How to Use Screen Time Productively

Cyber Square - Coding For kids
4 min readJun 12, 2021

Technology is one of the most important elements that contributed to the development of the modern world. But as the famous political scientist, Christian Lous Lange once said “Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master”. While bringing the essence of technology into our lives can be beneficial, the process can also turn into a double-edged sword if not executed properly. It is easy to get lost in the world of social media and clickbait that takes away our mindfulness and passively robs us of our time and energy.

This has become an even stronger affair to combat due to the pandemic. The children are asked to take advantage of the online education facility and we too had to implement a work from home approach; and because of our inability to partake in outdoor activities, most of our entertainment has also narrowed down to a digital medium. While these are some of the main culprits that caused a rise in screen time; there are also other factors like the uptick in social media usage and the rise of ott culture.

But when we look at this realistically, to a great extent it is hard for us to avoid screen time during these trying times. What we can do is, use the time that we spend in front of gadgets productively. Today we’ll look at some of the most exciting and productive ways to spend your time in front of a screen.

Learn to Code!

Programming is the future, and the time you spend working on your programming skills is never time wasted. With the uptick of everything going digital, the need for programmers and web developers is on the rise, learning to program is just like learning any other skill, the more you practice the better you get. A lot of resources are available online like web courses for coding and of course YouTube videos. There are also mobile applications that are built to teach the basics of coding in a fun manner; just spending thirty minutes a day is enough to get going!

Learn to Create Digital Art!

Digital art is a cleaner and cheaper alternative to produce when compared to the traditional method of painting; you can save on the supplies and spare yourself from getting your hands dirty. It might be one of the harder hobbies to pick up on, but it is one of the most rewarding. All you need is a computer or a tablet to get started, you can also look into graphic tablets if you want to go the extra mile. But for starters, Photoshop and a computer mouse would be enough to create your first scribble.

Make Use of Moocs Platforms

Use websites like Coursera and edX to learn certified online courses ranging from literature to data science, all from top universities around the world. You can find a course suitable for you wherever your interest lies. The best part is that you don’t even have to pay a penny to use these services. They are free to learn and you only need to pay if you want a certificate for completing the courses!

Learn a New Language!

Use resources like Duolingo to learn the basics of any language that interests you; all the while having fun doing it. Duolingo is an excellent method of learning the basics of a new language. The language tree method and the usage of streaks to develop consistency is an excellent addition to the already interesting index of the software. Duolingo claims that you only need to spend fifteen minutes a day to embark on your journey of learning a new language! So what are you waiting for? Buena Suerte!

Watch Ted Talks.

Listen to the ideas of experts from various streams of knowledge. Ted Talks are a short and fascinating activity to spend your time on. Watch and explore how people who have spent their lifetimes understanding and developing ideas translate the same to you. Ted Talks are a great way to broaden your outlook in life and learn about new things in a short amount of time. You can watch the same on YouTube or their official website.

Explore the World Virtually!

Use Google Street View to explore different parts of the world. Discover places far away, all from the comfort of your own house! Explore a small paddy field in Ireland or The Roman Colosseum like you are there, without you spending a penny.

Create Your Own Blog!

With the introduction of websites like WordPress, the building of blogs has never been easier! Blogging is a great way to express your idea to a wide audience and also to develop your writing skills. It is said that documenting the things you are passionate about like literature, music, or another can broaden your perspective the same, and help you learn those faster. There is also a chance that you might influence a person’s life through your writing!

Learn How to Speed Read.

Soar through content swiftly by mastering the ability to read quickly! Use websites like Spreeder to improve your reading speed and comprehension. Speed Reading essentially is as the title says, which is reading quickly; this forces the brain to function at a higher phase which can improve your cognitive function and brain capacity and of course lets you finish books in a much faster phase. It is said that an average person can read around 300 pages a day, but through speed reading, the number can go up to 500. There are a lot of online websites that are built for speed reading and mobile apps that are built for the same as well.

For more fun articles like this visit Cybersquare.org

--

--

Cyber Square - Coding For kids

Cyber Square is an online learning platform to teach coding and Artificial Intelligence for school students in the most engaging ways like games, projects etc