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Make Dinnertime Screen-Free

To enjoy meals with others, turn off the TV and put away your devices

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 07, 2023

Updated April 07, 2023

A young child is smiling as they eat lunch at a table with their family

filmstudio/iStock

Quick Win

Banish the uninvited guests — phones and other electronics — and focus on connecting with your company.

Try This Today

Eat at a table, not in front of the TV.
Put the phones away. Use mealtime to connect with family or friends — and, of course, to eat.
Talk amongst yourselves. If you’re rusty, see if anyone wants to share a funny story, or try a conversation starter such as “rose, thorn, bud,” in which you take turns describing the highlight of the day (the rose), the low point (the thorn), and something you’re looking forward to (the bud).

Why

We spend a lot of time tethered to our devices, but it’s our human relationships that can support our health and happiness. Taking a break from technology allows you to enjoy the people at your table. Simply having your phone at the table while dining with others may lead to feelings of distraction and lessen your enjoyment, according to research reported in 2018 in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. So, follow the “out of sight, out of mind” principle with your devices at dinnertime.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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