Displaying items by tag: healthy living

Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, has urged smartphone-free schools to promote healthier lifestyles for young people. Speaking in the House of Lords, he highlighted efforts by his diocese, which oversees 285 church schools, to educate students on the risks associated with smartphone use. He noted that in a school in his diocese, banning smartphones led to improved behavior, reduced bullying, increased concentration, and better academic performance. He argued that these changes foster healthier communities and higher levels of learning. His comments follow similar initiatives, including a top CofE school adopting 'brick phone only’ policies to encourage a balanced relationship with technology. While there is broad consensus on the benefits of smartphone-free schools, Dr Croft acknowledged the need for further discussions on implementing such measures across the board. The debate reflects growing concerns about the impact of smart devices on young people's well-being and development.

South Korea has some of the longest working hours in the world. Government employees work approximately 2,739 hours a year, 1,000 hours more than workers in other developed countries. The Seoul metropolitan government is introducing an initiative forcing employees to leave work earlier. Computers will be powered down at 20:00 on Fridays to stop a ‘culture of working overtime’. The shutdown comes in three phases, beginning on 30 March with computers switched off by 20:00. In April employees computers will be turned off by 19:30 on the second and fourth Friday, then from May onwards all computers will power down by 19:00 every Friday. 67.1% of government workers have asked to be exempt from the forced lights-out. Numerous surveys across the nation have found that stress and long hours of modern office jobs destroy not only health but family life.

The following is based on a Passion for the Nation post: ‘God desires this nation to be healthy in body, mind and spirit. We can pray for a new season of health to come upon this land and for lifestyles to be changed and negative patterns broken, irrespective of background or wealth. May a fresh wisdom and desire for healthy living rest upon individuals, families and communities, supported and encouraged by all related industries in production and marketing. We pray that in this season Government, NHS trusts, managers and medical staff will work together, co-operating and stewarding resources well; that new medical and financial strategies will be found, facilitating God’s purpose and priority. In the Name of Jesus, we come in agreement with Proverbs 16:24: “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body”. We pray for a new thankfulness for the NHS to be released within our nation.’