We’re the home of the 5:2 Digital Diet, five days using technology and two days off-screen. We promote it as the most effective and easiest way to introduce some digital detox into your life.
Here are our top tips on how to do it.
Buy an alarm clock. We’ve found that removing your phone from your bedroom is the number one way to ensure adherence to the diet. No phone by your bed used as an alarm means no temptation to look at it at night, or first thing in the morning.
Plan to do the 2 days of the 5:2 digital diet at the weekend. There are likely to be less interruptions from work and the upside is more time to focus and family and friends. To remove any temptations to log-on, delete all email and social media apps from your phone Friday night and reinstall Sunday morning.
Dig out your camera. The second highest reason people give for needing their smartphone with them is for its use as a camera. Make sure you have your camera on hand to step into that gap. We love the polaroid type if you want to go really analogue.
Moving through some form of mindful exercise helps you connect to your body instead of being ‘in’ your head. Incorporate some mindful exercise into your two days of digital diet (we particularly love yoga) to keep your mind away from your phone.
Getting out in nature is proven to help with all sorts of ailments as well as being a great stress reliever. A walk in a green space is a great way of distracting you from the temptation to get on your phone, laptop or tablet. Being by the sea is even better.
Enlist support from friends and family. Even better, get them to do the 5:2 digital diet with you. All types of lifestyle changes work best with group support and the digital diet is no different.
Download and share 5:2 Digital Diet cheat sheet and keep it as a handy reminder of how to do the diet.