Aoibhin Garrihy has opened up about trying to cut down on phone use as a New Year resolution.
The actress explained that she is concerned about using her phone too much around her baby, and how it affects young people.
“For me technology has just become too much, I’m just spending too much time on it, I mean even right now it’s just hopping. I’m just feeling allergic to it!” she told VIP Magazine.
“For me I want to cut back on that, even if it’s just an hour before I go to bed and just switching it off or leaving it in a different room, that’s my plan.”
The DWTS finalist, who is married to hotelier John Burke explained that teamwork helps her to stick to her resolution.
“I’ve been fairly good, and himself is trying the same thing. If we’re in it together I think we start to implement it as a kind of long-term thing.”
“It’s also ruining our sleep and we are not getting what we should be. I heard today we should be getting between seven and nine hours a night and I’m getting like five!”
Aoibhin and John welcomed Hanorah in June and the actress explained that she is mindful of having her phone out around her little girl.
“It’s scary, and I’ve read that all babies are seeing now is the Apple sign on the back of the phone, like the constant phone in the face. Because every time she does something you want to capture it, and I had to stop myself, put it down and enjoy the moment.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do. They say no screentime for two years at least but already I can see her eyes are drawn to it. You think about what kind of effect it’s going to have”
She added: “When I see her eyes going towards it I try to hide it from her. It does stress me!”
It’s not just her own little girl that she is concerned about as Aoibhin also notices the effects of technology on her students in drama school.
“I have a drama school in Clare and to see the kids come in and the power of make-believe seems to be gone. I’m asking them to come up with a little scene, and when I was doing drama we’d be used to make-believe, and coming up with little scenarios, because you’d have your dolls and you’d be creative all the time, and they just can’t.”
Aoibhin explained that she hopes Hanorah will also join drama as she feels it builds important life skills.
“Whether she performs or not, I just think the skills and to build confidence, and when it comes to job interviews or presentations in college it’s great for all that.”
Aoibhin spoke about the importance of looking after yourself at the launch of The LloydsPharmacy Change Your Health Direction programme.
This is a FREE 8-week programme offering people the chance to kick start their health journey for 2019 with a personal transformation plan and make long term improvements in areas including smoking cessation, nutrition advice, weight management, low energy levels, trouble sleeping, blood pressure and more.
