HEALTH + WELLNESS
The purpose of a digital detox is to allow ourselves time to experience real life without distractions . It ’ s a way to reconnect with individuals personally rather than through a screen and take time to destress , step away from all digital activity and practice living in the present more mindfully .
Studies have shown that at least a quarter of smartphone owners aged between 18 and 44 don ’ t remember the last time their phone wasn ’ t right next to them . Unsurprisingly , the benefits of a digital detox are numerous – unplugging , putting down the laptop and turning off the TV in favour of conversation , sleep , more time outside or simply to rest more can and will improve your quality of life . Here ’ s some of the ways in which your mental health will thank you if you can put some tech boundaries in place .
You ’ ll feel calmer and more content Several social experiments found that taking a scheduled break away from your smartphone or digital device can lower your stress levels , which in turn helps you focus on the present and pay more attention to things around you .
You ’ ll feel better about yourself Comparison is the devil on social media ’ s shoulder and continued exposure to other people ’ s seemingly picture-perfect lives can lead you to compare yourself with others , affecting how you see yourself . Cutting back on inaccurate comparisons will boost both your self-image and esteem .
You will sleep better When your body knows it ’ s time to sleep , your brain releases a chemical called melatonin to help you relax and drift off . Staring at your phone right before bed keeps your brain alert and active , delaying that melatonin release . Lack of sleep over a long period of time can affect your mood and health , so a digital detox will reset your mind ’ s balance and better control your sleep cycles .
You ’ ll be more productive Scrolling , liking , posting , or just aimlessly getting side-tracked across the internet ’ s infinite highways is time-consuming and damaging to your daily responsibilities . Setting technology aside will not only help you focus on things you need to get done but can prompt you to start – or complete – other projects , too .
You ’ ll be healthier Staying glued to a laptop , TV or phone for hours at a time can lead to eye strain , dry eyes , blurry vision , watery eyes and headaches , not to mention hunched shoulders which can cause long-term lower back and neck problems . Disconnect and you ’ ll provide relief to various parts of your body that you may not even have known you needed .
If you think tech use is affecting your physical and mental wellbeing , taking time away from things you need to get done , or both , it may be time for a digital detox . You don ’ t have to go cold turkey and quit all of your devices immediately but try and work out how to detox as much as possible while not massively disrupting your lifestyle , which could mean setting your phone aside for a couple of hours every morning and evening , exploring how much you really need to use it , or disconnecting completely from the internet for a day or more .
To get started , be mindful of your phone use to better understand the relationship you have with it and ask yourself why you ’ re using your phone at different times . Is it boredom ? Do you need it for work ? Do you feel like you ’ re missing out ? Does checking your phone make you feel better or worse ? Work out how you ’ re feeling when you reach for your laptop , phone or TV remote and try and replace the activity with something screen-free .
Other great starting points are using apps to track your usage and making consistent steps to reduce that time , putting your phone on Airplane Mode or switching it off entirely two hours before bed , and turning off notifications – which shouldn ’ t be a problem for anyone born before 1990 as we ’ re yet to meet one who doesn ’ t have their phone on silent permanently .
A digital detox doesn ’ t mean you need to give up technology forever , but it can help you develop a better relationship with your devices . The detox will help you stop being so dependent and highlight when screen time is actually beneficial to your life , meaning you will to learn to use them only when they are helpful , not when they become a hindrance .
Stepping back only moderately can help you be – and stay - in the moment , and still feel connected to the world and others around you , but on a more personal level , it can help you feel happier and healthier with more time to do the things you love and that really matter ; what more reason do you need ?
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