Soft rays of sunlight beam through your curtains in the early hours of dawn. Behind it are birds chirping on tall green trees, and the sun slowly lights up the sky, forming a picturesque view.
One would expect someone with such a blessing to head straight to the window to enjoy nature.
But lo and behold!
Your hands reach straight to your phone on your bedside table before you even fully wake up.
Before you know it, you're lost in the endless scroll of social media, with your phone distracting you several times throughout the day with its constant pinging.
Although technology has brought with it numerous conveniences, it has significantly impacted our emotional well-being and productivity.
Use this blog as your guide to unplug, recharge, and reconnect with what truly matters.
What Is a Digital Detox and Why Do You Need It?
When a person decides to do a digital detox, they aim to strictly avoid using any kind of electronic devices that use the Internet.
This includes smartphones, televisions, tablets, computers, and laptops.
Digital Detoxifying can be extremely challenging for a global population addicted to technology.
As per research from the Nielsen Company, an average American spends approximately 11 hours every day interacting with media.
Naturally, such excessive usage will have a negative impact.
The following are four primary reasons why you should be considering a digital detox routine:
To Avoid Tech Induced Stress
This reason can be hard to believe since most of us tend to run to our digital devices to avoid stress. However, technology itself is a major contributor to stress. Think about the constant need to keep checking your phone for updates, feeling disappointed when you don't find anything entertaining enough, or when you view something disturbing and cannot get your mind away from it.
To Improve Your Sleep
Researchers have found that heavy technology use before bed has severe effects on sleep quality and mood. Additionally, the use of social media has also been found to increase the likelihood of mental illnesses such as anxiety and sleep disorders such as insomnia and restless sleep.
To Improve Your Mental Health
Although this applies to all age groups, heavy technology use is deemed to be the biggest contributor to mental health issues in adolescents. Increased time on social media can lead to several mental health issues, such as symptoms of ADHD, conduct disorder, and decreased self-regulation.
To Increase Your Productivity
Do you find yourself struggling to focus on work or studies due to the constant need to check your phone?
A digital detox can help you with this!
Additionally, besides increased productivity, it can also help you build a stronger work-life balance.
Signs Your Mind is Screaming for a Digital Detox
- You feel 'empty' and anxious without your phone.
- You just cannot stop checking your phone now and then.
- You feel a surge of negative emotions after using social media.
- You're obsessed with engagement metrics on your social posts.
- Extreme FOMO (fear of missing out)
- You have a habit of spending a while on your phone before and after sleeping.
- You struggle to maintain focus on work and study because of your phone.
Types of Digital Detoxes
- Digital Fasting: Staying away from all devices for some time.
- Repeated Digital Abstinence: Select one day of the week and make it tech-free.
- Specific Detox: Staying away from a particular app on your phone.
- Social Media Detox: Staying away from all social media for a certain amount of time.
A Step-by-Step Digital Detox Plan
Don't worry too much; you won't have to break up with your phone completely.
In today's world, that is a bit unrealistic.
Here are a few tips you can incorporate to develop a better relationship with your device and detoxify your mind of tech-clutter.
Switch Off Push Notifications
Sure, it's great to be updated and know what's happening on the planet you live on, but - it can be distracting and addicting.
Try to switch off as many notifications as you can live without, such as news and social media.
No Phones During Meals
Even if you're not using it, it is not right to have your phone glimmering at the dining table, your mind constantly waiting for it to ping and shine with a notification.
Keep it far away from the table, encourage others to do the same, and be mindful with your food and present with your eating partners.
Tech-Free Weekends
If you don't have any work that requires much technology over the weekends, try to go as tech-free as possible.
While it may seem extremely difficult, a few attempts can quickly help you find substitutes for the things your phone does for you.
Want to take pretty pictures? Use a camera instead.
Want to cook something new? Ask a person instead of Google.
Want to paint to kill time? Search for inspiration in nature.
The One Hour Rule
To avoid the immediate instinct to reach for your phone before and after bed and to improve your quality of sleep, avoid screen time at least 1 hour before and after your night's sleep.
Declutter Your Social Media
While you think it will make you feel better - do you truly think spending hours looking at highly curated versions of your friends and celebrities' lives is going to make you feel good?
Try to transform your social media into a more positive and uplifting space. Follow social media personalities and friends who influence you in the right way and fill your feed with motivating and encouraging content.
In a world full of screens, a digital detox is like a refreshing escape.
Always know that technology is a tool. Use it wisely, but don't let it take over.
Make sure to begin slowly and realistically, and before you know it, you'll break free from the chains of technology.
Would you like to share some more practical tips for implementing a digital detox? We'd love to hear them! Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below to get the conversation flowing, or feel free to reach out to us at larra@globalindiannetwork.com.
