| April 20, 2026 |
NatNews |
ISSUE 214 |
DISCONNECTING OFTEN ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO RECONNECT
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While some individuals might fear that disconnecting from their phones and social media could cause them to lose connection with the world in a sense, it’s possible that disconnecting every once in a while can actually help people reconnect with the world around them. Recent statistics reveal that globally, people average 4 hours and 47 minutes of screen time per day. The average American spends 6 hours and 12 minutes looking at a screen each day, and across all age groups in the U.S., 43 percent view their phones right before bed, and 44 percent do so first thing in the morning One study conducted by university professors/scholarly researchers and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Nexus found that even a two-week period of limiting what one can do on his or her phone by removing internet access resulted in improved mental health, subjective well-being, and objectively measured ability to sustain attention, as 91 percent of participants in the research improved on at least one of these outcomes. A Baylor University study revealed that “connecting” on social media can actually lead to increased feelings of disconnection and isolation, as it often displaces more meaningful social interactions and is unable to meet an individual’s innate need to foster and maintain relationships. “Despite the premise that social media helps us feel more connected to other people, there is more and more research actually showing that the people who spend more time online report higher levels of loneliness and dissatisfaction,” Dallas resident and psychologist Kenleigh McMinn said. “This is likely due to the fact that social media usually only shows either the ‘highlights’ of what is going on in other people’s lives (without showing the bad stuff) or exposes us to bad news happening across the world.” Being constantly connected and exposed to such a significant amount of content can take its toll on a person’s mental health, relationships, and productivity, which can lead to further disconnection from important components of one’s reality. “It is definitely healthy and encouraged to take breaks from social media and screen time/scrolling, in general, to help reconnect with ‘real life,’” McMinn said. Dallas-area resident and University of Texas at Austin student Mithra Cama said she believes that it is extremely important for a person to disconnect from his or her phone and social media on a regular basis for improved well-being. “Social media exposes us to an overwhelming amount of information within minutes, and I don’t think anyone’s mental health is built to process so many different things at once, especially with the type of news we have today,” she said. “Most people I know, myself included, spend every second of free time on their phones and hear about it immediately every time something terrible happens in the world.” And though Cama doesn’t think that means a person should steer completely away from everyday devices, she does acknowledge that it’s healthy not to become consumed by them and the influx of all they provide. “While it’s important to stay informed, I think it’s really important to disconnect from the constant stream of negative information that contributes to our anxiety, depression, and fear for the future,” she said. |
Cama said, in general, she doesn’t believe that people take enough moments throughout the day to escape from the noise and busyness surrounding them. “I don’t think anyone I know has intentional quiet time, and most people I know spend hours on social media every day,” she said. “I even set an hour time limit on my Instagram, and I use it up to the limit almost every day.” Cama added that she thinks that people’s heavy reliance on technology makes it difficult for them to disconnect completely, especially when they have their phones on them or near them at almost all times. “I wake up from the alarm on my phone and immediately check my notifications,” she said. “While working on my laptop, I get emails and news updates throughout the day, and my phone is constantly buzzing with social media notifications. We are expected to be online all of the time, and it feels impossible to separate ourselves from that.” Like Cama, McMinn said she also does not think that people prioritize quiet time enough. “It’s so easy to get caught up in scrolling or screens because it activates the reward system of our brains that goes off for instant gratification,” she said. “Unfortunately, too much of this can leave us feeling depleted and makes it harder to appreciate day-to-day satisfaction and slower hobbies.” McMinn also pointed out that it took a pandemic more than six years ago to force people to slow down a bit and take on new activities, which potentially demonstrates more about people’s intrinsic desires than one might expect. “Think about early in COVID when we were in lockdown—what kinds of things did people start doing more of?” she reminded. “Hobbies like gardening, baking, walking, and crafting really took off, even when we had all of the time in the world to sit in front of screens and do nothing. I think that says a lot about how our brains are wired and what we are actually meant to be spending our time doing.” While the idea of escaping from the screens and all they present can seem appealing, actually doing so can be challenging for people at times. Cama admitted that she does not disconnect as often as she should and that she is almost always “plugged in.” “I think one of the few times I have free time and choose not to spend it on my phone or doing work is when I clean my room,” she said. “I don’t clean my room very often, so when I do, there’s a lot to do, and it feels very therapeutic. I like to declutter and give my mind time to do its thing. I like disconnecting this way because I feel better about using my time productively, and it helps stop me from getting stuck in negative thought spirals in my bed.” And sometimes simply being in nature or spending time with others can make a positive difference in a person’s life. “Sitting outside reading a book or going for a walk with a friend are ways to reconnect with what’s important to me and help me feel more grounded,” McMinn said. “There’s some valid science behind the phrase of ‘touch grass.’” |
DID YOU KNOW?
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More than one-third of all potatoes grown in the U.S. are manufactured into frozen products, 85 percent of which are french fries. |
ARE YOU DOWN BAD CRYING AT THE GYM BECAUSE YOU AREN'T MEETING PEOPLE?
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One might assume that joining a gym can not only help the individual with physical health but also improve his or her social life. While true in some situations, that’s certainly not always the case and depends upon a variety of factors. Research has revealed that during repetitive endurance-type activities (such as lifting weights at the gym), music chosen by the individual can improve energy efficiency, make the workout feel easier, and lead to increased work output. Thus, when a person selects music that he or she enjoys and that fits the individual’s exercise routine, it can result in a better overall exercise experience. Because many individuals opt for wearing headphones at the gym, it can create an environment that becomes much more individualized and one that does not foster easy engagement with others. That doesn’t necessarily mean that people don’t converse with those they don’t know, but it can often minimize the possibilities or limit situations in which people will talk with one another. “I do talk to people who don’t look like they are deep into a workout,” Dallas-area resident JT Gordon said. “I’m more social at the pickleball, recovery, lounge, and pool areas because I know I’m not interrupting a session.” Gordon also acknowledged that headphones can certainly be a sign that a gym-goer doesn’t want to talk to anyone and, instead, would prefer to be left alone during his or her workout. “A person will usually wear one ear bud if they are OK with being approached,” he said. “I take one out when I see a hottie.” And just because people are in a setting with a multitude of other individuals does not mean they desire to interact with those around them. Dallas resident Matt McNutt said he generally keeps to himself when he goes to the gym for a workout. “For me, the gym is ‘me time’ and a chance to decompress and focus on my workout without distractions,” he said. Like Gordon and many others, McNutt said he believes that he sees headphones as a universal “do not disturb” signal from those wearing them. “For me, it’s an unspoken rule that if someone has earbuds in, they are locked in with their music and aren’t looking for conversation,” he said. There are gyms, however, that are intentionally designed to allow members to be more social. Places such as Fit Social Club, F45 Training, Barry’s, and several others offer structured classes with limited spots and environments that create natural opportunities to talk and form friendships, acquaintanceships, and other relationships with workout participants. Julia Bisaillon, a registered nurse in College Station, Texas, is a regular at F45 and said she enjoys being able to exercise in such a space. “What keeps me coming back is the community aspect,” she said. “We all encourage each other and know one another on a personal level.”
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For Bisaillon, meeting other people is an integral component of group classes, as opposed to lifting weights in a more isolated and individualized setting. “It can be intimidating going to the gym by yourself if you’re new to working out or even if you moved to a new area, so group classes connect you with like-minded people,” she said. There are certainly times that Bisaillon said she would rather not socialize too much when she’s at a gym, though she noted that even solo workout sessions can create chances to form connections with others. “If I’m doing my own workout, I probably prefer to be left alone,” she said. “However, oftentimes, the same people go to the gym at the same times, so if you see someone over and over, usually talking to them ends up making a friendship or workout buddy.” Similarly, Gordon said it doesn’t bother him if people want to talk to him at the gym if he is in the middle of a workout, as long as it is a brief interaction. “Beyond five minutes is too long if I’m lifting or doing cardio,” he said. “If it’s in the lounge or cafe, that’s different.” And some individuals simply wish not to talk much with others at all when they make a trip to the gym, as they are there for a sole purpose. “I usually prefer being left alone while I’m working out,” McNutt said. “I usually have a specific routine and have allocated a specific amount of time, so stopping to chat can break my routine.” Despite often being a headphone-centric facility with patrons who choose to focus on their own workouts, the gym can still serve as a place for individuals to meet people, whether for friendship, networking, potential dating prospects, or other forms of connection. Bisaillon said whether or not that happens is contingent upon the environment and the specific people. “I have made so many friends in group fitness settings, and that tends to keep me accountable,” she said. “It’s simple to connect over the gym because it gives you an immediate point to talk about and invites conversation.” Similarly, McNutt pointed out that while the gym does offer a place for individuals to make connections, especially with others who generally are there at the same time as one another, it can sometimes be tricky and requires the right situation and way of going about interacting. “Since most people are there to work out, I think it’s better for passive networking, seeing the same faces, and eventually becoming gym acquaintances,” he said. “For dating prospects or serious networking, it really depends on the environment. Having social awareness is important.” WEEKLY PHOTO OP     .jpg)  NatNews staff and a dear reader formed a human star (sort of?) in support of the Dallas Stars in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs |
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