Christmas is all about family and spending time together, so it’s only right that we maximise those precious few days off that we have over the holidays.
Loathe as we are to admit it, phones and social media can often get in the way of spending time with our loved ones – something which has been demonstrated perfectly this week by much-loved food retailer Iceland.
After carrying out a survey, Iceland made a pretty shocking finding: a staggering 91% of respondents will have their phones on them at all times over Christmas, and will spend much of their Christmas mealtime snapping and sharing photos to social media. If you fall under this category, and you want to break up with your phone for the sake of the family, here are some tips for maximising family time:
Impose a ‘no technology’ rule at the dinner table
Sometimes you just need to simply say ‘no phones or gadgets allowed’, in order to spend some quality time together. If needs be, confiscate – and the rule applies to Mum and Dad as well! Everyone can get their stuff back after dinner – and they might even enjoy the break!
Get out the board games
Nothing gets the family bonding and having fun together quite like playing a board game. Be sure to stock up well ahead of the festivities – perhaps Santa will bring a new game? – and designate game time for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or St Stephen’s Day. Beware: if you’re dividing up into teams, things may get competitive!
Organise family activities
From visiting the Christmas markets to going for a country walk on Christmas morning, there is a whole range of lovely activities you and your loved ones can enjoy together. If you organise these in advance, you’re less likely to end up spending the holidays lying around the house on the phone or tablet.
Visit the relatives
With such hectic schedules to adhere to throughout the year, Christmastime offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with loved ones in the good, old-fashioned way – chatting over a cuppa, swapping stories, and reminiscing on Christmases and days gone by.
Have a family movie night
Go all-out with popcorn, treats and blankets, and get everyone to leave their phones and tech gadgets in their rooms. Pick out a family-favourite, gather on the couch, and hit ‘play’ for an evening of laughter and good fun.
With delicious treats such as luxury oysters (€13), croquembouche (€12) and festive turkey crown (€15), Iceland has Christmas all set up for its customers. In order to make the most of our delicious dinners however, they want us to heed their advice: put a ‘freeze’ on the phones, and enjoy being in the ‘now’ with your loved ones this Christmas!
For details on the delicious foods available this Christmas at Iceland, check out www.iceland.ie.
