I see it all around me. Eyes are glued to screens, people walking on the streets not even looking up from their screen and almost bumping into you… sounds familiar?
Digital media is all around us and it’s hard to escape flashing screens, flickering billboards and attention grabbing ads online and on TV. Digital media is everywhere and getting away from it may sound harder than you think. However disconnection actually enables us to find deeper connection with ourselves and others.
Give it a go, and disconnect to reduce your stress.
Did you know?
- Doing work on your digital device in the hour before bed affects the mind and affects your sleep.
- Too much time on digital devices creates a lack of focus and attention.
- I feel that we are disconnected from others and often don’t even look up from our phones to cross the street or avoid walking into others on the footpath.
Why disconnecting is good for you
In a world where we are more digitally connected than ever – I feel we humanly are more distant, and less deeply connected. Here’s why disconnecting is good for you:
- Give you time to slow down
- Enable you to stay productive
- Once you switch off, time seems plentiful (compared to the version we tend to race against most days) (source)
Here’s how you can do a digital detox:
1. Start Small
Start by taking a “phone less walk”. Go on a 20 minute walk WITHOUT your phone. Yes, without your phone! Scary I know! Once you go for a walk and disconnect from this silly beeping buzzing and flashing device, you’ll notice that it’s not such a bad thing. You are still totally in control and you can decide YOUR own schedule and timing as to when you turn off your phone, and when you use it.
2. Graduate
Shut your digital devices for 1 hour, then try 2 hours, then try 3 hours, and then simply have a day from 9am till 5pm (or longer) where it’s all turned off. This means that you’ll have to “schedule your digital work”. For example, from 7am till 9am you can do your emails and work, and then from 9am till 5pm you go outside to spend time in nature or work on a creative project.
3. Have a Phone-less Day
Choose 1 day a week (Sunday for me) where you consciously choose to turn off (and stay off) all digital devices including phones, laptops, iPads, and smartwatches.
Instead of spending time on your digital device(s), actively plan something fun outdoors like a forest or beach walk or catch up with friends and family. Take the time off to create a space to think deeply, connect to yourself, and connect to the people around you.
Other practical tips for your digital detox:
- Start your morning without your phone – instead, focus on your morning routine and focus on creating a “mindful” cup of tea or coffee. Be fully present when you make your morning brew and take in the aroma and FEEL the current moment.
- Turn your digital devices off when you go to sleep. For more sleep tips check out Here’s how you can get a better sleep tonight
- Charge your digital devices OUTSIDE the bedroom
- When out for dinner, ideally leave your phone at home or in the car. If you can’t do this, ask everyone at the table to place their phones on a pile in the middle of the table, the first person to grab their phone has to pay the bill for that night 😉 😉
Thank You
I hope you enjoyed this post and that it has been inspirational and helpful to you. Make sure you keep looking after yourself on a mental, physical, emotional and spiritual level. Stay healthy:
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