Shropshire tech business encouraging people to take a screen break ahead of digital wellbeing day

Techtimeout Tuesday is an annual digital wellbeing awareness day launched in 2020. On December 3, people across the UK will pledge some time off tech to build healthier habits around screen time.

Techtimeout, founded by Shropshire businesswoman Stephanie Henson, has partnered with Opal, a screen time app used by over 4 million people worldwide. Opal has released their annual report on the ‘State of Screen Time in the UK’ ahead of Techtimeout Tuesday to encourage more people to sign up. The report compares the UK’s screen time usage with the rest of Europe.

The study found that Brits spend 4 hours 41 minutes daily on their phones, which doesn’t include time spent on laptops and computers. The UK is one of Europe's worst screen time offenders - 14 minutes more than Germany and 35 minutes more than Switzerland per day. Liverpool and Leicester have the most screen time usage out of all UK cities.

“The report from Opal shows the severity of the issue,” said Techtimeout founder, Steph Henson. “Over 4.5 hours per day is a huge amount of time, which doesn’t take into account time on other screens such as laptops, iPads or televisions. There will be a big impact on productivity, focus, and mental and physical health as a result. It’s time for a change, and a regular Techtimeout can be the catalyst.”

Steph Henson runs two tech firms but stresses that Techtimeout is not anti-tech, it is about being more responsible with tech use and recognising the dangers. “Think about the hours you spend every day staring at screens at work, being interrupted by notifications on your phone, and doomscrolling on social media. We urge you to consider the impact on your mental and physical health. 

“We’re here to help you break the cycle and build a better relationship with tech. Regular breaks can reduce stress and anxiety, improve your sleep and focus, and make you more productive when you are on screens.”

People can sign up individually or as part of a business. So far businesses representing over 2.2 million people have signed up to take a Techtimeout on December 3. This year's sign-ups include employees at Cadbury, Mental Health First Aid England, the MOD, DWP, Environment Agency, HM Land Registry, Royal Air Force, PwC, The Economist, Parcelforce Worldwide, Eurostar, and several universities, councils and charities.

“It’s quick and completely free to pledge some time off tech on December 3. Join the nation for some collective action to build healthier habits with screen time - set boundaries, reclaim your focus, work smarter, and live more mindfully.”

Techtimeout Tuesday is taking place on December 3. Visit techtimeout.co.uk to sign up.