Go On A Digital Detox To Improve Your Wellness
What is a digital detox?
It’s a period of time which you refrain from using electronic devices (yes, you read that correctly - no internet!) and takes this offline opportunity to reduce stress and focus on yourself.
It’s about choosing the real-life social interaction rather than engaging with the online world avatars we’re all so being used to.
How can you take a technology break?
Swear off your most used social media app for a few hours or even a few days at a time. If you really want to take time out, completely turn off notifications for that app which makes it easier not to scroll down.
You can download screen time controlling apps that will send alerts when you’ve reached your limit. If you have the phone set to notify you when you have reached your set period of time on your screen that is a signal to come off the screen. You can change your notifications so that you can only be notified at certain points in the day. In the best-case scenario though, you’ll just switch off your phone completely.
Swear off the screen after dark and/or after work. With all of us, including myself, working longer hours at home it is so easy to lose track of how much time is being spent answering emails or messages which can take you right up into the end of the evening. Reducing your online time in the evening is most important to help the mind stop racing and constantly processing. This allows you to fully engage in the present moment, have some time for personal enjoyment and relax before you fall asleep.
Unsubscribe from email newsletters or any other independent information coming into your mailbox that you don’t really benefit from.
Having looked at several studies, and there is a lot of debate about screen-based technology and the harmful impact it has on society, some of it is unfounded and some of the evidence is questionable.
Do your own research and look into this matter but do remember - it’s not the use of technology it’s how and why we use it.
If we are completely absorbed by technology rather than engaging in the necessary and useful online practices in small doses, then it’s something we may need to address and ask ourselves if we have removed ourselves from being in the present moment with what or who we are with.
Mealtimes and family time definitely flag up for me because eating and nurturing our bodies must be done without distractions.
We also get to speak with our partners, children, and friends, and they need our undivided attention to feel heard and appreciated.
I used to think that being busy was a great thing and now I have learned that sometimes staying busy is easier than taking time to listen, or not think about what does not make us happy. I needed to address the cause.
Be careful not to glamorize busyness
Ask yourself: why am I always on my phone?
Most often phones are used as a distraction to avoid or ignore whatever is happening right in front of us! Let’s not use our electronic devices as a security mechanism.
Taking time for a digital detox will allow you to think with more clarity about how you spend your time and also improve your mental health.
Try dividing your time daily - I do this a lot.. sometimes successfully, sometimes not!
For example:
8 hours of sleep (although I love 9!) + 8 hours of work (although often that goes way over, I admit! ) + 8 hours of free time (yes!)
If we are off the ever-distracting technology, working smart, and keeping some time for ourselves, it allows our mind to wander or even be still to take some time to rest.
Don’t let your phone become a ball and chain as it diminishes your productivity!
A digital detox can be scary and it can feel weird as hell, but it has great effects on your mental health and wellbeing, and I can’t overstate that enough.
It forces you to reconnect and rekindle with yourself and others. Before you’ll notice, you will watch your relationships rebuild and reblossom as it turns out will have more patience for those around you, including your kids.
Try it and it may turn out to be a pretty amazing experience that you might just stick with. I know I will.
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