REAL Day™
REAL Day™ is for Everyone
1
Put Away Screens. Take Time Off Social Media. Take a break from video games and stay off—TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, WhatsApp.
2
Do Something REAL. Recreation. Nature. Exercise. Sports. The Arts. Culture. Volunteering. Self-care. Reading. Skill Building. Hobbies. Play.
3
Limit Smartphone Use. Only calls, texts, email, camera, and essential non-social media apps.
4
Feel Connected. Disconnect, to connect with your true self and real people in real life.
"I had a blast on Real Day,
my phone was off all day.
A real day of joy!"
—Mary P.
Why REAL Day™?
For over a decade we’ve seen the red flags… the negative effects of too much social media and screen time. Social psychologists, health professionals, parents, teachers, and governments have been pointing out the harms and sounding a warning voice. We all see it. We know we should take time off. Yet most of us, especially adolescents, can’t seem to resist the tug.
"Gen Z became the first generation in history to go through puberty with a portal in their pockets that called them away from the people nearby and into an alternative universe that was exciting, addictive, unstable and unsuitable for children and adolescents.
Even when [they] are not on their devices and appear to be doing something in the real world, such as sitting in class, eating a meal or talking with you, a substantial portion of their attention is monitoring or worrying (being anxious) about events in the social metaverse.”​
—Jonathan Haidt, PhD Psychologist and Author
We know that the relationship we have with our phone, often overshadows the ones that matter most. And the most important one, is the relationship we have with ourself.
"Early in my film career I was really bounced around by my life on social media—the highs and lows. My mental health was so bad, I finally just had to take a day off social media. And you know, the next day when I got back on… it just didn’t taste the same. That time off totally changed my relationship with it.”
—Rachel Brook Smith Actor, Dancer, and Producer
REAL Day™ Impact
Pure and simple, REAL Day™ participation means less time spent on screens and social media. Various studies show the benefits of taking time off:​
​Researchers have found a significant improvement in overall mental health of children and adolescents who reduced their screen time — fewer emotional and peer-related problems and increased positive social interactions
​Reducing social medial use to 30 minutes a day results in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO
72% percent of teens taking a break from their phones said they “very often or sometimes feel peaceful” if they don’t have their smartphone handy
Students going off of social media for 30 days reported improved mental health, a healthy connection with peers, increased productivity, and feeling calmer, happier and less anxious
So, go Do Something REAL™, and feel a boost in happiness, wellbeing, and mental health.
Experts tell us that the way to break a negative habit, is to replace it with something else. So, just as Earth Day prompts us to do something to help protect our planet, and Arbor Day motivates us to get out and plant a tree…
… REAL Day reminds us once a month to disconnect for a day and ‘Do Something Real’, instead of spending countless hours in the virtual world. We feel different—connecting our true self with real friends and real community.
