6 Tips to Help You Do a Digital Detox

By John Breaux | December 30, 2019

Nowadays, our real lives to clash with our digital lives more frequently than ever. Our relationship with technology has reached a point where it can be difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which in turn can affect our mental and physical health. 

This is why the concept of a digital detox has never been more popular and important than it is now. If you find yourself struggling with a constant digital connection, it may be time to give yourself an opportunity to alleviate the stress caused by our digital lives, and focus on cultivating meaningful interactions with your peers and the environment around you. Here are some useful tips to get started!

Remove distractions 

There is nothing more distracting than when your phone is constantly buzzing with notifications from your email, messages, and social media. Interruptions from your phone can have serious consequences to your overall productivity and mental health, so try doing the unthinkable by turning off your notifications. The change will be difficult at first, but you will quickly adapt to not checking your phone every few minutes when it chimes. 

Schedule tech-free time 

Have you ever got that deep pang of anxiety when you find yourself without your phone? There’s a reason why some people say they feel “naked” when they are without their devices. To get past this, try designating a block of time in your schedule as being tech-free, forgoing all use of your devices. A good place to start might be your lunch break or right when you get home from work. Whatever you do, it can work wonders for your overall well-being. 

 Say goodbye to multi-screen use 

It’s likely you’ve found yourself sitting down to work or firing up a show on Netflix, only to immediately pull out your phone to mindlessly scroll through social media or check email for the 5th time. Multitasking is a big no-no when it comes to using our digital devices, as it causes our brains to have to recalibrate when it comes to getting back to the original task. Try and make it a habit to focus on just one screen at a time, and you’ll find your focus will greatly improve. 

Use a screen time feature 

Most smartphones nowadays have a feature that will track your usage, giving you a clearer picture of how you use your device throughout the day. Try using it for a week then assess where your usage is and adjust accordingly. If you see that you’re spending more than two hours a day on social media, try setting a time limit on your phone so you don’t spend too much time on it.

Ask yourself “why?” every time you pull out your phone 

Sure, our phones can be a valuable tool for finding answers, communicating with friends, or entertainment. But when we begin to use them as a means of distraction for no good reason, that’s when the problems arise. Try asking yourself why each time you pull your phones out. If you have no good reason, then put that sucker back down and regain your focus on being in the moment. 

Do a complete fast from electronics 

All of these tips are great for limiting your usage of electronics, but sometimes you just need to completely give em’ up for a period of time. Whether it’s just one day or an entire week, having an all-in fast from electronics can work wonders for your productivity, and upon completion, you may even find yourself without the desire to return to your previous urges.