If like me you feel like you are always constantly on your phone or laptop, if you feel like the first thing you do in the morning is reach for that phone and you have a million different excuses as to why you don't have time to do other things. Then it's maybe time for a little digital detox.
With us now stepping into spring, it is the perfect time to be putting down the electronics and stepping out side for a bit. Go for a walk around the park and take in all the different flowers, colours and smells. Go for a coffee with that friend or relative that you have been promising to meet up with but always find an excuse to not meet with. With technology we all need to take an honest look at what it means to be connected to technology 24/7. When you begin to come clean about your need to be online at all times, making healthier choices in every area of your life will become easier.
Consider how it feels to have constant demands on your attention and energy. Each year we receive more emails and texts, and access greater levels of information online. As the pace of the digital world increases there is an expectation that we answer all forms communication ASAP and participate online around the clock. If this feels off balance to you, it is. Going on a digital detox will help you reprioritise your life and get back in tune with yourself.
Another huge benefit of a digital detox is improved relationships. Contemplate the last time you were out with friends and how often you or someone in your group had to check her phone. Each time you reach for your phone in any social situation (emergencies excluded, of course) you are checking out of the present moment rather than spending time with the actual person in front of you. Learning to be in each moment, even the uncomfortable ones, is one of the most valuable skills you can practice. Temporarily disengaging from emails, social media, and projects that keep you online is a wonderful way to recharge and gain perspective on where you head this season. I found myself constantly on my phone even when spending time with my partner, however since having a detox for a few weeks, our relationship has improved massively.
Digital Detox: How-To
- Choose a date on which you will shut off all computers, smartphones, laptops, tablets, and any other digital devices you own.
- Decide on a length of time for the detox. A minimum of 24-hours is highly recommended - I did three weeks!
- Use a digital detox to do something you’ve wanted to do like read, clean your house, or hang with a friend or relative.
- Notice what comes up for you emotionally during the detox. Journal about it!
- To close the detox set three clear intentions for yourself moving forward about how you want to engage with media.
- Enjoy your new perspective!
I am just like everyone else, I did panic thinking my business wouldn't survive if I wasn't constantly on. But do you know what? It did carry on, I still had orders coming through and life didn't stop because I wasn't constantly checking Facebook and Instagram every five seconds. In fact my relationships bloomed and my head became less fuzzy.
Do you feel like a digital detox is needed?
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