Digital Detox – A way to disconnect to reconnect – From Rizza Marie Alba

Posted by bria-admin on January 1, 1970

Smartphones, the internet, and social media have become integral parts of our daily lives. With a few clicks, these technologies allow a person to communicate with their loved ones--even if they're thousands of miles away!

Whether for business or pleasure, digital platforms have become essential in today's world. However, like anything else, too much of something could be bad. Hence, the rise of the "digital detox movement". Now, more and more people choose to take a break from technology to enhance their physical and mental state.

Virtual media consumption consumes away our bodily well-being. Excessive use of smart phones and gadgets results in sedentary behavior. And this can affect your sleeping patterns and concentration level. And this can cause anxiety and depression.

In keeping with doctors, it finds worrying that an increasing body of research now corroborates the correlation between this addiction and significantly higher instances of depression, insomnia, anxiety, and impulsive behavior, especially among the youth. Social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram lessen self-confidence by inducing comparisons among users. Social comparison may be a type of sociological self-esteem, where we derive our sense of self through comparing ourselves with others (Festinger,1954). Based on the study of Festinger, people have an inclination to create downward social comparisons with those that are worse off or less skilled than them, and this may raise their self-esteem. Digital connectivity can cause you to desire what you’re missing out and triggers psychological state issues.

Therefore, the need for digital detox became equally essential over being tech-savvy. It'll prevent addiction to a digital device; it helps in increasing interactions with others and reducing tech fatigue and stress.

Why You Need a Digital Detox

Digital detox refers to a period during which you stop using all of your devices connected to the internet. It stems from the idea that once you pause your social media life you start to understand small things happening around you. You'll start living within the moment rather than faking and comparing your life in lenses. Bonding together with your family rather than talking a stranger you've got just met in social media helps you to strengthen your family ties. Moreover, it can help maintain a life balance between your exposure to the real world and the virtual world.

Simple Ways to Promote Digital Detox

With that said, here are some ways you can incorporate digital detox into your life to improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Schedule When to Turn Off Notifications

Creating a notification schedule is a simple way to start. For instance, you can set your phone to filter out work or social media-related notifications after office hours and opt to do more physical activities like swimming and rock climbing. This way, you can improve your physical well-being and allow yourself to indulge in the wonders of nature without disturbance. In simple terms, a digital detox helps you to disconnect to reconnect in the real world.

Limit Your Screen Time

To further practice digital detox people must learn proper time management which has limited screen time. There are applications you can use to track your daily usage of gadget. This apps can also block your access to social media sites for period of time or give you a detailed report on what you’re spending too much time on. Be mindful on the digital information you are receiving. Set a time when you will check your notifications to avoid passive scrolling and checking. As we all know that excessive use of phones, tablets, laptops and alike are prone from eye damage and radiation, it also consumes our watching unnecessary things rather than prioritizing to complete our daily task. In addition, we also must set boundaries not only on those toxic friends we've got in our social media accounts, sharing pointless and fake news but also on our gadgets that hinders us in interacting with our loved ones. Always remember that the moment, emotion and happiness we'll share to them will retain in our memories forever. Create memories that you can’t imitate with a phone in front of your face. Also, try to rediscover things like drawing, reading books and newspaper. It will enhance our cognitive skills, and helps to create vocabulary. This could influence many areas of life, from the results of faculty admission test to finding job opportunities. Engaging in physical activities is also a way of detoxing. Exercise is one of best example of this. It makes us feel better while distracting our self from negative thoughts. It helps us to recharge and return to our normal functions stronger than ever.

Meanwhile, there is are some people who take digital detox in the next level. They are the ones who is doing digital sabbatical wherein they completely do longer period of breaks from net and devices. Some people isolate themselves on those areas who don’t have Wi-Fi connections. Crow said that it will create room for ideas and insights. You will gain real inspiration from life and circumstances that is different from online inspiration. It’s bigger, better, more meaningful and more lasting. It looks that when you disconnect from the world for a while, you learn that you didn’t miss out much while you were gone. These digital sabbaticals demonstrate that fear of missing out, a sense of urgency, and the speed with which we accelerate our movements are all subconscious conduct that we've advanced through the years and may be conquer with a few educations and effort.

Moreover, contentment is one among lifelong effect of digital detox. It is often associated with a healthy and positive mindset. Once you learn to be contented on what you have got, everything you'll see on social media won't affect your views on yourself and to the people around you. Being content does not obstruct your dream or have an effect on your purpose. It's an area to face and think about the long run with a peaceful heart and gratitude for all that's and every one that is to come.

Citations:

Crow, Klaus n.d/< https://simplifyyourday.com/the-huge-benefits-of-the-digital-sabbatical-unplug/>

Festinger L (1954) A theory of social comparison. Human Relations; 7, 117-140.

Tuca, Adelina, accessed 31 May 2021<https://themeisle.com/blog/digital-detox-tips/>

Warrender, Dan, accessed 24 February 2020<https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/mental-health/how-use-of-social-media-and-social-comparison-affect-mental-health-24-02-2020/#:~:text=Social%20comparison%20is%20a%20form,can%20raise%20their%20self%2Desteem.