BodiMojo Teen Health Blog – Teenage Nutrition, Fitness, Stress, Relationships & More

Life Without the Internet? Tips for Teens on How to Unplug

February 1st, 2012 by Karen Feldscher

Earlier last month, a number of websites—Wikipedia was the most well-known—shut down for a day to protest proposed federal legislation to crack down on pirated movies and TV shows. This blackout caused me to wonder: what would life be like without the Internet?

Quite a thought.  Internet has become so central to teenage lives that, if it went down, it would be sort of like a natural disaster.

Think about it. No email, No Facebook. No instant messaging. No cruising the web to do research for homework. (No BodiMojo!)

Some teens posted online responses to the thought of life without the Internet:

“I could not live without the Internet.”

“Facebook is my life.”

“We need the Internet! It’s part of modern life! A big part!”

“I will not last if the Internet is shut down. I play on the Internet at home all day every day from 3:10 to 8:00 if my parents don’t kick me off.”

That last one got me. On the Internet from 3:10 to 8:00??

No doubt, the Internet helps us stay connected and makes it easier and faster for us to work, study, do research, and more. But sometimes there can be “too much of a good thing.” Think about what you’d do without the Internet. Would you read a book? Take a walk? Call someone on the phone and actually talk to them?

Consider one teen’s response: “Teens need to be more active and need to be outside more. People before us did [not have the Internet], so I think I could find something to do instead.”

I liked that thought. Here’s another: After you finish reading this blog, and after checking out some other helpful info on BodiMojo (like our mobile health apps or our tips on how to exercise even if you think you’re too busy), turn away from the computer and get out there.

Don’t worry: the Internet will be there when you get back!

Unhook from the Internet: Tips for Teens

Do you need help weaning yourself from the online world? Here’s how to turn your face away from Facebook and other sites:

  • Figure out how much you’re benefiting: If you’re “creeping” on friends on Facebook, looking through picture albums, reading posts – are you living someone else’s life instead of your own?
  • Set a timer: Maybe 30-60 minutes is enough time, and then it’s time to shut down the computer. A clock can help you manage your time wisely.
  • Work offline: Is it possible to write your papers on old-fashioned paper and pen? This might be less distracting.
  • Reward yourself: If you go for a run or clean your room, “reward” yourself with a set amount of Facebook chatting, etc.

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Be True to Thy Teen Self – While Still Conforming

January 30th, 2012 by Coach Meghan

It’s another Mindful Monday with Coach Meghan!

As a yoga teacher, I continually encounter certain themes in the classes I take, the classes I teach, and in the community in general. One in particular is the message “be true to yourself.” This is especially applicable for teens!

Everyone can be true to him or herself – once you figure out what is really important to you. Be an individual and embrace what makes you – as a teen, sister, dog sitter, playwright, son, pianist, friend, human being – unique.

But – there’s always a but – there’s a slight problem with this. The yoga community is just one example of a group that promotes conflicting messages what it means to be your own person.

Be yourself. But be yourself whilst wearing your snazzy Lululemon yoga pants. And sipping from your eco friendly BPA-free water bottle. And stretching out over your costly Yogitoes-covered mat.

I don’t want to rain on the yoga parade (BodiMojo is big on teen yoga as a life skill); there are many yoga teachers who have their hearts in the right place and it’s less a problem about individuals than one of collective brand consciousness. The modern yoga trend is just one example of how consumerism can give a mixed message.

But this happens all the time, right? And teens are targeted at every angle. Major brands like Uggs, Nike, Adidas and yes – Lululemon – have the power to influence who’s cool and who’s not. You wear them, you’re cool. You don’t, you’re not. The question is,  how media savvy are you? (Take a media quiz to find out!)

Who’s to say that a teen can’t be him or herself while wearing popular brands? Being yourself is really all about being comfortable in your own skin, regardless of whether it’s covered in the latest cool athletic wear, last year’s gym sweats, a prom dress, or a cool outfit of thrift store treasures.

One thing that helps me get a grip with the contradicting messages that society and the media plague us with is the knowledge that being comfortable in your own skin is an ongoing process. It’s not some recipe that can be concocted, thrown in the oven, baked at 350 for an hour and that’s the end of that: a pinch of confidence, a dash of patience, a spoonful of acceptance. Learning to be yourself and embrace yourself is a process that continually evolves and has to be worked at over time.  So allow your uniqueness to shine through, on days that you wear Uggs and on days that you don’t.

What role do popular brands play in your daily life? In your decisions of what to wear each day?

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