This Father’s Day, and Sundays this summer, consider going #DarkforDinner

Published 12:10 pm Friday, June 19, 2015

Stop for a moment and think about the last time you sat down to dinner with your immediate family or close friends. Okay, now think of the last time you did such a thing without the noise, ringing and lights of mobile devices, tablets, and digital music players getting in the way. If you’re one of the thousands of Americans who could say it’s definitely been a while, then you might want to go “Dark for Dinner” this Father’s Day and the remaining Sundays of the summer.

So what exactly is “Dark for Dinner,” and where did it come from? You may have already seen a commercial or heard about it without realizing that it’s the latest campaign from Dixie, the Georgia-Pacific brand most known in households nationwide for its disposable tableware and other conveniences for busy families.

Dixie launched the social movement with today’s busy, tech-tied families in mind. The campaign will take place every Sunday for six weeks and is designed to encourage families to focus on the present and to “Be More Here.”

Although cell phones and other modern tech gadgets are a great aid in communication between family and loved ones, the distraction during mealtime gatherings they can provide is proving to be one of our most prevalent interpersonal relationship issues.

According to Anna Umphress, director of communications and public affairs for Dixie, the brand is asking families to remove all distractions, including electronic devices, from their dinner experience, and then share what they learned from going “Dark for Dinner” via social media using the hashtag, #DarkforDinner.

With the summer months offering traditionally busy families a little more down time and schedule flexibility, #DarkforDinner actually provides an opportunity for family members, friends and neighbors to connect over dinner without being connected to their phones. And while the ironic concept of going off the grid and then getting on Twitter to tell everyone about it may be unique, the urging for distraction-free dining is not.

In 2012, blogger Andie Mitchell shared that while she indulges both her tastebuds and her techie fix during breakfast, during the rest of the day’s meals “– lunch, dinner, dessert – I make a point to focus exclusively on the dining experience. I pay attention to the food and my companions, and I tune out all the rest. No computers, no television, nothing outside of my plate, my partners, and the ambiance,” linking her reasoning to a sense of mindfulness and sensory satisfaction in the present moment. In a 2013 New York Times article, we were introduced to the idea of disconnection as a luxury for all and to the “phone stack” game (in which all phones are placed in the center of the table and the first to peek or grab for one picks up the check). By 2014, we were even warned of the scientific research behind why we should really, seriously, permanently stop using our smartphones at dinner, courtesy of The Washington Post.

“It’s no secret that our lives are full of distractions, responsibilities and demands for time and attention,” said Andrew Noble, senior brand director Dixie Consumer Products. “As a result of this hectic lifestyle, we forget to focus on the here and now.”

In hopes of providing expert insight and tips, family and parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba partnered with the brand because of her belief in unplugging during dinner time and the benefits of families gathering around the dinner table.

“I’m supporting the Dixie Dark for Dinner movement by asking families to make sure work calls, social media and other distractions are paused during dinner, so they can enjoy great conversation and family time,” she said in a statement.

An author of over 22 published books on parenting, character-building and bullying prevention, Borba is passionate about the need for more family time over dinner – a meal that’s become incredibly casual and backlit by electronic devices in recent years.

Wondering how can you and your family go #DarkforDinner this summer? It’s easier than you think, if you can get past the hard task of leaving your device out of sight and out of mind for a while.

Families and anyone else can participate in the #DarkforDinner movement by following these three simple steps:

1. Turn your social feeds “dark” – that means take a break from scrolling through your newsfeed or sharing on any social network – to let everyone know you’re disconnecting for a while.

2. Put away your devices – that means in a drawer, in another room, under a boulder, I don’t care where, but you may not bring it to dinner – and enjoy the time with your friends and family.

3. Go back online and share a moment from your Dark for Dinner experience using the hashtag #DarkforDinner. Take a moment to reflect on the time you spent conversing with or learning new things about your loved ones. As a challenge, see if you can spend the remainder of the evening offline, or even having dinner without distractions more than just on Sundays.

Seems simple enough, right? And with Father’s Day this Sunday, going #DarkforDinner offers the perfect chance to show dad just how much you love him. Give gifts, share memories and funny stories or just spend some good, priceless quality time with those you hold near and dear. Just be sure to forego the digital distractions and make the most of your Sunday meal time.

For more information on the #DarkforDinner social movement, visit darkfordinner.com.