Give yourself a break! How to balance screen time with real-life stress busters

Finals week is almost here. Your to-do list is a mile long, and sleep is in short supply. Using coping mechanisms is a common reaction to stress as we try to distract ourselves and find relief.  

Screens and Stress  

Scrolling on social media, watching online videos, or playing online games can be a refreshing and welcome break. However, digital activities often absorb too much of our time and attention.   

Estimates show that adults spend about 7 hours per day on screens (Kumar, 2025). Unfortunately, spending too much time on screens can increase anxiety and depression, reduce social interaction and connection in the real world, and adversely impact your sense of well-being.  

Digital Detox vs. Digital Minimalism  

A digital detox is “an intentional break from digital devices – especially phones, tablets, and social media – for a set period. It could be for a few hours, a weekend, a few days on vacation, or longer” (Cooper University Health Care, 2025). A digital detox could be a one-time event.  

Digital minimalism is “a lifestyle shift that focuses on using technology intentionally, not habitually” (Routledge Blog, 2025). This concept focuses on developing an ongoing practice.  

Digital minimalism includes setting boundaries around when and where you use screens and engage in online activities. For example, you could schedule routine breaks from screens throughout the day, choose not to use your phone for the first hour after you wake up, or not use your phone or tablet in specific spaces, such as in your bedroom or at the dining table.    

Analog Break Ideas 

Taking a break from screens works best when you replace them with activities that help you relax, whether alone or with others.  

• When you’re on your own, you can
• Take a 10-minute phone-free walk between classes
• Put your phone across the room while studying
• Take five deep breaths or close your eyes for 5 minutes
• Engage in a hobby that keeps your hands busy, such as crafting or playing an instrument  

Spending time with family and friends can be fun, especially if everyone agrees to put down their phones for an hour or two. Consider 

• Hosting a themed dinner party 
• Playing card or board games 
• Playing a team sport
• Going for a walk in the park  

Chill Out at the Park Library  

In addition to supporting your academic pursuits, resources at the Park Library can help you relax and connect! At the library, you can 

• Put together a puzzle or color (2nd floor) 
• Decompress in one of our quality of life rooms (rooms 121B and 351) 
• Sit next to one of the Park Library’s windows and enjoy the view  
• Check out our browsing book collection (2nd floor) 
• View the art display in the Baber Room 
• Explore the Clarke Historical Library’s current exhibition  
• Bring a couple of friends and play a board game (2nd floor)   
• Grab a cup of coffee at Ponder Coffee and chat with friends 

Find your sweet spot 

Not everyone needs a digital detox; a complete disconnection from screens is not realistic or sustainable. However, you might find it helpful to practice digital minimalism.  

Your mental health matters. During the next few weeks, experiment with digital minimalism and find the balance that works best for you! 

Resources to explore 

Cooper University Health Care. (2025, August 6). Is it time for a digital detox? https://blogs.cooperhealth.org/ehealth/2025/08/06/is-it-time-for-a-digital-detox/ 

Harrison, E. (2022). In the digital world, we work; At camp, we play: Discourses from “Digital Detox” campers. New Formations, 106(106), 60–78. https://doi.org/10.3898/NewF:106.04.2022  

Kumar, N. (2025, September 16). Average screen time statistics 2025 (by age, gender & region). https://www.demandsage.com/screen-time-statistics/