Finding Family Balance With Technology: Google Digital Wellbeing

My participation in this campaign is sponsored with Google + Forward Influence Network. It’s 100% my own opinion #ad #DigitalWellbeing

We love to travel and we’re always dreaming of our next trip. Our family bonds together with our love of travel, it’s even something that we’re passing down to the kids. On our last trip, we traveled through some pretty rural areas. While on our grand adventure, on the open road, our kids immediately started to panic about the lack of service. Streaming movies and playing games – their usual entertainment for road trips – was gone. It got me thinking… what does our family need to do to ensure a healthy balance of technology in our lives?

About Google’s Digital Wellbeing Mission

Google is on a mission. They are designing helpful products that bring positivity to people’s lives by improving them. As technology becomes increasingly integral to our day-to-day lives, it seems to distract us from the things that matter the most to us, like family.

Google created Digital Wellbeing, which offers tools and resources, to help people find and maintain balance with technology that works for their lives. I love how Google has stepped up to the plate because they feel like they have a responsibility to help people find that balance!

What does your family’s experience with technology look like? I know we have areas that need improvement! They have created a self-reflection tool that asks you simple questions to see what your relationship is with technology in your life. After starting your own experience, it will suggest some tips and tools that will help you achieve your personal sense of Digital Wellbeing. As a parent, I like that Google is offering this resource because I know our family could use the help.

One of my favorite tips is to step away from work when you want to. Easier said than done, right? I’m awful at stepping away because I feel like I have major FOMO, from social media, when I’m gone. They have tools that you can set so you have a Do Not Disturb that can turn on automatically at certain times. I plan to use it before bedtime – Google will show you how to use it. You can also set an auto-reply for your Gmail account when you are on vacation.

Digital Wellbeing Family Guide

Have kids that love technology, like mine? I struggle with the concept of how much screen time I should allow as a parent. Sometimes I know technology is assisting in their learning, but too much can be a hindrance.

My five-year-old is always asking for screen time on my phone. Google suggests that when you are setting screen time limits for your kids, include them in helping define the digital ground rules that make sense for everyone.

Parents can find tools that help you manage app usage, lock a device, and set screen time limits. This makes being a parent a little easier.  Google even offers a Family Guide, as a PDF – so you can print it out if you’d like as well! With technology changing faster than we can keep up with, it’s nice to know that Google is assisting us to help find that balance. 

Please visit wellbeing.google to learn more

What does your current experience with technology look like?