settings. Let it go to voicemail, set a Do Not Disturb hour, and be aware of your screen time monitoring statistics. Check your notification settings and be selective. Ask yourself if you really need to be alerted to the specific content or access it on demand. Setting aside specific times of day for checking messages, socials, and phone calls will help you maintain a healthy limit. Giving this time your full attention will allow you to reap the benefits from remote social interaction with mindfulness.
News Hour: Staying informed can be an all-encompassing ritual. With repetitive headlines and reports every 2 minutes, it can be daunting, as well as triggering. Limiting how much time you plug into the news circuit can help anxiety levels. Practice viewing the news at the same time of the day and be careful of watching recycled stories and fake news.
Put the screen down: Find an activity that requires no screen time. Let a trusted person know when you’re taking a tech break and when you expect to log back on. Give your eyes a break and engage your other senses.
Communicate: If you don’t feel like talking, then tell the person you are not in the mood to talk, offer a rain check, or an “I am in the middle of something, can I call you tonight after dinner?” Set up call/video dates and put them on your calendar. Be honest with yourself and others. Don’t be shy to tell them it’s not a good time.
Working from Home: Working from home can easily lead to working more than you would in an office setting. Be proactive about communicating your availability. Your availability should mirror your office environment. Don’t overextend yourself just because you have the means to work from home. Make time for yourself and set clear boundaries for your work schedule.
Check-in with yourself. Nobody knows you better than you. Would you normally be this social if you weren’t in isolation? Are your social interactions healthy for you? Reflect and do what feels right for you. If you want or need to reach out, don’t hesitate. If you need a break, then take a break. This is a chance to spend time with yourself, and enjoy being you with no filter or audience.

Setting boundaries for yourself and others is no easy feat. The platform has drastically changed, but that doesn’t mean your assertiveness and other social skills don’t apply. Setting digital boundaries will help you take care of your mental health. Be aware, connect, and protect your energy. With all this madness, you are going to need it.

Please share if you have methods or skills that work for you. I would really enjoy hearing your feedback.

*Bonus, I follow #becomingunbusy, it feeds my soul and helps me to give the screen a break and just be. We have this rare time to stay home and listen to our needs without all the societal pressures.

Written by Katy