Do you reach for phone first thing in the morning? Check your emails incessantly? And how many times a day do you mindlessly scrolling through your social feeds? Perhaps it’s time for a digital detox!
I’ve been there.
That was me a few years ago. Constantly refreshing my emails and social feeds. Fingers opening social networks on my phone before I could even blink or think. Reaching for my phone first thing and falling asleep whilst scrolling on my phone in bed.
No wonder I was stressed.
Disconnecting from your digital devices may seem scary, yet it can be an incredibly rewarding experience and be beneficial to your mental and physical health.
There are so many benefits to doing a digital detox, and here are just six of them.
1. To de-stress
My stress levels skyrocketed since becoming so connected over the last few years. Anxiety, panic attacks, miscommunication and misunderstandings. It got to the point in 2018 where I was wearing a heart monitor because I thought I had heart issues. Nope. It was stress, and email was the main trigger.
And so my digital detox journey began.
A little over two years ago I removed Facebook from my phone. A few months later I removed Messenger, my multiple email accounts and Twitter.
I didn’t think I’d be able to stick to it, but I’ve really surprised myself by persisting with it.
I won’t revert back to putting the apps on my phone, as I’ve experienced so many benefits, including:
- I’ve had more time on my hands
- I am so much less stressed and distracted
- I’ve started watching movies and reading (paper) books again
- I’m spending more time with my dog and hubby, enjoying breakfasts out on the weekend and taking lots of walks.
3. To focus on YOU
Sometimes it’s hard to find the time to dedicate to the most important person in your life (hint: that’s YOU!). And there’s nothing quite as restorative as uninterrupted you-time doing whatever it is that makes you happy.
So what are you waiting for? It’s digital detox time!
2. To give your friends, family or pets your 100% undivided attention
When was the last time you gave someone or something you love your 100% attention for more than 30 minutes?
From our kids to our partners and fur children, they deserve a little TLC every now and then in the form of our undivided attention – and vice versa!
Tuning out from your digital devices every now and again can help to strengthen your relationships, improve communication and ensure that you have some quality memories to add to your memory bank!
4. To catch up on …
We all have things we’ve been meaning to do but haven’t had the time or mental capacity to do. Whether it’s life admin, reading, housework, gardening, exercise, or washing the dog.
Set aside a weekend to catch up on the things you’ve been procrastinating over! For me, that means I will be setting aside time to do my tax return!
5. To get some quality rest and relaxation
You can’t 100% switch off to rest and recharge when you are constantly connected. Even reading a book on your tablet can disturb your sleep, which in turn can be detrimental to your mental and physical health. Anxiety, stress, stomach issues, burnout. Been there, done that, wrote the book.
I know it’s hard, but everyone needs time to recharge, and a digital detox is a perfect way to do that.
As a blogger and marketing manager, I’m on more often than not, and even though it can be hard to break away, I find those hours (and sometimes days) I spend offline away from tech pure bliss. I always come back feeling restored and ready to take on the world.
6. To reconnect with others offline
Most of us ‘chat’ to people all day every day on Messenger and the likes. However, we aren’t really connecting with people, are we?
I used to love nothing more than ‘deep and meaningfuls’ over endless pots of tea at late-night cafes with my friends. It’s been years since I’ve done so, and yes, I’m a lot older now and our lives have changed, but I do miss those D & M’s!
When time permits around family, work and other commitments, my mates and I still catch up over tea and cake (or wine and cheese) for a lengthy chat, and I cherish those moments. For me, it’s not how much we see each other. It’s the quality of those moments we spend together – which are without our phones!
So put your phone away the next time you are out to focus on the person or people in front of you. Eye contact is one of the powerful ways humans connect to one another, and face to face is where the real memories are made.
How to do a digital detox
It’s not until you start a digital detox, that you realise how bloody hard it can be! Here are some tips:
- Plan and prepare
- Find a detox buddy
- Tell everyone what you are doing and that you won’t be available ‘online’
- Turn your out of office on
- Turn off your devices
- Leave your devices at home, in your bag, in the car – anywhere out of sight and reach!
- Breathe!
- Take in and enjoy each moment 🙂
Want more tips on how to make a digital detox last?
How To Make A Digital Detox Last, According To Science
How to Give Your Bedroom a Digital Detox and Get a Good Night’s Sleep
