Disconnect to Connect: Murray Center leads 2nd annual Digital Wellness Day

On April 23, Boston College celebrated its second annual Digital Wellness Day to help students become more intentional with technology and set boundaries with social media. Organized by the Murray Center for Student Wellness, the initiative raises awareness of and celebrates digital wellness, encouraging students to “disconnect to connect.”

The constant presence of technology can affect physical, social, and emotional health, but easy strategies can help people engage with technology more mindfully, noted Murray Center Director Jeannine Kremer. Digital Wellness Day, she explained, offers suggestions like putting phones aside during dinners with friends and, for faculty, implementing a no-phones-in-class policy.

In addition to covering academic quads with signs raising awareness about digital wellness, Murray Center wellness coaches, equipped with t-shirts, affirmed students who weren’t using their phones—giving them a shirt and chatting about ways to be more mindful of their digital wellness.

Kremer said students were happy to engage with the wellness coaches and noted that somehave shared positive reactions when faculty request phones be put away in class.

“I’ve implemented no phone policies in my classes and have seen the students coming together as a community very quickly, and they’re more engaged,” she said. “There was definitely a buzz around the day.”

For people who want to disconnect regularly, the Murray Center suggests three tips: be intentional with technology use—calling someone instead of texting; turn off technology at least 30 minutes before bed; and set boundaries with social media use, like scrolling limits.

More resources and upcoming events can be found at bc.edu/student-wellness.