Taking a “digital detox” can be a great way to improve your mental health. When you detach from your digital devices, you can concentrate on face-to-face exchanges and be more productive in your professional life too.
Going on a “digital detox” has many benefits. It can help decrease stress levels, encourage better sleep, and improve productivity. It can also lead to a decrease in anxiety and depression, which often arise with an excessive use of technology. Temporarily removing technology from your life can help you reconnect with yourself, your friends and family, and your community. It can enhance mental and physical health, relationships, joy, and pride.
Why to Take a “Digital Detox”
Right now, going on the internet is just a piece of everyday life for many people. The average person spends around 11 hours watching, reading, or interacting with media each day. This can cause us to feel like we depend on our phones, laptops, and tablets. While “technology dependence” is not formally identified as a mental health condition, many believe that overusing tech devices can cause physical, psychological, and social problems.
How Technology Use Affects Sleep
Using electronics, especially before going to sleep, can affect your sleep quality and quantity. Many people also use their electronic devices in bed, which can negatively affect their mindsets and promote poor sleep hygiene. If you find yourself struggling to fall asleep at night, you may want to consider unplugging a couple of hours before going to bed or limiting your technology use overall.
How Technology Use Affects Work-Life Balance
Many people find it difficult to separate their work and personal lives because of how easy it is to access work materials outside of the office. Even at home or on vacation, you may find yourself fighting the urge to check your email or respond to messages from supervisors or coworkers. With remote work becoming the norm and more homes transforming into workplaces every day, it may feel even more tempting to do work during your personal time.
Sometimes, your boss may even expect you to access your technology for work purposes long after the workday ends. This can blur the lines between “work time” and “personal time” and can prevent you from being present and practicing self-care. Taking a “digital detox” can help you set boundaries in your work life and separate your job duties from your own time.
How Social Media Affects Self-Perception
If you spend most of your time on social media, you may constantly compare yourself to others — whether you realize it or not. It’s important to remember that people only share the most appealing aspects of their lives on TikTok and Instagram. If you often find yourself feeling envious of the people you follow on social media or worry that you’ll never measure up to others, logging out of your social media accounts can help you reconnect with friends in the “real world” and appreciate the small joys in your everyday life.
How to Take a “Digital Detox”
If you want to step away from the ways technology negatively influences your life, you’re well on your way to healing your relationship with being “plugged in.” Tell the important people in your life that you’ll take a short break from social media. Decide how long you’d like your break to be — do you need a week away, or would you prefer to unplug for a month or longer? Set limits on when you need to use electronics and when it’s fine to step away. You may even consider rewarding yourself for milestones in your “digital detox” to keep yourself on track with your goals. If and when you decide to spend more time with technology, you’ll feel refreshed and in control of your screen time.
With technology influencing almost every aspect of our lives, it’s essential to be aware of how it can negatively impact us. If you’re questioning why you feel the need to stay plugged in, challenge yourself to limit your time on electronics and social media platforms. Set clear parameters for your time, establish boundaries for your technology use, and disconnect for however long it takes you to improve your relationship with technology. Chances are, you’ll enjoy better sleep and overall health, and you might not even miss your phone much at all! Taking a “digital detox” may feel difficult at first, but it’ll certainly be worth your time.
Featured Photo by Michael Krahn on Unsplash.
I appreciate the tips about unplugging before sleep and limiting tech use in general seem easy to implement yet very effective. I’m going to be more mindful of my digital habits from now on. Retro Bowl College