The mobile screen is the first thing most people see when they get up and the final thing they see before shutting off the lights. Screens have become a significant part of our lives in different aspects.
Data says that, on average, people (from 16 to 64 years) spend 6 hours and 38 minutes per day on screens across different devices for work, education, and entertainment purposes.
The average person spends around 25% of their waking hours on an internet-connected screen. Online video is the most common form of screen time, with 91.1% of internet users consuming this content.
In this digital era, digital detox is an effective way to improve physical and emotional well-being and also relationships. Although it is tough to stay away from technology, here is expert advice and tips to begin your digital detox journey.
Let’s Understand the Concept behind Digital Detox
Digital detox is voluntarily choosing to reduce, or even refrain from using, electronic devices for a specific period of time.
Traditionally, digital detox was about taking time away from screens entirely, whether that be TV, laptop, or mobile, but this is no longer sustainable in the world we live in.
Being deliberate about the kinds of media and information you consume, rather than just how much time you spend on screens, is the best approach to going on a digital detox.
Expert Tips for Digital Detox
- Know Your Objective: Before turning off your screen, consider the primary motivation for beginning the digital detox. List all the negative results you get from the frequent usage of social media or digital devices and the advantages you expect from this change. Recognizing this early on enables you to get rid of self-doubt and obstacles.
- Turn off Notifications: Turn off the notifications for every app on your devices if they are not urgent. If you use your mobile for setting an alarm, consider getting a real alarm clock to help you start your day. A dawn alarm clock softly awakens you with a smooth, 30-minute sunrise function that gradually fills your bedroom with pleasant light, and its sunset feature can help you wind down before you fall asleep, so you can use it to unwind in the evenings as well.
- Define your Boundaries: Avoiding screens all at once can be challenging and next to impossible. Instead, start by cutting back on the amount of time you spend on digital or social media by 15 minutes every day until you consistently use it for a limited time period. Make changes in your screen timing settings to better work on digital detox.
- Establish your time constraints: Choose the duration of your digital detox. The main goal is to develop better self-care practices and have a better connection with social media. You can use smartphone apps to track how much time you spend on social media and even the time spent on a particular social platform. Put “do not disturb” on your phone and add your most important contacts to your favorites.
- Keep work away: Once you’ve decided to start the digital detox, delete the work-related apps from your phone and keep them limited to your laptop and computers only. It will save your time. The perfect way is to turn off work phones and laptops and use them only for job-related activities if you use a computer for work.
- Focus on your relations: With digital detox, you cannot connect with people virtually. If possible, use this time to schedule an in-person meeting by making phone calls. Boost your self-assurance when interacting with people outside of social media. When you give time to your relationships, it eliminates the anxiety of losing out on things and helps in creating new, pleasurable experiences that divert your attention from social media.
- Schedule a self-care regimen: Schedule a self-care routine after your digital detox; it will help you create healthier habits and stay. You can engage in practical activities that physically get you moving, along with other activities you really enjoy. To trigger your brain’s calming system, you can think about practicing mindfulness along with a soothing bath and physical activity. During your digital detox, this will assist you in completely recharging and resetting your body, mind, and soul.
These were some 7 experts’ tips to begin and continue on your digital detox journey. We hope you have found these suggestions helpful, and they will keep you happy during this transformative phase. Share your experience; we would love to hear.
