We all need a break from home school but with lockdown continuing, what activities can you do to ensure the children still enjoy the break and you manage to relax a little whilst minimising meaningless screen time?
With a growing need for entertainment, inspiration and relaxation at home, a subscription to Readly digital magazine and newspaper app could be the perfect solution for you and the kids. Readly offers unlimited “all-you-can-read” access to over 5,000 of your favourite national and international magazines and newspapers in one app.
Family and friends can share the subscription on up to 5 devices so all the family can read via your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Scientists at the University of Sussex found that reading for just six minutes lowered stress levels by 68 percent—a stronger effect than going for a walk (42 percent), drinking a cup of tea or coffee (54 percent), or listening to music (61 percent).
For children and teens, there is: Beano, Ultimate Superhero, National Geographic Kids, Storytime, Film Stories Junior, Minecraft Secrets and Cheats, Shout! and Epic. Readly’s puzzle titles include Puzzle World, Sudoku Selection, Premium Crosswords and Puzzler Suguru.
For adults, there’s all your favourite magazine titles and newspapers too including: Women’s Health, OK!, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, The Guardian, Men’s Fitness, T3, Stuff, BBC Good Food, Good Housekeeping and TIME and Living etc.
And for those who want to properly shut down without wi-fi, they can download up to 500 editions and read them in the offline mode too.
Leading Psychologist Dr Becky Spelman gives her top tips on how to foster a healthy digital diet this half term:
- Forget mindless scrolling, instead focus digital time on relaxation and reading around hobbies that enrich your life. Use the internet to facilitate inspiration, positive thinking and happiness in your life. Do it for as long as it brings you joy then put away your device. There is a magazine for every possible hobby or interest. Magazine app Readly has over 5,000 titles all on the one platform from kids comics to puzzles to hobby interest titles. This is also a good time to explore interests that you’ve never had time to develop in the past.
- It’s okay to say no to zoom calls. Do use the internet to stay in touch with family and other loved ones—but don’t feel that you have to accept every single invitation to a Zoom social or even work meet-up this half term. It’s OK to prioritise yourself, your family and take breaks when you need to.
- Take regular digital breaks. For the body and mind alike, it is essential to step away from the digital world at regular intervals this half term. If you can get out for a walk, or even just to your garden or balcony, try leaving all the devices behind, do some stretches, engage in mindfulness meditation, or just empty your mind. Having a few mini digital detoxes throughout the day will do you no end of good.
A Readly subscription is just £7.99 per month or check out the range of gift cards available. There’s something for everyone.
