Celebrities including Jade Thirlwall (left), Zoe Sugg and Rita Ora are backing the first Digital Detox Day. Instagram
Celebrities including Jade Thirlwall (left), Zoe Sugg and Rita Ora are backing the first Digital Detox Day. Instagram
Celebrities including Jade Thirlwall (left), Zoe Sugg and Rita Ora are backing the first Digital Detox Day. Instagram
Celebrities including Jade Thirlwall (left), Zoe Sugg and Rita Ora are backing the first Digital Detox Day. Instagram

What is Digital Detox Day? Why your social media feeds may be a little quiet on Saturday


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

Social media users may notice their feeds are a little quieter than usual on Saturday, as thousands of people in the United Kingdom and around the world take part in the first Digital Detox Day.

The initiative, launched by British YouTube star Zoe Sugg and singer Jordan Stephens from the band Rizzle Kicks, is encouraging people to ditch their devices and step away from their screens for 24 hours on Saturday, September 5.

The day is part of the wider I Am Whole initiative, which encourages young people to speak openly about their mental health and take small steps to improve their overall wellbeing.

“Do you ever stop to wonder why you get so anxious when you leave your phone at home?,” Sugg says in the promotional video for the campaign. “This obsession with our devices can lead to anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleeplessness and low self-esteem. This campaign is about how we take control of our digital lives.”

The campaign has already received the backing of a number of celebrities in the UK including singer Rita Ora and the band Little Mix, as well as a number of high-profile influencers including Joe Sugg, Alfie Deyes and Saffron Barker.

In support of the campaign, the stars having been posting images to their Instagram and Twitter profiles showing them with a circle drawn on their hand.

“I’m switching off for my mental health with @IAMWHOLEUK on #Digitaldetoxday #Iamwhole,” Ora wrote on her Instagram page.

The first Digital Detox Day takes place on Saturday, September 5.

Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

GROUPS

Group Gustavo Kuerten
Novak Djokovic (x1)
Alexander Zverev (x3)
Marin Cilic (x5)
John Isner (x8)

Group Lleyton Hewitt
Roger Federer (x2)
Kevin Anderson (x4)
Dominic Thiem (x6)
Kei Nishikori (x7)

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (All UAE kick-off times)

Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (11.30pm)

Saturday

Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)

FA Augsburg v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)

RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen (6.30pm)

SC Paderborn v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)

Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Monchengladbach (9.30pm)

Sunday

Cologne v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)

Mainz v FC Schalke (9pm)

Naga
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
England World Cup squad

Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood