I don't know about you but my eyeballs are on stalks with all the extra smartphone usage since the advent of COVID - 19.  

I seem to be looking at my phone morning, noon and night checking latest developments, keeping abreast of government announcements, following and joining things I would not normally link to and generally spending too much time staring at the small screen.

 It seems a life time ago (but is only a week!) that I would have met face-to-face with colleagues to discuss projects, find out what's going on and just chat about things.  Today my life seems to revolve increasingly around social media.

And then I recalled a conversation I had had last year with a young friend of mine, Julian Tappendorf, 13, student at Modern Knowledge School, Bahrain, who had a very simple idea whose time I believe has finally come!

We were discussing a maths problem when out of the blue the then 12 year old said.  I have an upcycling idea.  Oh, I replied, tell me more.  Well, he said, you know how there is always an odd sock in the laundry basket or at the back of the sock draw?  Yes, I said intrigued.  And you know how mums and dads don't want us on our phones when we are doing our homework, having dinner or engaged in family time? Yes, I replied.  Well, what if we put that lonely single sock on our phones at times when we aren't supposed to be looking at them?

And then he demonstrated the idea  and took an old sock, slipped it over his phone and secured it with a knot.  Big adult socks work best he said knowingly obviously having prototyped his design.  It was simple, effective and really useful upcycling! 

We talked about how children could personalise their socks by gluing or sewing on bits and pieces or even painting them with fabric paints and then turned back to the maths problem...

As with all good ideas, timing is everything.  We were both busy and caught up in other things.  I filed the idea in the "really useful ideas for a rainy day" drawer in my crowded brain.  Until last night...

I am delighted and proud to bring you, on behalf of my young friend, SOCK IT!  A campaign to give your eyes a rest, disconnect your brain and decompress from technology for a while.  

Mental Health experts tell us we should take time out from social media at regular intervals to quieten our minds.  Now, more than ever, when we are being bombarded with COVID 19 information - some uplifting, the majority worrying - your old sock can have an important role in maintaining your sanity - plus it's a fun thing to make and will occupy a few hours of "at home" time. 

Meet Ms Sock It!  Made last night as we are in #stayathome mode and I was Netflixed out!

So who's ready to upcycle their spare, unwanted or old sock?  Post a picture on Instagram of your repurposed sock with the hashtag #sockit and let's see how creative we can all be!  

I'm sure there's a mobile phone company out there who would like to donate a phone as a prize for the most innovative Sock it! sock right Batelco, Zain, STC?!

Huge thanks to Illustrator Rekha Salin, featured in Gulf Weekly's 25-31 March 2020 Edition, for her fabulous Sock It! campaign logo.  Always ready and willing to come to my aid.