27 Dec 10 Digital Detox Resolutions for 2022
It’s the end of the year. It’s time to focus on new habits that might just make the new year healthier and happier than the one behind us. Some people don’t like the idea of making resolutions just because it’s a new year, but we’re big fans. So, we’re sharing the ten digital detox resolutions that we think will make an appreciable difference to our health, our productivity and our relationships, as we leap hopefully into this new year.
We’ve had a whole heap of new research, and insights from within Big Tech, coming out this last year so we’re going into 2022 feeling more informed and empowered than ever about our relationship with tech.
10 Digital Detox Resolutions for a Healthier, Happier New Year
#1 Define your ‘why’
Changing habits is hard. Any resolution you make is only going to be effective if you’re really motivated. So, start with why. Are you cutting down on time on screens for your mental health`? For your work and productivity? To improve your relationships? Work out what ‘success’ looks like to you in tech:life balance terms. Hitting your goals will be that little bit easier.
#2 Stop the blur between home and work
Perhaps the biggest problem of the last few years, is how screens have taken up residence in every corner of our homes. Thanks to us all working from home, work-life balance is harder than ever before. Setting clear boundaries between work and home was a struggle before the pandemic, with work emails pinging us day and night, it now feels impossible. Set your rules for 2022 on where your office ends and your home begins, for a calmer, less stressful, you.
#3 Connect with nature (for a 28% reduction in loneliness)
The power of nature to soothe and restore us has never been more evident, or needed, than in the last year. A new study has found that getting outside and enjoying nature can reduce feelings of loneliness by up to 28 per cent in city dwellers. If you need one more reason to get outside in 2022, we think that’s a pretty good one.
#4 Have more ‘face time’
Last year we were very restricted in who we could meet up with face-to-face. This year, things have been much better. But many of us still pick up and check our phones when we’re with our nearest and dearest. Invest more in real-life face time in 2022. Put down your phone and properly connect with the people you’re with.
#5 Cut mindless screen scrolling
Using screens and the digital world to connect, to work, to inspire, isn’t the problem. It’s the mindless two hours spent on TikTok when we only meant to jump on for a few minutes. Getting dragged back into ‘work’ mode when we went to read one email. And hours spent doom scrolling when we only intended to check the headlines. Making a resolution to use screens mindfully and with intention in 2022 should be one of your goals.
#6 Say ‘no’ to notifications
If you’ve still got notifications enabled on your phone, honestly, we don’t know how you’re managing. With an average of 40 apps on our smartphones buzzing, popping up and shouting at us for attention, that’s a lot of interruptions. In 2022, be ruthless about the notifications you get from your smartphone. Decide which are essential and which you can ditch with 2021. Frankly, the fewer notifications you get, the better.
#7 Take time out
Schedule time out from screens as regular dates with yourself in your 2022 diary. Ten to fifteen minutes, just you and a book, or a cup of coffee, staring out the window, with no smartphone in your hand is a good place to start.
#8 Put audio over video
Stanford University found that Zoom fatigue was a real phenomenon this year. The strain of staring at others on a screen for too long leaves us feeling burnt out. Listening to someone’s voice on the other hand has been proven to deepen empathy and understanding. Make a goal to switch to audio when you can in 2022.
#9 Keep scrolling thumbs busy
Find something you can do off screens which completely absorbs you. It should enable you to completely switch off from everything else going on around you. When we are in this mindful state called ‘flow’, it gives our brains time to rest. It leaves us feeling rested and rejuvenated. The bonus is we are so absorbed we don’t miss the feeling of mindless scrolling on our phones. Find your flow in 2022.
#10 Un-friend social media
Many people have been talking, and writing, this year about giving up social media for good. With more bad news about the impact on mental health we feel like the balance is swinging against it every year. But many of us need it for our work, and enjoy using it. We don’t have all the answers but in 2022 one of our goals should be asking ourselves seriously if the good still outweighs the bad. Let us know how you get on!
If you need more practical help and inspiration, our new book will help you with has all your digital detox and digital wellbeing resolutions this year. Pick up a copy here.
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