#AntyxUnplugged - Jeff

What I do to unplug is play guitar. The freedom a guitar brings to provide control to your thoughts and feelings is very therapeutic for me. When I was touring, one of our roadies (who are usually also musicians) put it perfectly "there is no mistake you are not free to make, stretched across 6 strings and a board". Turning all electronics and even lights off, leaning back in a comfy chair, and plucking away a tune with the volume, speed, and mood the way you are feeling. Aggressive, calm, exciting, somber, whatever. A hobby well worth learning.

---

May 3-9, 2021 marks Mental Health Week. As we’re roughly one year into the pandemic, adverse effects are being felt more commonly than usual during periods of isolation and uncertainty, leading to increased levels of anxiety and/or depression. Almost 38 per cent of Canadians, according to Statistics Canada, have reported that “due the COVID-19 pandemic, they experienced feelings of loneliness or isolation”1. With tighter restrictions and social distancing rules, many have faced long periods of screen time due to working from home or attending school digitally. While the impact of increased screen behaviour on mental and general health is unknown, a study done by Statistics Canada reported that “avoiding excessive screen time and engaging in exercise, particularly outdoors, were important behaviours associated with better perceived mental and general health” during the pandemic2.

In an effort to boost the importance of reducing screen time and promote healthy ways to unplug, the Antyx team is sharing how they unplug when faced with an increasingly digital environment. #AntyxUnplugged

Sources:

1 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210318/dq210318a-eng.htm

2https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2020006/article/00001-eng.htm