It’s really easy to get addicted to our screens, and without even realizing it at the time, we start paying the price. For example, have you ever been scrolling TikTok for what feels like five minutes, then you realize that in fact several hours have gone by and it’s now 3 AM and you have to be up for work in like, three hours? Admittedly, this has happened more times than we would like to say, then we spend the next day groggy, sluggish, and just kind of in a bad mood. For times like this, when we feel we’ve spent too much time looking at our screen, a digital detox is what’s in store. Today, we’re going to talk a little bit about the benefits of a digital detox. Let’s get started!
(image via: find yello)
First up, let’s talk for a hot second about what a digital detox entails. A digital detox means you take a break from electronic devices or just certain apps for a period of time. Each person’s digital detox will probably look a little different depending on what you do for work, why you want to detox, etc. An example of a detox plan could be: no social media for one month. Make sure you take into account what you must have access to such as e-mails or Zoom.
Now, the good stuff, the benefits.
You’ll find yourself able to focus more. Imagine a world without phone notifications.
Your quality of sleep will improve. Studies have shown that our phone screens activate a part of our brain that tends to keep us awake, hence the whole watching TikTok until 3 AM thing. With no screen, our brains will be able to wind down and drift into a nice slumber like they’re supposed to.
You’ll reconnect. Not only will you find yourself more aware of your surroundings, but you’ll find yourself more engaged with the people around you as well.
Less stress. Need we even go on? A lot of people feel an incredible amount of stress due to a constant digital connection perhaps to their work or just the people around them, ditch the screen, ditch the stress, focus on your physical surrounding, not the digital one.
No more comparing. Let’s be real, seeing everybody’s highlight reel all the time really encourages us to start comparing our lives with theirs. Keep in mind that comparison is the thief of joy.
So if you’ve been feeling depressed, insecure, perhaps obligated to reach for your phone and check in on various apps, a digital detox may be just what you need!