25 Best Reasons to Take a Digital Detox
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to become addicted to our smartphones and other digital devices. The problem is that the more we use them, the more we’re likely to be distracted by them. The result? We lose focus on what’s really important—like being present with those around us, doing meaningful work, or spending time with the people we love.
Research from the Radiological Society of America suggest that we may be changing the way our brains are operating, making it so that we feel compelled to avoid being too connected to our devices.
The good news: There’s hope. The “digital detox” is becoming an increasingly popular escape for people who find themselves overwhelmed by the nonstop notifications, emails, and texts that go hand-in-hand with modern life.
We all know that technology is great, but it can also be a serious distraction. It’s hard to get work done when you’re constantly checking your email, looking at social media, and browsing the web. So what should you do if you’ve been glued to your computer for too long? You should take a digital detox!
What Is a Digital Detox?
First, let’s talk about what a digital detox is. It’s not a diet, a new exercise routine, or even a new relationship. A digital detox is simply a short break from technology. It’s a chance to disconnect from your phone, tablet, and laptop. In fact, it’s so much more than that.
It’s a chance to connect with yourself, your family, and your friends in a different way. It’s a time to stop being distracted by technology and reconnect with the real world.
A digital detox isn’t simply turning off your cell phone while you’re cooking or having a beer with friends. It’s much more than that. A true digital detox means not using your smartphone, tablet, or computer for at least 24 hours.
You don’t have to do everything at once. You can break up the tasks into smaller steps. It may seem overwhelming, but it’s not as hard as you think. According to a study published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication smartphone withdrawal has physical effects, like increased blood pressure and anxiety.
Digital device dependence may not just change the way our brains operate, it may also provide ample incentive for most of us to step away from the screens. The “digital detox” may be getting a new wave of attention, but it’s really just a form of “digital hibernation.”
Why Do You Need a Digital Detox?
It’s no secret that our lives are becoming increasingly digitalized. From the way we work to the way we socialize, we’re constantly connected to the Internet. This constant connectivity has led to an overload of information—and it’s taking its toll. As a result, we’re getting less sleep, eating more junk food, and engaging in more screen time than ever before.
Summing up the benefits of a digital detox in one sentence is a little difficult, but here are some of the most common reasons why people choose to take a digital detox.
1. To Make More Time for Yourself
When you’re constantly connected to technology, it can be hard to find time for yourself. This is especially true if you have a job where you spend a lot of time working from home. When you’re not using technology, you’ll be able to spend more time on activities that you enjoy, like reading a book, taking a walk, or playing with your kids. Accordingly, you’ll be able to carve out more time for yourself.
2. Your posture will improve
If you spend a lot of time hunched over a computer, your back will suffer. Not only does this cause back pain, but it can also lead to other health problems. When you’re sitting at a desk, your spine is often in a forward position. This can lead to a variety of issues, including neck pain, lower back pain, and even headaches. Especially your spine will become crooked and you’ll begin to develop back pain.
If you want to avoid this, you need to make sure that you’re standing up straight and taking breaks every 30 minutes. Check out if you’ve been afflicted by checking out What is Tech Neck and Do You Have It?
3. You’ll get a better night’s sleep
Sleep is important for your overall well-being. When you’re not sleeping enough, you’re more likely to feel tired and stressed. When you’re connected to technology, you’re more likely to feel anxious, depressed, and frustrated. In fact, research shows that when you’re connected to technology, you’re actually less likely to sleep well.
According to a study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, technology use can interfere with sleep quality. Specifically, when you’re using your phone or tablet before bed, you’re less likely to fall asleep. Additionally, your brain is still processing the information you’ve been consuming throughout the day. This can cause you to wake up during the night.
If you want to sleep better, try to unplug from technology. Turn off your devices and lights an hour before bedtime. If you’re worried about falling asleep, try listening to soothing music or meditating.
4. You’ll be more productive
The average person spends about three hours a day on their smartphones, tablets, and laptops. That’s a lot of time spent on these devices. And if you’re not careful, it can cause you to get distracted from your work. According to a study conducted by the University of Toronto, the more time you spend on your smartphone, the less likely you are to be productive.
In addition, the less time you spend on your smartphone, the more likely you are to be more focused and efficient. You’ll be able to complete more tasks in less time.
5. You’ll Get More Exercise
It’s no secret that exercise is good for your body and mind. It may seem counterintuitive, but you’ll actually burn more calories when you’re not using your phone. According to a study published in the journal Health Psychology, people who use their phones for more than two hours a day tend to eat more. This is because they’re distracted from their hunger cues.
Research shows that the average American spends almost half of their day sitting. In fact, the average office worker spends 8 hours a day sitting. That’s a lot of time spent sitting! When you’re sitting all day, you’re more likely to gain weight and develop health problems.
If you want to lose weight, you need to get up and move around every hour. If you want to get healthier, you need to take breaks from your technology.
6. You’ll be happier
One of the biggest side effects of technology is that it causes us to feel lonely. According to a survey conducted by the Happiness Research Institute, the majority of Americans say they feel lonely at least sometimes. When you’re connected to technology, you’re less likely to feel alone. Instead, you’ll be more likely to spend time with friends and family.
Additionally, technology makes us feel more anxious. For example, when you’re connected to social media, you’re more likely to worry about what other people think of you.
7. You’ll Improve Your Self-Esteem
Technology has become an integral part of our lives. It helps us connect with others, stay in touch with our friends, and stay organized. But technology also affects how we feel about ourselves.
According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, people who use technology are more likely to have low self-esteem. When you’re connected to technology, you’re more likely to compare yourself to others. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy.
8. You’ll Be Less Likely to Procrastinate
Procrastination is a common problem. According to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, procrastination is one of the most common reasons why people fail to complete their work. When you’re connected to technology, you’re more likely to procrastinate. Technology can be a huge distraction when it comes to completing tasks. Being connected to technology can make it difficult to focus and stay on task. To conclude, if you want to be more productive, unplug from technology.
9. You’ll Become More Empathetic
In today’s world, many of us are living in a state of “empathy deficit”—a condition where we feel disconnected from others, and are unable to understand their emotions and thoughts. When you’re connected to technology, you’re less likely to notice the emotions of others.
According to a study published in the CyberPsychology and Behavior, people who use technology are less likely to notice the emotions of others. In brief, technology makes us less empathetic. You can start having conversations with people face-to-face if you don’t have a phone or computer.
10. You’ll Spend More Time with Family and Friends
There are no emails after work. No communication from the boss. They didn’t call you and tell you to come in the next day. It is possible to spend quality time with your friends and family without being concerned about missing a message.
According to a study, people who use technology are more likely to spend time with their friends and family. They’re less likely to spend time with their loved ones.
11. You’ll Be Less of a Narcissist
The world is full of people who believe they’re special. They’re self-centered, arrogant, and egotistical. They think they know it all. They think they’re better than everyone else. They think they’re God’s gift to the world. They’re narcissistic. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in—you’ll find narcissists in every profession.
According to research on Personality and Individual Difference, there’s a good reason why people who spend too much time on social media in self-promotion, are more likely to be narcissists.
If you break the habit of presenting yourself to the world through social media rather than being yourself in everyday life, you can get rid of those self-destructive qualities.
12. You Can Have a Real Work-Life Balance
When you’re connected to technology, you’re more likely to check your email first thing in the morning. You’re more likely to check your phone while you’re eating lunch. You’re more likely to respond to messages when you’re on the bus.
As a result, you’re less likely to have a real work-life balance. You can spend quality time with your family and friends, if you take digital detox, without worrying about emails and texts from your office. Digital detox helps you to maintain work-life balance. In this situation, you can work for eight hours and then go home and spend quality time with your family.
13. You Can Get Your Brain in Shape
A healthy brain requires mental stimulation. It needs to be challenged and stimulated. When you’re connected to technology, you’re less likely to challenge your brain. You’re more likely to be distracted by your phone or computer.
According to a study published in the PLOS One, technology can cause the brain to become less efficient. If you want to get your brain in shape, unplug from technology.
14. You’ll Improve Your Heart Health
It’s no secret that spending too much time on our smartphones and tablets is bad for us. Now, a new study has revealed that the more time we spend on these devices, the greater our risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, like heart attacks and strokes.
In a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that people who spent more than five hours a day using their phones or tablets were nearly four times as likely to die during the study period than those who didn’t use their devices at all.
15. You’ll Become More Creative
If you want to come up with creative inspiration, you need to let your mind wander. It’s not going to happen if you’re only browsing Pinterest, refreshing your Facebook feed or just reading a news story.
People who used their smartphones for creative tasks, like writing, drawing, and designing, were more likely to be creative than those who used their smartphones for non-creative tasks, like reading and watching videos.
16. You’ll Increase Your Attention Span
It’s been said that attention spans have decreased over the years. This is especially true for younger generations. The problem with this is that it makes it harder for us to keep our attention focused on one thing for a long period of time. If we can’t pay attention, we can’t learn. If we can’t learn, we can’t grow.
If you want to increase your attention span, it’s time to stop watching TV and get yourself a little digital detox. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by Microsoft, goldfish can now hold attention spans longer than humans.
17. You’ll Have a Better Diet
It’s common knowledge that if you want to lose weight, you should eat less and exercise more. But, did you know that if you want to have a healthier diet, you should unplug from technology?
In a recent study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, researchers found that participants who ate their meals in front of a television ate significantly more food than those who ate their meals in front of a computer.
18. You’ll Reduce Eyestrain
According to the American Optometric Association, eyestrain is a condition where your eyes are strained due to prolonged exposure to digital screens. The symptoms of eyestrain include headaches, blurred vision, eye pain, and dry eyes. To prevent eyestrain, you should limit your screen time.
Here are some ways to make sure that your eyes are safe from eyestrain: Avoid looking at screens for more than four hours a day. If you need to use your computer or phone, limit it to one hour. If you use your tablet, limit it to two hours. You can also avoid looking at screens for more than three hours before bedtime. Use a laptop stand if you use your computer for more than an hour. This will help you avoid craning your neck as you work on the screen. Try to avoid staring at the screen. Use the keyboard to type rather than tapping on the screen.
19. You’ll Be Less Depressed
Are you interested in improving your mood? Depression is a common mental health issue that affects people of all ages, genders and races. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 20 million American adults are affected by depression. However, only about half of those affected seek help from a professional.
If you’re feeling depressed, it’s high time to stop spending time on social media because it’s linked to increased odds of depression, according to the research published in Depression and Anxiety. Depression doesn’t have to be a permanent state of mind, and you can find drug-free ways to beat it.
20. You’ll Kick Your Addiction
People who are addicted to their smartphones are in danger of becoming addicted to their phones, just as a cigarette addict may become dependent on cigarettes. It’s estimated that people have spent $3.7 billion to avoid the need for a smartphone.
According to research study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that people become more anxious if they use their phones more often. It’s never too late to conquer your smartphone addiction. Read out 11 Best ideas for overcoming smartphone addiction.
21. You’ll Have More Time to Read
The average person spends almost 10 hours a week watching TV and another 10 hours a week using social media. That means that the average person spends more than 30 hours a week glued to their smartphone. You will have plenty of time to read books as a result of digital detoxing.
A study published in Psychological Science found that people who read books had better memories than people who didn’t. The reason behind this is that when you read, you form new neural connections between your brain and your memory.
22. You Can Control Your Schedule
When you spend time on social media, you’re not in control of your schedule. Instead, you’re following other people’s schedules. That means that you don’t have control over what you do.
If you want to feel in control of your life, you need to spend time on social media less. It’s possible to have more control over your schedule by using technology to track your schedule. For example, you can set reminders to check social media sites every hour.
When you’re not connected to technology, you don’t have to worry about checking your email or browsing through social media. This gives you more control over your schedule. You can also focus on your daily tasks instead of wasting time on other things.
23. You’ll Improve Your Relationships
It makes no sense to bring your phone to bed. However, it doesn’t stop us from using our phones. The time before you fall asleep is a great time to connect with your partner. If you’re not paying attention to the person you love and wasting your quality time in scrolling social media sites, the time before you fall asleep is not worth the time.
24. You’ll Have Time for Default Mode
Your default mode network is a part of your brain that works whenever you’re not focused on anything. It’s the part of your brain that is responsible for daydreaming. When you’re on social media, you’re not focused on anything. Therefore, you’re not giving your default mode network the chance to work.
When you’re at work, your brain is working hard to keep you focused on the task at hand. But when you’re at home, your brain has a lot of free time on its hands. And that’s why you get the best ideas for your business while you’re in the shower.
In fact, one study in Perspectives on Psychological Science found that the best ideas for your business come to you when you’re in the shower. If you want to take advantage of your brain’s natural ability to think creatively, then you need to make sure your brain is in default mode—by turning off the Internet and all of your other distractions.
25. You’ll Cure Your Insomnia
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Sussex found that using smartphones and tablets before bedtime causes a significant decrease in melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle.
Without enough melatonin, it is more difficult for the body to enter into deep sleep. In addition, studies have also found that blue light emitted from screens can disrupt sleep cycles and cause sleep problems.
How to Do a Digital Detox?
The digital world is everywhere—and it’s becoming more and more ingrained in our daily lives. There are a lot of benefits to having a device in your pocket at all times, but there are also a lot of drawbacks. It can be hard to get away from the Internet.
It’s hard to unplug from the constant barrage of social media posts, notifications, and emails. And when you do take a break, you end up spending more time scrolling through your feed than actually doing anything productive.
The good news is that you can take control of your digital life and take a break—from the Internet and your devices. Here are 6 steps you can take to do a digital detox.
Surprisingly, it’s easier than you think.
1. Decide on a behavior to change
The first thing to do is to figure out the issue. Are you constantly connected to your phone? Do the news make you feel stressed out? Have you been spending too much time on social media? Determine which activities you would like to eliminate or reduce.
2. Create a Plan
Before you begin, you need to create a plan. Think about what you’re going to do when you’re not using your devices. Are you going to read a book? Go for a walk? Or do something else entirely?
Once you have a plan, you can begin to execute it.
3. Turn Off Your Devices
This is the most important step. You need to turn off your devices and put them away. Don’t use them until you’ve finished your plan.
4. Schedule a break from your phone
If you suspect that you are addicted to using your phone, one way to stop is to block out time to check your phone. Try to keep your phone out of your hand for no more than 15 or 30 minutes.
5. Make a time commitment
Once you’ve blocked out a certain amount of time, commit to not checking your phone during that time. It may sound crazy, but it’s the only way to make sure you don’t go back to your old habits.
6. Use apps to track your usage
Whether you want to keep track of how often you use your phone, or want to know how often your phone is being used, there are apps that can do it for you.
A smartphone is no longer a luxury—it’s an essential part of your life.
Some apps can track your phone usage, block your access to social media sites, or give you a detailed report on what you’re spending too much time on. It can limit your reliance on your phone and give you more control over your time.
7. Assess your progress
After few days to start your digital detox, assess your progress. If you feel like you’ve made a difference, then you’re ready to move forward. If not, then you need to start again. Do not swap one digital habit for another. If you are spending more time on other social media sites now that you are not on Facebook, you may need to consider removing it altogether.
References:
- Lifehack.org: “7-Day Digital Detox Challenge That Will Transform Your Life.”
- Beyondblue.org.au: “The benefits of a digital detox.”