About

Mindhood came about because the human experience has shifted dramatically since the advent of the cell phone. Technology and social media overuse have taken a debilitating toll on society. Recent reporting from high school and college age groups indicate:

89% of college students report sleeping with their phone and answering texts in the middle of the night.

50% of teens report being addicted to their cell phones.

64% of adults surveyed said they “felt overwhelming anxiety” when they didn’t have access to their cell phones.

Since the introduction of the cell phone, reports of clinical depression have increased 70%.

“Phones can both enhance and erode our sociability; on the one hand smartphones enable us to connect and share updates with friends but they can also distract us and draw us away from the here and now when we’re with friends and family. The findings from this study are scientific evidence that if we put our phones down when we meet with friends and family, we not only enjoy the experience more but also feel closer to them and have a greater sense of belonging.”

– Richard Layte, Head of Sociology at Trinity College (Dublin) and scientific advisor for the study

Mindhood is a grass roots movement started at Dartmouth College. We are flipping the current tech-addicted culture with digital wellness peer trainings focused on current research on the impact of technology, ways to mindfully use our phones, and the importance of in-person relationships. Our goal is to create a cultural shift toward a more intentional use of technology that has implications for a more mindful college life.

Through Mindhood Communities, whether student governments, fraternities and sororities, sports teams, improv groups, affiliated clubs, or groups of friends we seek to counter the effects of digital dependence and social isolation. These could include phone-free events, designated phone-free spaces and meals, articles and podcasts, digital wellness and mindfulness apps like Siempo, Lilspace: Unplug for a Cause, Flipd, Apple Screen Time or Google Digital Wellbeing, Headspace, and Calm.

We collaborate with national organizations including the Digital Wellness Collective, Digital Mindfulness, National Day of Unplugging, and TextLess Live More.

What Students are Saying

I am now trying to focus on dealing with stress by making changes that positively impact my health, rather than deteriorate it. These include mindfulness and meditation and are are laughably simple, but you may not be able to imagine how much better they make you feel.

My first instinct was always to take a Snapchat of something and I realized I was living for someone else instead of for me.

My experience with Mindhood has definitely made me more intentional with my time and energy during this surprisingly busy term!

I love your mission, and I feel like I have been able to change my life for the better by being introduced to this philosophy. Using my phone less and being more mindful is something I have needed to do for a while, and I feel like this program has kickstarted that for me.