In the present time, technologies of all types are around us all the time, so much so that it’s a challenge just to be able to escape them. Many students are on computers all day long during their school day, their breaks are filled with checking messages, posts, and the latest drama on their phone, and after school many kids and teens play video games or watch tv until late hours of the night. The next morning, this cycle repeats again. With this constant force pushing us to use some sort of technology, people may need to find breaks to do something else. But what else is there to do? Here is top 5 list of activities to do when you need a break from technology.

1. Go for a bike ride around your neighborhood.

Is there any better feeling than the wind in your hair, the feeling of freedom and the world at your fingertips? Biking is a way you can get a break from the pressures of schoolwork, friendship troubles, family problems, or any other problems that find their way into your life. For even just a minute, it’s just you and your bike going wherever you want. If you don’t have access to a bike, don’t worry! You can easily do the same thing with a scooter, skateboard, or just your own two feet. And who knows? You may discover something about your neighborhood that you never noticed before.

2. Write a letter to a friend or family member.

Go on a search of your house and try to find these items: Paper, pen/pencil, envelope, and a stamp. That’s all! Now you have the materials to write a letter! If you don’t have any stamps available at your house, they can be bought easily at a post office or even a Walgreens near you. Now you are ready. Take a seat at a desk, or kitchen table, or wherever you can find a hard surface, take out the pen and paper and write. You can write about anything as simple as how your day has been going, to checking in on a friend you haven’t seen in forever. You will also need their address, but you can probably find a way to obtain that. Here’s a video on how to address an envelope to ensure that it reaches its destination: https://youtu.be/7I7c67KM4FA

3. Teach yourself how to crochet or knit.

Okay, fine, it may be a little hard to learn how to crochet or knit without technology, but it’s completely doable. You can go to your local library or bookstore and get a book about how to crochet or knit,  you can ask a friend or family member to teach you, or you can just start messing around with yarn and see what happens. If you don’t have yarn and needles already, you can easily get them at an arts and crafts store near you, or try a thrift store or borrowing some from a friend. With your free time, why not make a gift for someone, like a scarf, purse, or stuffed animal?

4.  Bake something.

Go ahead and dust off that old cookbook in the back of your shelf and pick something to make. If you can’t decide, just close your eyes, open up the book to a random page, and put your finger on it. Whatever recipe you land on, cook it! If you don’t have all the ingredients at home go ahead and take a bike ride or walk to a grocery store. Why not make a meal for your family while you’re at it and enjoy a fresh, homemade meal with the ones you love? Or, welcome a new neighbor to your neighborhood with freshly baked pie or cookies. And, you may ask, what if it turns out awful? Well, it might. But, that’s just the excuse you need to keep trying and get some extra tech-free hours trying to perfect your chef skills.

 5. Be an artist.

Draw, paint, sculpt, build, or do whatever kind of art your heart desires. If you have just a pencil and paper in your house, you can be an artist. Set up some sort of still life with objects in your house and sketch that with a pencil. Or, close your eyes and draw without looking. Then, see how it turns out. If sculpting is more your thing, stop by a store and grab some clay, and get to work. You can also teach yourself some more unknown art types. You can ice sculpt, rock paint, or make a butter sculpture. Dance is another form of art, so that is another option. Throw on some music and express yourself through movement!

Hopefully at least one of these ideas inspires you to do some tech-free activity. Taking breaks from technology can help your physical and mental health, improve your relationships with others, and help you focus. So, please use this list to improve your life, and you can even take a moment to make a list of your own!