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Created by Tiffany Shlain and Sawyer Steele
A film by Let it Ripple Film Studio
Music by Snow Patrol, “Set The Fire To The Third Bar (featuring Martha Wainwright)”
Courtesy of Interscope Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

Dear Parent (2 mins) is the first film of our new series of short films (including Dear Student, Dear CEO, Dear Legislator, Dear Human, and more) about the relationship between character, technology, and humanity. These films are part of our global Character Day initiative, an annual day that unites millions of people in schools, companies, and homes to develop and deepen their character (strengths like empathy, grit, gratitude, social responsibility, and leadership). Why? Because character development leads not only to school and career success, but also to stronger, more engaged individuals and a more just world.

Learn more about Character Day

Tips for your Tech Shabbat:

  1. Ask your friends or family to join! Having a Tech Shabbat buddy will help with both accountability and fun. It can be your family, a friend, colleague, neighbor…
  2. Make a list of things you wish you had more time to do. This becomes your roadmap for Tech Shabbat! Have those joining you do the same.
  3. Invite friends or family for a meal. Inspired by the Jewish Shabbat, kicking off Tech Shabbat with a table of love, humor, and gratitude frames the whole experience.
  4. Announce your Tech Shabbat. Set up autoresponders for text and email, change your outgoing voice messages, and let your social know (profile graphic coming soon).
  5. Write down phone numbers. Having a list of key friend and family phone numbers is a great idea no matter what. For this purpose, add on anyone you might have plans with during Tech Shabbat.
  6. Print out maps ahead of time. Write down directions. If you get lost somewhere, talk to locals. Engaging with fellow humans is part of the beauty of Tech Shabbat.
  7. Find a real camera. Wondering how you’ll take photos? Pull out an old camera or find a second-hand digital camera or something else fun that won’t break the bank. If this is going to be a weekly ritual, it’ll be worth it.
  8. Pull out some books, an instrument, art supplies, a journal, board games, a record player, a cook book, a(n) ___________. Think about all the things you love that don’t involve staring at a screen. That’s Tech Shabbat.

If you’d prefer to warm up to a #TechShabbat, try our Weekly Challenges! 

Looking for Inspiration?

In Praise of Being Unproductive

Harvard Business Review

Are you productive? Efficient? Useful? More to the point, are you productive, efficient, and useful enough? These are the kinds of questions that arise (naturally and terrifyingly) when technology makes it easy to stay online and connected 24/7. But all this connectivity brings two unfortunate side effects.

On Shabbat, Screens Need Rest Too

PJ Library

No screen time is about being present and together as a family, and making the day different. Shabbat is a time to rest and appreciate the special and wonderful things about the world and each other.

24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week

by Tiffany Shlain

Excerpt: "Even though I’m Jewish and a mother, I’m not here to make you feel guilty (or become Jewish). I just want to share a practice that has improved my life in every way: a twenty-first-century interpretation of the ancient Jewish ritual of a weekly day of rest. It can work for anyone, from any background or belief, whether single, with a partner, or with kids."