Dr. Matthew Edlund, the director of the Center for Circadian Medicine, in a quote below reflects how technology is impacting our teens. As the mom of a high school senior, this is disturbing information indeed. As a Career Counselor, I look for ways that teens can use technology to their advantage. In the meantime, below are a few tips to help your teen make the most of what technology has to offer.
"According to a new study technological distractions are the primary factor that prevents teenagers from getting adequate amounts of sleep. The results of the new survey which were recently published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine indicate that only about 20% of teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 get the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night."
Here are some of the most obvious distractors that teens (and adults) are attracted to: iPhones, texting, videos games, TV and all related technology, you name it.
While this is not new information, if you're a parent of a teen and are caught up in technology yourself, yet you're concerned about the impact on your teen or young adult over the next few years - relax, it's here to stay and know that there is truly an upside. It is simply a matter of steering technology toward the information that will make a difference and, ultimately, provide some amazing learning tools. In my recent work with a "distractable" teen, I discovered a few tips and "apps" to get his attention and keep him focused on identifying his passions and college to career direction:
- Ask your teen to take a break from the iPhone or current technological obsession at least two hours after school.
- Parents take that break too and be available for your teen, but try not to hover.
- Check out the following iPhone apps and other career-related apps that are fun and sometimes informative (but not always): "What Should You Do With Your Life," "Career Quiz," "Career Bliss," "How Rich Will You Be?," "Personal Test," well you get the idea. Here are a few simple apps to help us all organize a bit: "easyTasks," and "2doLite."
- Make sure you and your teen are getting to bed at a decent time. Remember, while you may not, teens require 8 hours for optimal health. I can attest to how lack of sleep can impact my day. Let's all try and give our teens the advantage of a clear brain.
- High School Seniors especially are navigating a huge amount of school work and stress from college preparation tasks - read this article to help yourself as a parent deal with how this year goes because letting go can be TOUGH! Here it is http://bit.ly/cLT2yE. Today, it is my saving grace.
Bottom line - distractability is here to stay. Staying focused is getting more challenging - MAKE IT FUN and use the best management tools available. Now on to life.
A Book Recommendation for Releasing Your "Hidden" Talents and Personal Growth:
This article published October 11, 2010 at: http://EzineArticles.com/5126292
