In recent years, and particularly in 2021, we are struggling more and more to find digital detox moments in our day. A YouGov poll found that more than half of respondents admitted to their screen time going up in lockdown, and that makes sense. We now use our phones to work, learn, connect, relax and even to simply distract from the reality of our new normal. We are checking our smartphone every 12 minutes and 34% of us check it within 5 minutes of getting up in the morning.
It is no wonder that our attention spans have decreased and we are no longer able to give our work and our lives the same undivided focus we used to. We need those digital detox moments in order to be able to function at the same level- our tech habits are denying us much needed downtime to maintain our ability for deep-thinking. So, we have put together some tips to help you rediscover those digital detox moments which used to be more easily found, before our world moved on screen.
As we featured in another recent article on things to do instead of scrolling on your phone, one of the best things you can do to recenter yourself is go outside. According to Harvard going outside improves happiness, concentration, healing and, more obviously, fitness. Our devices were not designed for use alfresco so it is much harder to get distracted by social media or never-ending news notifications. One way to increase the effectiveness of this strategy is to leave your phone at home. Without it you won’t have the crutch of music, a podcast or the occasional check for emails- you will have to focus on the world around you. If you choose to go outside without your devices regularly you can integrate it into your routine and gain back those invaluable digital detox moments on a regular basis.
It is very difficult to stick to new resolutions, there is so much going on in our lives that we struggle to remember and implement them regularly. One way to get around this is to tie your digital detox moments to habits that you already engage in. You could tie it to brushing your teeth morning and night, eating, walking your dog or any other habit that you complete without fail daily. That way you will remember it and be able to stick to it.
When it comes down to it, the most important step of your journey to regaining your digital detox moments is to commit. There will always be things you can do instead of taking some time to be mindful! So, you need to reexamine your attitude to digital detox and prioritise it the same way you prioritise food and exercise. Our mental and brain health is just as important as the physical so value it in the same way mentally. Once you have made this shift to seeing digital detox moments as a non-negotiable, it should be easier to incorporate them into your day-to-day.
Our seasonal digital detox challenge is to put connection over consumerism this Christmas.
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