There is no denying that many of us have a serious reliance on our technology. Which is why terms like digital detox have been coined.
In today’s “digital age” so many of us have found ourselves practically addicted to all of out digital devices.
While we all love our technology, sometimes it is smart to consider taking a break and doing a digital detox.
Even if you think that you don’t need a digital detox, challenge yourself to really time how much you spend on technology. You may be surprised by how much time you are really spending in front of a screen.
If you are back and forth on whether or not you should do a digital detox, then set a timer and time yourself every minute of the day that you spend in front of technology.
This can really motivate you to make a change and start cutting back from technology with a digital detox.
Nearly everyone could benefit from a digital detox, and the more you know about what it is and what it can do for you—the better.
So, What is a Digital Detox?
Like the name suggests, a digital detox is the process of taking a complete break from technology and detoxing from our digital dependencies. When you take a moment and think about how much time you spend in front of your TV, cellphones, computers and tablets—most of us spend a lot of our day in front of technology.
A digital detox is all about stepping away from all of these devices and giving your eyes and your brain a break. The term digital detox is different for everyone.
While some people can completely detox from technology all together—that may not always be possible given your job. A digital detox can be any given amount of time, whether it is for a few days, few weeks or even a few months.
You can, however, look at your day and determine where and how you can detox from technology. Here are a few suggestions if you feel that a complete digital detox won’t work for you.
Give up browsing and texting on your phone. You may not be able to give up your phone entirely due to emergencies, but you can try to give up the things that cause you to stare at your phone all day long, like texting or looking at social media.
Stop watching TV. Think about how much time you spend watching TV, even if it is only mindlessly watching TV in the background while you do something else.
Give up social media for a while. This is one of the best ways to cut out your screen time during the day.
Set a timer. If you can’t completely give up technology, give yourself a small window of time during the day, such as a half hour, where you use technology (such as your tablet or smart phone) and only use technology during that time period.
Time yourself when you are on your technological devices to determine what you spend the most time doing on your phone (such as playing games) and detox from that activity for several weeks.
Challenge yourself to give up technology for 24 straight hours. Whether you are going camping or just leaving your technology off in your own home—it is a great challenge and a fun way to reconnect with the real world as you disconnect from technology.
These are all simple and easy ways to start detoxing from your technology and to start bringing some more balance into your life as you stop relying so much on digital devices.
The Top 10 Benefits of Doing a Digital Detox
If you are on the edge about whether or not you should do a digital detox, you may be surprised to find all of the great benefits that can come from a digital detox. Here are a few, of the many reasons why you should consider detoxing from all of your digital devices.
It Can Help Your Vision
Too much technology can put a strain on your eyes, which can harm your eyes and your vision down the line. This is why so many people have started wearing blue-light glasses. However, these glasses aren’t perfect, and the best way to protect your vision is to cut back on technology all together.
Stepping Away From Technology Can Help Your Sleep
If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, it could be from too much blue light exposure. Try cutting back on technology, especially in the few hours before you go to bed, and you will start noticing you are getting better sleep.
Cutting Back Can Help Your Posture
Believe it or not, a digital detox won’t just help your eyes and your headaches, but it can actually help your posture as well. Taking a break from hunching over your phone or your computer can relieve some pressure on your neck and back and help keep your spine aligned and help your posture improve.
A Digital Detox Can Help Improve Your Memory
Spending too much time on technology can take a real toll on your brain, specifically your brain’s memory muscle. This is especially true since with technology, you don’t have to use this muscle as much when all of the information you need is right in front of you—you don’t work this muscle as much. Take a break and you may be surprised by how much your memory improves.
Your Relationships Will Start Improving
If you stop spending so much time in front of a screen and on social media and start spending that time face-to-face with people in your life, then you are going to start seeing a great improvement in the relationships that you have. Just imagine how much more quality time you can spend with your significant other if you are only paying attention to your significant other, and not your phone.
Stepping Back From Technology Can Help Eliminate Headaches
One of the many side effects of spending too much time with technology is suffering from headaches. If you get unexplained headaches, especially after you have been staring at a screen for a long time, a technology decrease can help. The neck-strain, eye-strain and blue light exposure that you submit yourself to through using technology can all lead to headaches.
Your Focus Will Improve
If you find that you are easily distracted, especially by technology, your phone or for social media—then taking a digital detox can really help. Many people who step back from technology find that they are able to be more focused, and more productive. This will also give your brain a break, which can also help with your focus.
It Can Help Establish a Better Work-Life Balance
When you start spending too much time with your technology and are constantly checking emails and hunched over your phone, it can really take a toll on your work-life balance. A digital detox can help you spend more quality time with your friends and family and make sure that you are actually present when you are around your loved ones.
Detoxing From Technology Can Help You De-Stress
Taking a break from technology can give you more time to relax and unwind, which can be a major de-stressor in your life. Studies have also found that cutting back on technology can help with your anxiety. If you really want to reap the benefits of a technology detox, then consider replacing the time that you are spending with technology doing something relaxing like meditating, taking a bath or napping.
It Will Give You More Time to Read
When is the last time you sat down and read a great book or read the paper (not on a screen). By taking a break from reading things online and refocusing that to actual reading, you may be surprised by how much more information you are able to absorb. If you have made a resolution to read more, why not use a technology detox as a way to make this resolution easier.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many different benefits that you will start to notice once you do a digital detox. If you want to see even more benefits and lasting benefits from digital detoxes, then you should do this detox more than once.
Try to do a digital detox regularly to really maintain some balance in your life. Doing this can go a long way to helping you live a happier, healthier and more balanced life that isn’t so dependent on technology.
Should You Do a Digital Detox ?
Digital Detox
There is no denying that many of us have a serious reliance on our technology. Which is why terms like digital detox have been coined.
In today’s “digital age” so many of us have found ourselves practically addicted to all of out digital devices.
While we all love our technology, sometimes it is smart to consider taking a break and doing a digital detox.
Even if you think that you don’t need a digital detox, challenge yourself to really time how much you spend on technology. You may be surprised by how much time you are really spending in front of a screen.
If you are back and forth on whether or not you should do a digital detox, then set a timer and time yourself every minute of the day that you spend in front of technology.
This can really motivate you to make a change and start cutting back from technology with a digital detox.
Nearly everyone could benefit from a digital detox, and the more you know about what it is and what it can do for you—the better.
So, What is a Digital Detox?
Like the name suggests, a digital detox is the process of taking a complete break from technology and detoxing from our digital dependencies. When you take a moment and think about how much time you spend in front of your TV, cellphones, computers and tablets—most of us spend a lot of our day in front of technology.
A digital detox is all about stepping away from all of these devices and giving your eyes and your brain a break. The term digital detox is different for everyone.
While some people can completely detox from technology all together—that may not always be possible given your job. A digital detox can be any given amount of time, whether it is for a few days, few weeks or even a few months.
You can, however, look at your day and determine where and how you can detox from technology. Here are a few suggestions if you feel that a complete digital detox won’t work for you.
These are all simple and easy ways to start detoxing from your technology and to start bringing some more balance into your life as you stop relying so much on digital devices.
The Top 10 Benefits of Doing a Digital Detox
If you are on the edge about whether or not you should do a digital detox, you may be surprised to find all of the great benefits that can come from a digital detox. Here are a few, of the many reasons why you should consider detoxing from all of your digital devices.
It Can Help Your Vision
Too much technology can put a strain on your eyes, which can harm your eyes and your vision down the line. This is why so many people have started wearing blue-light glasses. However, these glasses aren’t perfect, and the best way to protect your vision is to cut back on technology all together.
Stepping Away From Technology Can Help Your Sleep
If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, it could be from too much blue light exposure. Try cutting back on technology, especially in the few hours before you go to bed, and you will start noticing you are getting better sleep.
Cutting Back Can Help Your Posture
Believe it or not, a digital detox won’t just help your eyes and your headaches, but it can actually help your posture as well. Taking a break from hunching over your phone or your computer can relieve some pressure on your neck and back and help keep your spine aligned and help your posture improve.
A Digital Detox Can Help Improve Your Memory
Spending too much time on technology can take a real toll on your brain, specifically your brain’s memory muscle. This is especially true since with technology, you don’t have to use this muscle as much when all of the information you need is right in front of you—you don’t work this muscle as much. Take a break and you may be surprised by how much your memory improves.
Your Relationships Will Start Improving
If you stop spending so much time in front of a screen and on social media and start spending that time face-to-face with people in your life, then you are going to start seeing a great improvement in the relationships that you have. Just imagine how much more quality time you can spend with your significant other if you are only paying attention to your significant other, and not your phone.
Stepping Back From Technology Can Help Eliminate Headaches
One of the many side effects of spending too much time with technology is suffering from headaches. If you get unexplained headaches, especially after you have been staring at a screen for a long time, a technology decrease can help. The neck-strain, eye-strain and blue light exposure that you submit yourself to through using technology can all lead to headaches.
Your Focus Will Improve
If you find that you are easily distracted, especially by technology, your phone or for social media—then taking a digital detox can really help. Many people who step back from technology find that they are able to be more focused, and more productive. This will also give your brain a break, which can also help with your focus.
It Can Help Establish a Better Work-Life Balance
When you start spending too much time with your technology and are constantly checking emails and hunched over your phone, it can really take a toll on your work-life balance. A digital detox can help you spend more quality time with your friends and family and make sure that you are actually present when you are around your loved ones.
Detoxing From Technology Can Help You De-Stress
Taking a break from technology can give you more time to relax and unwind, which can be a major de-stressor in your life. Studies have also found that cutting back on technology can help with your anxiety. If you really want to reap the benefits of a technology detox, then consider replacing the time that you are spending with technology doing something relaxing like meditating, taking a bath or napping.
It Will Give You More Time to Read
When is the last time you sat down and read a great book or read the paper (not on a screen). By taking a break from reading things online and refocusing that to actual reading, you may be surprised by how much more information you are able to absorb. If you have made a resolution to read more, why not use a technology detox as a way to make this resolution easier.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many different benefits that you will start to notice once you do a digital detox. If you want to see even more benefits and lasting benefits from digital detoxes, then you should do this detox more than once.
Try to do a digital detox regularly to really maintain some balance in your life. Doing this can go a long way to helping you live a happier, healthier and more balanced life that isn’t so dependent on technology.
Dhaval Patel
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