The Rise of Digital Detox: How to Unplug and Reconnect with Life

There are quite a number of implications that technology has on how we feel on a much deeper and personal level. Some of these are feelings of inadequacy, a constant and lingering sense of insecurity or even loneliness stemming from a lack of inter personal communication and involvement. We as avid technology users still haven’t cracked the cheat code to striking a healthy balance between our social and cyber life. To better understand the dilemma, let’s think of technology as convenient takeout food. It comes in handy; it’s easy to access and basically effortless. This is how it creates an illusion of comfort for us that we find so hard to come out of. And when you start consuming this takeout food i.e. technology as a substitute for real food would be actual relationships requiring effort, this is where the downward spiral towards isolation begins.

This is why digital detox is crucial for our well-being. Digital detox is taking a much needed break from digital devices such as smartphones, laptops or tablets. It's not just about limiting your screen time but regaining control of your life that technology has taken away. There are many ways to do that but the most important ones are listed below;

1. Set Clear Goals

You should be clear about what you want to achieve with your digital detox. Do you want to improve your sleep, reduce your stress, connect with your loved ones? Whatever it is, you should actively focus on that while limiting your screen. 

2. Setting Limits on Apps

If you successfully want to limit your screen time, one way is to set time limits on apps that you use most often. Let’s say Instagram is your most used app on average, then you can set a limit of 15-20 mins on it meaning that the app will remind you to get off of the app after 15 minutes. This way would help you monitor your screen time and also will not allow you to use apps that consume most of your time. 

3. Mindful App Usage 

Use your phone mindfully. We often find ourselves scrolling aimlessly through our newsfeeds and consuming all types of content that does not serve us  any purpose. People are continuously exposed to other people’s lives online, especially celebrities. They want to be able to achieve that lifestyle and constantly try to copy their favourite celebrity that takes them far away from reality. People continuously look for validation online which becomes a hindrance in their personal development and leaves them unsatisfied with their lives. So to avoid all that, one should take a step and mute and remove all those people or celebrities that makes them feel less than them and also makes them think that they are not doing enough in their lives. 

4. Pursue New Hobbies and Interests

Have you ever realized that when we are using our devices and scrolling aimlessly, the day goes by so fast? When you put your phone down, you will realise that you have so much time to do so many things that you can’t do when you are constantly online and checking every notification that pops up on your phone. When you take time off of your phones, try to explore yourself, things that you like and are interested in. Engage yourself in other activities that you enjoy. You would end up feeling productive and refreshed. 

6. Tech free Zones

Designate spaces in your home that are tech-free meaning that no digital technology should be present there. You can utilize that space to relax, read a book, have a cup of coffee with your loved ones or journal. If you do this for one hour every day, you would feel relaxed and mentally at peace. 

Benefits of Digital Detox 

1. Better Focus and Productivity

Today’s short form content has destroyed our focus. We have become so used to watching short content that we have lost the ability to focus and get distracted very quickly. Digital detox can help us gain our focus back slowly which would ultimately increase our productivity. 

2. Reconnection with People Around Us 

When we are glued to our screens, we often lose sight of how much time we are missing with our friends and family. Digital detox gives us the chance to build that connection again. We can then take out time to spend it with our loved ones and get to know how they are doing. Reconnecting with them again makes us realise the joy and value of genuine human connection and essential it is to spend quality time with those who matter the most to us. 

3. Better sleep Quality 

Excessive screen time can overstimulate our brain, making it harder to relax. So when we replace this screen time with healthy habits like reading a book or journaling, it helps calm the mind, promoting better sleep. Sometimes, excessive interaction with people over the internet can cause stress which negatively affects our sleep quality. Digital detox reduces these triggers and we are able to sleep better. 

Technology is just another tool made to help us be more efficient and it is only as powerful as we make it. If we use it mindfully, we can reduce stress, anxiety, improve our sleep quality, reconnect with our loved ones and be more focused and productive.