That’s why it’s a good idea to take a break from your digital devices every now and then and do a digital detox. A digital detox is when you purposely disconnect from your online stuff and focus on other things in your life. It can help you:
- Feel more energized and refreshed
- Think more clearly and creatively
- Be happier and more balanced
- Connect better with your friends and family
- Do things you love and enjoy
- Live in the moment and appreciate nature
How to do a digital detox?
There’s no one right way to do a digital detox. You can make it your own and do it however you want. But here are some general tips to help you out:
- Set a goal and a time frame for your digital detox. Think about why you want to do it, what you want to get out of it, and how long you want to do it for. It can be as short as an hour or as long as a week or more.
- Plan ahead and let people know. Tell your family, friends, co-workers, and customers that you’ll be offline for a bit and how they can contact you if it’s urgent. Arrange your tasks and deadlines so you don’t miss anything important and set up auto-replies if needed.
- Pick which devices and apps you want to ditch. You don’t have to go totally offline if you don’t feel like it. You can choose to limit or avoid certain devices or apps that are more tempting or annoying for you. For example, you can turn off your phone alerts, delete social media apps, or use website blockers.
- Find other things to do with your time. Instead of wasting hours online, you can use your time to do something else that makes you happy, satisfied, or relaxed. For example, you can read a book, meditate, exercise, cook, play an instrument, or hang out with your loved ones.
- Think about your experience and learn from it. After your digital detox is done, take some time to think about how it went and how it made you feel. What did you like? What did you miss? What did you learn? How can you use these insights to improve your future digital habits?
How will you be taking you next digital detox?