The smart way to get your family screen free

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Let’s face it, many of us spend far too much time on our phones, tablets, and laptops, so now and again we need a reminder to take a screen break.

Yes, they help us work and play, but their addictive nature and glaring lights do little to help us rest.

We have some ideas of how you and your family can get back on track, spend less time online and interact with each other rather than living in a virtual reality.

Have a time limit
Five minutes on Insta can quickly turn into an hour, so having time limits early on is a great idea. No screens before breakfast, a couple of hours at the weekend, nothing an hour before bed and a screen ban in bedrooms can all help to get the balance right and save squabbles later on.

Keep an eye on the remote
In our digital age we often forget the impact of the mere TV screen, but you should monitor this as well. Does the TV really need to be on all the time? Is binge watching box sets the best use of family time together and do the kids watch age appropriate shows? Decide on family rules about the TV, don’t leave it on just because it’s easy and if all else fails, hide the remote!

Rethink TV dinners
Yes, a pizza and movie at the weekend is a treat and can bring you all together, but TV dinners every night might not be the way to go. Open plan living and kitchen diners mean that it’s super easy to eat a bowl of pesto pasta on your knee as you watch Netflix but eating together at the table and catching up on your news can be so much better, and if you cook together that is even better!

Digital detox
There might be protests, but even an hour of screen free time on Sunday can help make some big changes. Putting down the phones and tablets and going out for a walk in the park, having a swim or meeting up with friends will give you time together as a family and while you might not get any photos for Facebook, you will make some lovely memories.

Take back control
When it comes to kids and devices, you do have the option of taking back control and putting restrictions in place. There are various apps out there that allow you to block and filter usage and you can put a timer on the internet, or just turn it off altogether. While asking for passwords might not be your thing, knowing what they are doing online and who they’re talking to, is probably a smart move, even if it is an unpopular one as they get older.

Practise what you preach
If you’re looking at your emails or Facebook feed while you eat breakfast, your children are likely to think they can do the same. If you want your family to agree to changes, you need to ensure you are following the rules as well or you might have a real battle on your hands.

We don’t say you have to do anything drastic now, but doing one or two things differently could bring you closer together.

Team Pure Beauty

Buy a charity Christmas card, change a life

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Alzheimer’s, cancer, celebrity, charity, Charlie Waller Memorial Trust., children, CLIC Sargent, deaf, dementia, depression, dream come true, gorgeous, help, holiday, life, London, London themed cards, Make a Wish, message, movie, National Deaf Children’s Society, organisation, polar bears, postbox, research, robin, robins, Santa, sheep in the snow, snowmen, society, suicide, support, understanding, young people

Whilst a text or email is enough for many, sending a Christmas card is still the traditional way to send love to those you care for.

Whilst you can go into any supermarket or chain store and pick up a great offer on a box of twenty cards, why not show your nearest and dearest you care as well as giving back to a charity close to your heart?

There are plenty of worthy organisations out there, so we have done some research and come up with what we think are the the pick of the bunch.

CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families. They provide support to help people cope with cancer and get the most out of life. From diagnosis onwards, this great charity helps deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, life after treatment and, in some cases, bereavement. From sheep in the snow to contemporary candles, they have a gorgeous selection of cards to choose from.

‘Hounds for Heroes’ is a brilliant organisation that not many people know about. The team provide specially trained assistance dogs to disabled and injured personnel from the UK Armed Forces and the Emergency Services. They are based in Hampshire, where the puppies are put through their training before they go onto offer the companionship and love that can be missing when someone becomes disabled.

The National Deaf Children’s Society is dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. This charity believes every deaf child should be valued and included in society and have the same opportunities as everyone else. Their cute cards feature Santa and polar bears, robins and snowmen and as you pop your cards in the postbox you know the profits are going to a great, life changing cause.

You cannot help but notice more and more media coverage about Alzheimer’s and you might even know someone who is suffering from it. The Alzheimer’s Society is a key organisation that campaigns for better quality of life for those with dementia and greater understanding of the condition. They are involved with research as well as support and are really getting the message out there so people know where they can get help.

A less well known, but still very worthy cause, is the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. The Trust raises awareness of the symptoms of depression and believes early identification and improved treatment can help reduce suicide numbers and ensure sufferers receive the care they needed and deserve. We love their London themed cards and found their website, pretty impactful.

Last but no means least, is Make a Wish. We have a soft spot of this charity, which makes magical wishes come true for children and young people with life-threatening illnesses. From walking with dinosaurs, going on a brilliant holiday, meeting a celebrity or making a movie, this is where lives are changed and memories are made. Their robin on a pot card is as traditional as it gets, but it is Santa dressing the Christmas tree has stolen our hearts.

Remember, if can change in a moment so support a charity and change a life this Christmas.

Team Pure-Beauty

 

Beat the Sunday Night Blues

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24/7, afternoon, cold, dark, favourite, Friday, happy, meditate, Monday, movie, Relax, Special, Sunday, TV, work, yoga

As we hit the last month of the year, the Sunday night blues are hitting hard as the thought of getting up on a Monday morning and making your way to work in the cold and dark makes you want to hide under the duvet.

In a recent survey by Monster.com, 78% of people said they experience “Sunday Night Blues” with nearly half saying it really gets them don’t.

Whilst we know it can be hard to shake that sinking feeling off, we have some easy to follow tips that can allow you to enjoy all of your weekend rather than spending it dreading the week ahead.

Switch Off
Whilst it is possible to be connected to work 24/7 connectivity, you don’t have to be. You are busy enough checking emails and phones call during your 9 – 5 (or 8 – 8) so at the weekend your need to switch off. We all know it is easy to check in incase of an emergency but the weekend is precious time off so switch off any work devices and relax – if something really bad happens, someone, somewhere will be able to contact you.

Plan Your Week Ahead
Don’t just save fun times for the weekend or you are setting yourself up for a mid-week fall. Plan things to look forward to during the week that will give you something other than work to focus on. We’re not talking anything amazing here but seeing a friend for dinner, tuning in for your favourite TV show, lunch away from your desk and planning a date night. You might think this won’t do anything but with the scheduled in the diary it will help make the week as fun as the weekend.

Make Friday Afternoon the New Monday Morning
Might sound crazy when all you want to do is forget about work but set aside some time on Friday to prepare for Monday. By doing this you can have things organised on your desk, a new to do list, your diary sorted and then on Sunday night your mind will be less likely to race and think about what you have to do at 9am the next day.

Make Sunday Special
Rather than using Sunday for chores and admin, instead, start to make Sunday a time to look forward to. Make it a date night, go out and see a film with a bucket of popcorn, cook a roast dinner, invite people over and really make the most of your day off. Whatever you do, put it in the diary, make it fun and stick to it and don’t think about work or the week ahead of you.

Relax before bed
With preparations for Monday complete, to keep your mind off the blues create a soothing end to Sunday night. Whether you meditate, do some yoga, read a book or have a hot bath; do something relaxing before you hit the pillow and go into a restful sleep. If you really can’t sleep, don’t lie there getting increasingly anxious, instead get up, have a warm drink, listen to some music and then try again.