In our recent article Passwords passwords passwords!! How to remember them all we discussed the huge number of passwords that are needed for more and more aspects of our daily lives. And it often feels as if we spend every waking hour in front of some kind of screen.
And that is not so very far from the truth. Recent research from Leeds University, funded by Research England, found that half of their respondents use screens for 11 hours or more a day, and for over a quarter that rises to 14 hours or more a day.
This should not really be a surprise when you consider that many people use computers, laptops, tablets or phones during the working day, then also to sort out personal administration and finances at home. Not to mention social media, streaming services, movies, music and so on.
By the end of the day you probably feel as if you never want to see another screen again!
But the more that you use screens, the more you get used to always having one in front of you. So if you are out with a group of friends, having a drink or a meal, or even out enjoying some fresh air, you are probably never far away from at least one device.
So how would it feel to do a digital detox, and not use your devices for a while?
Let’s take a look.
A digital detox is taking a complete break from any kind of screen – including not only phones, computers, laptops and tablets , but also TV. This means that there is also no connection with any social media sites.
The purpose of a digital detox is to refocus on yourself and your wellbeing, and also take time to rebuild face to face relationships and social interactions.
Those who have experimented with digital detox claim that it has many benefits. Here are three of the key ones:
A digital detox can enable you to switch off from the world for a while. Instead of feeling pressured to keep checking emails, messages, and social media accounts you are free to focus completely on yourself.
Avoiding social media can also boost wellbeing in various ways. It removes FOMO – Fear of Missing Out. It can feel as if everyone else is having a wonderful time apart from you, or you can find out that friends have been at events and gatherings that you didn’t know about or weren’t invited to.
Avoiding social media can also boost your self-esteem because it removes the pressure of comparing yourself with others : their looks, relationship status, job, home, family etc.
All of these factors can lead to feelings of depression or isolation, and a digital detox is a good opportunity to get everything back in perspective again.
A digital detox can help you sleep better in two ways.
Firstly, if you use devices too close to bedtime, this can interfere with the quality and quantity of your sleep. Your mind will be racing with different aspects of the content you have just been engaging with, particularly if there are things that have been irritating or upsetting.
The second way a digital detox can help you to sleep better is by eliminating any blue light being emitted by your phone screen during the night, for example if you have an incoming message. This light can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for your circadian rhythm.
There is also some evidence to show that the radiation emitted by mobile phones can lead to headaches and disturbed sleep if you sleep with your phone near your head..
A digital detox can help you to reset the boundaries between your home life and work life. It can be difficult to switch off if you can easily check work emails at any time of the day or night. But this increasingly leads to never giving yourself a break from the pressures of work.
Taking a complete digital detox can break this cycle, and help you to find a more balanced way to move forward.
This is the burning issue! We saw earlier how most of us rely on various devices to manage pretty much every aspect of our lives. So how realistic is it to actually switch off completely?
We would suggest a two-pronged approach to this. Start with a complete break from technology, even if it’s only a couple of days. Then come up with a plan for how you will build in regular digital detoxes to your daily life.
Here are some ideas:
See if you can plan a short break and use the time for a complete digital detox. Perhaps either rent a property – for example through AirBnB – in a quiet place, or go camping in the middle of nowhere. If you need a quick financial boost to do this, remember that Munzee offers low apr loans that may be able to help.
Whatever you do, aim not to use any devices at all during this time. Focus on yourself and find other activities to enjoy that are not device-dependent, for example walking, swimming, reading, writing, board games, eating, drinking, talking, thinking and just taking time to be. Live in the moment, and enjoy the luxury of not being distracted by anything that is going on elsewhere.
Here are a few tips for how you could incorporate a regular digital detox into your life:
We hope that this article gives you some ideas and inspiration as to how you can build a digital detox into your regular routine, and reap the benefits of doing this.
For more lifestyle and financial tips from Munzee Loans visit us here again soon.
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