How To: Digital Detox

Do you carve out time to take a break from your technology? Tech usage looks different for everyone, but a recent study estimates we spend over three hours on our phone everyday! 

It's not completely our fault, our devices are built to keep us engaged (or addicted) to what's happening on the screen. Sometimes it’s hard to switch off, and not cave into what’s going on, on social media. The idea of taking a break from social media scares us; as we think we might miss out on some important information. 

Sure, we need our phones and laptops to do our work, but our increased dependency on our screens is having far reaching impacts on our mental and physical wellbeing, such as:

• Reduced sleep 

• Creating unrealistic expectations and goals

• Addictive tendencies

• Reduction in socialising

• Increase in moodiness/ decrease in endorphins

In order to live a balanced life, we have to take regular breaks and find moments of rest. This also includes taking a break from technology. Here are a few tips to help you step away from your phone for a few days:

1) Sign out of (or delete) your most used apps:

• Try signing out of your socials; Instagram, Facebook, email etc or even deleting an app or two. Sometimes the idea of having to re-download an app or sign back in may discourage you from checking in and scrolling. This can reduce the temptation from constantly checking your phone. 

• Introduce apps or shortcuts that can help stop you from checking your phone too much (the latest Iphone’s ios let's you set a limit for certain apps

2) Let people know you're taking a break: 

• Add an auto-reply to your email or post on social media about you needing a break. 

• Change the voicemail on your phone when you are resting. 

• Add your standard working hours to the bottom of your email footer, to build an ongoing boundary around your work and leisure time. 

• Let people know you won't be responding or posting for a few days and that you'll get back to them once you're signed back in. 

• Doing this can help you to feel accomplished and keep your mind at ease, knowing that you have potentially informed others before they can contact you. 

3) Leave your phone at home:

• This is a big one. When was the last time you left the house without your phone? Even if it's just to go on a walk, or grab a coffee or get groceries. 

• Start practising leaving your house without your device and notice how it makes you feel. You might realise you need it less, than you thought!

• Studies have shown that even having a phone in the same place while talking to another person can reduce your engagement with that person. This is due to the mere (visible) presence of tech; increases the temptation for you to check/ seek information rather than focus on the conversation at hand. If your device is not present in front of you, you are reminded to not look at it. 

Keen to give it a try? Let us know the results!