CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Novant Health is proud to announce a new campaign encouraging people to slow down, be more present to experience life’s everyday moments and enjoy the world around them. The campaign, called Live in the Moment, aims to raise awareness about the alarming effects of everyday stress on the body due to factors like work, busy schedules, co-dependence on technology and not enough focus on self-care.
“While engrained in nearly every aspect of our lives today, it has become clear that overreliance on technology and the resulting social isolation it can cause can have devastating effects on health,” said Dr. Darlene Ifill-Taylor, Novant Health Psychiatric Associates. “At Novant Health, we have emphasized resilience programs for our team members for several years and have seen firsthand the benefits and fulfillment that mindfulness and being more present can have on an individual’s physical and mental well-being. We are now dedicated to sharing this knowledge with our patients and our communities so that we all can live a healthier, more balanced life.”
Despite the numerous benefits to having the world at our fingertips, there may be serious physical and psychological risks associated with overuse, including creating isolation from real connections. For example, teens who spend five or more hours per day online are 71 percent more likely to have one risk factor for suicide, regardless of the content consumed.[1] In addition, a lack of physical activity due to too much time on the computer or sitting in general can also negatively impact a person’s physical health, accounting for 22 percent of coronary heart disease, 22 percent of colon cancer and 12 percent of diabetes and high blood pressure.[2]
To spread awareness about the consequences of too much time connected to technology, Novant Health will implement several initiatives throughout the year centered around the following themes to encourage mindfulness and self-care:
- Unplugging from technology.
- Enjoying moments with family.
- Focusing on self-care.
The campaign will include a variety of events, as well as educational resources for the community. Novant Health kicks off its Live in the Moment campaign March 1 to coincide with the National Day of Unplugging, a 24-hour global respite from technology that highlights the value of disconnecting from digital devices to connect with ourselves, loved ones and our communities in real time. Novant Health is asking its executive team, team members and the community to take the pledge to unplug from technology, even for a short period of time. Then once back online, participants can share a photo with the caption, “I unplug to … ” using the hashtag #NHLiveInTheMoment.
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