The average person spends most of their waking hours staring at a screen. This includes smartphones, TVs and computers. Taking a break from digital technology can be important for our mental and physical health. It can be a chance to reconnect with the physical world and to familiarise ourselves with reality. Here are just a few ways in which you can undertake a digital detox.
Turn off notifications/alerts
Our smartphones keep us hooked with notifications and alerts. Turning off these notifications for a period of time could stop you from looking at your phone as often. This way, you’ll only look at your phone when you make the decision to, not when your phone is beckoning you. This could be the first stage to digitally detoxing.
Hide your electronics
If you find you’re still subconsciously checking your phone, another option could be to hide your it for a period of time (or even get someone else to hide it). You can also do this with consoles or your tablet or even your TV if you think you’re also addicted to these devices.
Go somewhere that forces you to disconnect
Another option could be to go somewhere that forces you to get away from digital technology. Going camping somewhere with no wi-fi could force you to spend time without digital technology and help you to reconnect with nature.
If camping is a little too rugged, there are also digital detox spa hotels that you can stay at that are free of screens and wi-fi. Such escapes are becoming more popular as a greater number of people are looking to disconnect.
Get the whole family involved
Getting family members or friends involved could help to motivate you. It could also encourage you to spend time with these people without the distraction of digital technology. You may even feel that there are family members that can benefit from a digital detox more than you such as teens that may be addicted to video games or their phones – there are plenty of outdoor activities for teens that you can look into.
Alternatively, you could stay at home and embrace digital-free family activities such as playing board games, cooking together or gardening.
Set digital fasting challenges
Digital fasting challenges can be great for encouraging you to have breaks from specific types of technology for periods of time. This could include a day without looking at your phone, a week without watching TV or even a month without social media.
Such challenges can be great for testing one’s willpower and making you realize just how digitally addicted you are. Afterward, you may reconsider just how often you need to use this digital technology.
