Which Activities to Disconnect from the Screen?

In today’s world, the screen dominates and we are continously exposed to it (through our smartphone, our workspace at office, the advertisement in the streets, the train timetable displayed on the screen, etc.). Even in some schools, tablets are replacing textbooks. Moreover, the exposure increases with the homeworking. At the end of the day, we continue to look at our phone or a movie on an online platform without realizing the time spent in front of the screen and our tired eyes.

This exposure seems unavoidable, on the screens we watch television, watch films, manage our bills, manage the administrative papers, follow our consumption (electricity, water..), the news, social networks… For some people, they are so addicted to their phone that they consult him during their meals. Some persons would even rather lose their wallet than their precious phone.

In that context, we can ask ourselves how we can decrease this screen exposure and what alternative activities we can do. Therefore, I suggest you a list of some activities. Some ideas might seem obvious to you after reading this page. My post is not intended to criticize the net and smartphone revolution, but to list activities that will allow you to disconnect from this virtual world for a moment. My goal is to make you aware that there are a lot of activities in the real world that we tend to forget because we are blinded by the addiction of the net and social networks.

Read

You probably have books or magazines that may have gathered some dust in a corner or in your library. You can take the opportunity to flip through these manuscripts or read again your best excerpts. Otherwise, you can go and borrow books from your city’s library to discover the new best sellers. Instead of going to check the news on the Internet, you can also go to the kiosk to buy the newspapers. There are also books where you are the hero, which will make your imagination at work and remind your childhood.

Walk / Hike / Stroll

You can clear your mind in your city’s alleys or go for a walk in the countryside. Stroll through the forests and the woods, depending on the season, to look for the chestnuts or the mushrooms. For those who live near the mountains, you should hike to breathe the pure air of the mountain. In autumn, the orange, red and yellow foliage is very amazing and beautiful.

Jog

Jogging in the city or in a park will burn your calories and clear your mind. Putting your sneakers and run will allow you to be in shape.

Bike

Cities are developing more and more cycle routes. This is an opportunity to discover our beautiful regions by bike. It can be a solo outing, with family or friends.

Picnic

You can walk in the parks and have a picnic there with family or friends, along a river or a lake.

Go to Amusement Parks

Depending on the city where you live, the amusement parks are more or less important. There are several kinds of: some are more suitable for young children, thrill rides for adults, water parks, theme parks… You have a lot of choice.

Go to the Zoo

Zoos aren’t just for kids. Take the opportunity to go there to discover the wealth of the wildlife and the different animals’ species.

Play Sports

You can go to the gym: for example, do weight training or take group lessons (such as zumba, pilate, etc.). In addition, you can join sports associations which would allow you to make new social connections. Who knows, you might go very far during sports competitions.

Snack / Tea Break

Take a snack at home by turning off the television, just a moment to relax and enjoy your hot drink with some cakes. Otherwise, you can go with your friends to have a tea party in a tea room and chat all the afternoon.

Garden

If you live in a house with gardden or an apartment with a balcony, take care of your plants. There is always something to do: prune the trees, pick up the falling leaves, water, plant a vegetable in the garden, see the growth of our young plants…

Tinker

Even if you are very clumsy, you can DIY small things. Painting is accessible to everyone. There are many tutorials on the internet to help you with your DIY projects. In addition, you can buy the materials in advance and a friend or neighbor could help you in our tasks.

Play board games

Online games dominate today. Nevertheless, board games allow you to spend a very pleasant and funny moment with your family or friends. There are a lot of different types: strategy games, knowledge test, riddle, mimes, drawings, word games… Nowadays there are even bars dedicated to board games, with a very large choice. You can have a drink there and play with your friends.

Playing cards

There are a plethora of card games: solitaire, tarot, battle, belotte, poker… Whether alone, in pairs or more, there are many ways to spend friendly moments regardless of the number of participants.

Do puzzles

Puzzles are not the only game place for the children and retirement homes. There are vaious types: classic in 2D with different numbers of pieces, in 3D… This allows you to clear your mind and you can frame your finished work once done as a painting on the wall.

Knit / Embroider / Sew

Why not learn to knit, embroider or even sew? This will allow you to have a relaxing moment and to design your own clothes. For example, you can knit woolen baby clothes or give them to your beloved ones: socks, mittens, sweaters, scarves…

Origami

With a simple A4 sheet or a napkin, we can make various shapes in the origami field: animals, flowers, decorations… It’s up to you to play and free your imagination. You could make a good impression with your napkins for your next family meal or friends dinner.

Take a nap

Sometimes it is very useful to take a small nap, your brain is sleeping and this will allow you to decompress and recharge your batteries.

Listen to relaxing music

You can put your favorite songs or search for relaxing music, close your eyes while relaxing on your sofa.

Windows shopping

During the festive periods, especially at Christmas, the shop windows are very nicely decorated. You are not obliged to consume, you can simply walk, do windows shopping or look at the new collections.

Do yoga / sophrology / breathing

No need to be an expert in yoga or sophrology, take the time to take a long breath, replicate few gestures of yoga or sophrology to meditate, decompress and release your stress..

Play a musical instrument

It’s never too late to start a musical instrument even as an adult. In addition, those who took lessons during their youth, you can take out your musical instrument and try to play back the scores of your favorite songs or films.

Sing / Choir

If you like singing, you can enroll in the music conservatory to take singing lessons or participate in a choir.

Go to the beach

In summer going to the beach seems very obvious to everybody. But for the other seasons, it seem not to be the case. And yet, we can go there to enjoy a chocolate on a terrace while looking at the seaside. In some regions, low tides can be the time to pick up shellfish. In the evening you can also admire splendid sunsets..

Go to the Theater / Concert / Ballet / Opera / Party

Instead of going to the cinema or watching movies in front of the screen, you can go to see a play. The theater offers several different types of performances: classical, modern, humorous, improvisational show. Do not hesitate to also go to concerts or try at least once to go to the opera or to see a ballet.

Go to Museums and Exhibitions

On some days such as Heritage Days and in some cities, museums and temporary exhibitions are free. This is an opportunity to discover our heritage and the historical works.

Play Escape game

No need to be a mathematician to play an escape game. We are locked in a room and we have 1 hour to decode different puzzles and tricks to get out of the room. The game can be played with the family or friends (around 4/6 people). Everyone can bring their own quality: excavation, enigma, logic…

Do an Orienteering course

There are orientation games with a map, sometimes with the help of an old-fashioned paper, a compass and clues. This allows you to discover unknown places and to walk in. You can imagine your own orienteering course for example in a park and hide clues.

Make a Baptism by plane / ULM / Paragliding / Parachute / Hot air balloon

If you like the air, try to do baptisms: air plane, ULM, paragliding, parachute, hot air balloon… This allows you to see landscapes from an another angle, often magnificent and in any case other than by road or by walking..

I hope this list has inspired you and opened your eyes to create your own to-do list.

We are now at the end of this post. I now suggest you to turn off your screen and do one or several proposed activities. Once the activity is over, don’t hesitate to come back to my site, see you soon……