It’s that time of year…again. Christmas decorations, hung up in stores before Oct. 31, are lush, sparkling, and everywhere. As I write, people are rushing around madly, trying to find that perfect present like starved squirrels hunting for their lost stash of nuts.

The chaos of the holiday season just adds to the sheer busyness of life. We all seem to be on call 24/7, thanks to that little device we all hold in our gloved (at this time of year) hands. I’m no Luddite; I definitely think that technology has improved our lives. I love my computer; I love my cellphone. But do we really need to know what our friends are doing on a constant basis? Is posting that latest Trump meme on Facebook absolutely necessary? Do we need to check the markets every minute?

I’ve seen people in restaurants, in Starbucks, sitting in a theatre—when they’re supposed to be enjoying each other’s company—with eyes on their phones. Forgot the name of that actor in the movie you just saw? Just look it up. Ask a person for directions? Not necessary—now you can use a map app! We’ve lost the human element in our lives.

We need to slow down and look up—get our eyes off those screens. There’s a whole world of interesting people out there. And, at this time of year, it’s nice to be present with people.

I recently went to see Last Christmas, a new film starring Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones fans will know her as Daenerys Targaryen). It’s a heart-warming tale (albeit a little cheesy), with a keen message: love life, be kind, and help others. And, interestingly, one character does not use a cellphone!

No matter how you celebrate, I wish you a very happy season, with friends, loved ones, and family—and limited screen time.