In this fast-paced digital era, it is important to take care of your health and mental wellness. With rapid advancement in technology, there are high-tech devices and gadgets that attract us for their numerous benefits and the convenience they offer. The urge to stay online and ‘connected’ in the social world has become more and more compelling, and technology has embedded itself in our lives gradually but significantly. There’s nothing wrong in being online or linked to the internet world but the issue arises when we begin to do so involuntarily and uncontrollably. We reach for our phones and start scrolling for no apparent reason, especially when we are bored. Hence, a detox from these digital devices is a way to focus on real-life social interactions, rather than virtual ones. Since technology has overpowered our lives, it takes time and dedication to break strong digital habits. You can start daily and commit to at least two weeks to adjust and find balance. Here are a few simple digital detox tips that can help you enjoy your non-digital time more:
• Take breaks while working– look away from screens every 20 minutes or walk around for a few minutes. Not only will it help to detox, but it will also reduce the feeling of fatigue at the end of a busy day.
• Limit the time you spend online by setting up a self-timer.
• After a long day at work, disconnect yourself from screens by putting all non-essential apps on mute. You are your best judge to know which apps are truly essential and which are not!
• Try to spend more time amidst nature. You can engage in activities such as hiking, trekking, walking, camping, biking, etc. With adventure, you tend to lose track of time and you can easily resist the urge of being permanently online - constantly checking your phone when you have no real reason to do that!
• You are your own boss – at least when it comes to detoxing digitally! You need to train yourself the feeling of urgency that not everything on social media is interesting enough for an instant check.
• The first thing most of us have the habit of doing as soon as we wake up is - looking at our phones! Forbes reveals that our brain needs around 30 mins to wake up from sleep inertia and we need one or two hours to get in the working mode! It is important to note here that the blue light from the screens has a negative impact on our health and sleeping patterns.
• During dead times, read a book, go for a walk or a jog or engage in your choice of physical activity that will release endorphins to relieve stress, anxiety and pain.
Making a timetable and sticking to it is the best method to deal with digital addiction. Spending time online (whether on social media, video streaming, news sites, etc.) should only be used to fill in the gaps after you have set and completed your priorities for the day. Family time, workouts, time with friends, going for a walk, and reading can all be on your priority list; just make sure you don't stay online during these activities!