I've been thinking a lot about how important it is to fill any second of free time with less screens. Instead of defaulting to scrolling, even a few minutes of reading or stepping outside can make a big difference. Gen Z has a funny phrase for this—"touch grass." It basically means: log off, close your apps, and reconnect with real life. And honestly, we all need that reminder. Our brains weren't designed to process endless streams of information 24/7.

Since I've been trying to grow the Palmetto Parents Charleston Instagram Page and spread the word about the newsletter, I've noticed my own phone time creeping up. To fight back, I started a simple rule: no phone in the bedroom. For the past two months, I've had a "put my phone to bed" ritual at night, and the results have been huge—better sleep, less stress, and more rest. (And it's not just me—a 2021 study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that people who leave their phones outside the bedroom report better sleep quality and lower anxiety.)

Sometimes "touching grass" for me isn't even literal. It might look like staring at a wall once the kids fall asleep, or watching Jeopardy half-asleep on the couch. But the point is, less input = more calm. And giving my brain a break helps me actually turn off that endless to-do list running in my head.

So here is a gentle reminder that there is always tomorrow and go touch some grass (I know the perfect place 👇)