Time For A Reset: Sarah Michelle Gellar Joins The Global Day Of Unplugging

It’s almost time to unplug and reset, and actress Sarah Michelle Gellar is all about it!

Global Day of Unplugging is coming up on March 1 and Gellar wants to make the day go a little easier with some helpful tips for all ages.

While technology helps us to connect, it also sometimes brings unintended consequences. The actress and producer recognizes the toll technology can take on people and has partnered with UScellular to encourage others to participate in Global Day of Unplugging on March 1. 

Global Day of Unplugging is an annual awareness campaign that helps to encourage people to take a break from technology and celebrate human connection. 

It’s a known fact that Americans are increasingly dependent on their cell phone for work and entertainment. Data from a December 2023 survey commissioned by UScellular suggests that people may be re-evaluating the role of their phones in their lives. The survey found that 41 percent of people said they could use time away from their phone and nearly a third of surveyed folks said they want to take an intentional break from their phone.

“It’s something that I’ve spoken about a lot and I feel very strongly that as the world is getting more and more digitally connected, we’re ultimately getting more and more disconnected because we don’t have that human contact. It’s touch; it’s eye contact. I see some of these kids and they can barely hold eye contact because they’re so used to like, device, device, device, device. And it’s important to me that we make sure we still have those. And that’s the message.” she exclusively told The Blast. 

“The message is not that technology is bad. Technology is amazing, but it’s about revisiting our relationship with it and whether we are taking enough breaks. Are we filling our souls with outside time and connection and why is there such a rise in depression and loneliness right now when people are connected, we have to look at that and realize that there’s a difference between digital connection and human connection, and we need both.”

Gellar wants people to realize that the idea behind the Global Day of Unplugging is that “everything is healthier with a reset.” 

“That’s why on January 1 it’s like dry January, all the gym memberships go up, it’s like the reset, okay, we’re ready to do this,” she said. “You come at it with such a different attitude than the other months of the year, and that’s what the Global Day is about. It’s about taking that break.”

When someone Gellar was recently talking to about the technology break told her it’s tough to go a full 24 hours, Gellar said that’s “okay.” 

“Go an hour. Whatever works for you,” she said. “Take that break so you can say, I can’t do 24 hours, why can’t I do 24 hours? Because that’s how you’re gonna learn about yourself.”

The “Scooby Doo” star said that there are a few things she does at home to make it easier for her family to not rely so heavily on technology and take periodic breaks. Family dinner time means no devices at the table, and when her kids are at home, Gellar’s phone is off.

That gives her time to read, take a bath, and hang out with her kids without the distraction of technology. She also suggests thinking about the things you haven’t had time to do lately, such as catching up with an old friend or taking a fitness class you’ve wanted to try. 

When it comes to the younger generation, self-regulation is an important skill to highlight.

“I can’t expect my kids to self-regulate on anything. It’s the same way we tell them you can’t have soda, you have to have a meal, you can’t have dessert. It’s up to us to teach them,” Sarah Michelle Gellar explained. 

“I take full advantage of the screen time options so they get whatever amount of time a day we deem appropriate and then it shuts off. And if they want more time, they have to come to us and it’s up to us to say, oh, you know what, you haven’t been outside, go get your basketball and go shoot some hoops or go see what the neighbor’s doing. Or it’s pouring rain, we can’t go anywhere, I have work to do, go ahead, here’s an extra hour. But then I can also determine what they’re watching.”

The mom of two explained that her son is really into anime so when he’s watching, he watches with subtitles so he’s also reading and learning another culture at the same time. 

UScellular is inviting people to participate in the initiative on Global Day of Unplugging. Every person who shares their participation at uscellular.com/unplugging, the company will donate, up to $50,000, to Unplug Collaborative, the non-profit that organizes the Global Day of Unplugging. 

“UScellular’s mission is to connect people to what matters most, but sometimes the technology that enables us to connect has unintended consequences when it gets out of place in our lives,” said Eric Jagher, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at UScellular. 

“We encourage everyone to participate in Global Day of Unplugging to take a break from technology, celebrate human connection, and reset their relationship with technology.”

UScellular recently launched its “Built For US” campaign to lead the conversation around healthier relationships with technology. This includes a variety of programs - the “Phones Down for 5 Challenge,” “US Mode,” “Smarter Start Toolkit” and more. 

“I hope that people give it a shot," Sarah Michelle Gellar said. "If you do share it on social media, we’re gonna donate to a great organization that really helps people with the mental health aspect of learning to unplug. You’ll appreciate the connection. It’s important and it feeds your soul.” 

For more information about UScellular’s efforts, visit here.