Where in the World are Our Listeners?
This is a new section for the newsletter where each week we'll give a shout out to our listeners from a different place around the world —highlighting how global The Better Show community has become.
This time we're giving a shout out to Machico, Madeira. Madeira is an archipelago comprising 4 islands off the coast of Morocco. It is an Autonomous Region of Portugal, famous for it's fortified wine. The island is volcanic and a series of impressive lava tubes called the Furnas do Cavalum are named after a local legend about a devil called Cavalum, who was imprisoned in the caves.
Tip of the week
Staring at a PC or TV screen can put you in a trance. Trying setting a reminder to take breaks from work and turn off auto-play on Netflix and your DVR. Can't get unglued from your phone? Try switching it to black & white to make it easier to break away.
Look clever at a cocktail party
Léon Theremin, a Russian inventor, contributed one of the key technologies needed for television. Additionally, he invented a bizarre electronic musical instrument originally called the etherphone, which is played without touching the device. He also spied for the Soviets, inventing one of the first listening bugs, which was hidden inside the seal of the United States and hung in the residence of the US ambassador to the USSR for seven years before being discovered.
What are Ian, Darren & March up to this week?
Listen to an upcoming show to hear how our experiments went and what we learned!
Website of the week
Step Away From the Screen and Make Something
A fun site dedicated to being more mindful than mindless by deliberately focusing on hands-on creativity as a replacement for so much screen time. The creator, Laurie Smithwick, wanting to address her screen addiction, started a project to make something every month for a year and share her experience. That evolved into a community and set of resources for like-minded people.
Product of the week
Freedom
Studies show that every time you check email, a social feed, or respond to a notification, your mind requires 23 minutes of re-focus time to get back on task. Freedom is an app and website blocker that works on all your devices. You can schedule 'free time' and help build healthy screen habits.
3 things you can do to help the show!
- If you enjoyed this newsletter please forward to a friend. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.
- Listen to the podcast and if you enjoy it give us a 5-star rating on iTunes. It helps others find the show.
- Join the discussion on Facebook and share your own tips and tricks or ask a question.
All the best in getting better,
Ian, Darren & March
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