Go Grey in May with Tom's Trust and Cielo Costa

This month, the team at Cielo Costa are supporting Tom's Trust with their Go Grey in May Challenge.

Tom’s Trust wishes to shine a light on the huge impact a brain tumour diagnosis can have upon a child and their family and how essential it is that mental health support is provided.??

To put things into perspective, brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children under 16 and account for one third of childhood cancer deaths, and one in three children with a brain tumour will die. Of those that survive, 62 percent will be left with life-long disabilities (such as blindness, hearing loss, lost motor-function or learning disabilities) because of surgically removing the tumour, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It costs just over ￡3,300 a year to provide one diagnosed child and their family mental health support which they desperately need to help them navigate an often difficult and highly traumatic life-change.

Find out how our team are supporting the charity ??

In today's hyper-connected world, our brains are bombarded with stimuli – constant notifications, attention-grabbing visuals, and the endless allure of social media. Our digital devices dominate our daily lives. The quest for balance between technology and well-being has become increasingly pertinent.??

Interestingly, a simple tweak to your smartphone settings can offer a surprising solution: switching your phone to greyscale. This is a deliberate shift from vibrant colours to muted tones and holds implications far beyond mere aesthetics.??

Let’s explore the science behind how colour affects the brain and the potential health benefits of this switch to your overall well-being.?

Colour and the brain???

Our brains are wired to respond to colour. Colourful visuals activate the reward system, triggering the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. This dopamine hit is exactly what app designers exploit to keep us glued to our screens. Every notification, every like, every vibrant image reinforces the dopamine loop, making it difficult to resist the urge to check our phones.?

Greyscale eliminates the vibrant colours on your phone screen, replacing them with shades of grey. This seemingly minor change has a profound effect on how our brains process information. Without the constant visual stimulation of colour, the dopamine reward system is no longer triggered as frequently. This de-stimulation allows the brain to relax and refocus, reducing feelings of urgency and the irresistible pull to check our phones for non-essential updates.?

The health and wellbeing benefits???

Studies have shown that switching to greyscale can lead to a significant reduction in screen time. This translates to several potential benefits:?

• Improved focus and productivity:?By removing colours, this mode minimises distractions and can help us concentrate more intently on the task at hand, leading to increased productivity and a sense of accomplishment.???
• Reduced stress and anxiety:?The constant barrage of notifications and visually stimulating content can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. Greyscale mode can help alleviate these feelings by creating a calmer and more neutral phone environment.?
• Better sleep: Exposure to the blue light emitted by screens, particularly in the evening, can disrupt circadian rhythms and inhibit the production of melatonin, a hormone crucial for regulating sleep-wake cycles. By removing colour and reducing blue light exposure, it may mitigate these effects and improve sleep quality.
• Reduced eye strain: By minimising the contrast and glare produced by colourful displays, greyscale mode may help reduce eye strain associated with prolonged screen time. Moreover, reducing the luminance contrast of text can also lead to decreased visual discomfort and fatigue. Other symptoms of digital eyestrain, such as dryness, irritation, and headaches, are also alleviated when we go greyscale mode. It reduces the intensity of visual stimuli and promotes more relaxed viewing conditions.?
• Decreased digital addiction: Greyscale mode makes content less visually appealing and encourages users to engage more mindfully with their devices. This usually leads to prioritising other activities.??

Comparing greyscale with other wellness strategies???

Compared to other digital wellness strategies, such as app usage trackers and screen time limits, greyscale mode offers a unique approach to mitigating smartphone addiction and promoting mindful technology use. While the former focus on quantifying and restricting device usage, greyscale mode targets the quality of the digital experience itself. By desaturating colours and reducing visual stimuli, greyscale mode encourages users to engage with their smartphones in a more deliberate and less visually stimulating manner. This subtle shift in display aesthetics serves as a constant reminder to be aware of one's digital consumption habits, without imposing rigid restrictions or intrusive monitoring.??

Moreover, greyscale mode can complement existing wellness strategies by providing a passive yet effective means of reducing the allure of smartphone content, especially during periods of heightened distraction or temptation.?

Making this switch can be a powerful tool for us to be more present, more patient, and ultimately create more meaningful connections with the people around us. By choosing greyscale, we can reclaim a piece of our own mental space.??

Ready to make the switch????

Some users might be concerned that greyscale makes the phone screen dull or difficult to read. While the initial adjustment might take some getting used to, most users find greyscale perfectly adequate for everyday tasks.?

Here’s a quick how-to guide to making the switch on your mobile:?

For Android Users:?

• Open?Settings.?
• Navigate to?Accessibility?>?Colour correction.?
• Enable?Use colour correction?and select?Greyscale?from the options.?

For iOS Users:?

• Open?Settings.?
• Navigate to?Accessibility?>?Display & Text Size.?
• Toggle on?Colour Filters?and choose?Greyscale?from the available filters.?

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Show your support by going grey in the month of May ??

Why not join the greyscale challenge? Share your experience on social media and tag Tom’s Trust. Together we can create a wave of support for children battling brain tumours!?

You can also donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/cielo-costa-toms-trust?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fcielo-costa-toms-trust&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

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