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“Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest party pooper of our lives. It interrupts our own story, interrupts our ability to have a thought or a daydream, to imagine something wonderful, because we’re too busy bridging the walk from the cafeteria back to the office on the cell phone.” – Steven Spielberg

I felt this quote when I read it. It gave me a flashback of when I was in school and you know you could gaze into a daydream while you’re talking or learning and just be that notorious and now when I see my surroundings well it’s all laptops, desktops, reels and youtube. Like a person sitting 5 chairs away from me texts me if they want to communicate and I was like whatever happened to ‘hi’. Since then I decided well I cannot do anything about work or having to chat with my friends but for once in a week for a day or maybe two instead of sitting in front of TV, laptop or my phone I could lessen the screen time and lead toward the habit of a digital detox. 

To tell you the truth I still see on a Sunday if my screen time was less than last week. It keeps fluctuating but not giving up is the actual hope. So now let’s see the effects, benefits and techniques through which you can inspire yourself for a digital detox.

1. MENTAL HEALTH

Obviously one of the first matters that enter our minds is our mental health. We all know that having too much screen time is bad but why is it so? We didn’t think that much. So our young adults are all about AI and well just the phone but that also indicates the early symptoms of depression and anxiety at adolescence, which is obviously not great. Even Though they try to stay away from the spam of mails, notifications, social media dings just makes them weak and obviously there is a case of FOMO instantly if you don’t open it and that keeps running on your mind. 

Just a small incident I went through is that a few months ago I was undetachable from my phone and it was a problem instantly for whoever was living with me. Soon I started getting lectures about not having to do my chores, my work or even working out and I lashed out at every person for no reason. For some nights I wasn’t able to sleep and then I recognised my problem and decided to make it stop by hook or by crook. So then I started doing my other hobbies like reading a book, cooking, helping my mother a little music and well it felt better. 

2. WHAT IS DIGITAL DETOX?

Well it’s quite simple to say that just stop using your gadgets but I do know how hard it is to stop that addiction so it has to be a process. Digital detox is obviously taking a break from technology entirely and given that you need to see what you can replace your screen time with and for that you need to plan some relaxing and engaging activities, or take up on a hobby or go to the mountains for trek where there is no signal and connect with nature and well obviously there is your beloved family. 

3. STRATEGIES TO USE FOR DETOX

• Mindfulness: might sound a little too out there but it works. Anything that helps you relax your brain will help you disconnect with your gadgets and rejuvenate your mind and body and so deep breathing, meditation and yoga, your choice but do it. 
• Boundaries: very very important, why? Because if you want to quit a habit you have to create something that will replace it. So start by setting boundaries like no screen for meals, after waking up or before going to bed and especially not while learning. Very hard but start with timers, it helps.
• Going out: one of the easiest things for detoxing, get out of the house, play, party, games, family outing, and reconnect with old friends. Anything but don’t tempt yourself to touch screens. 
• Hobbies: well as I said it helped me to digital detox and is one of the sureshot ways to help with a digital detox. So pick one of your favourite hobbies like trekking, painting, writing, reading and gardening. Whatever you please.

There you have it folks, these are some of the ways to disconnect yourself from gadgets and reconnect with yourself. And as an unknown wise person said: “Sometimes you need to disconnect to reconnect with what really matters.” – Unknown. Let me know if you liked this article in the comments section and I will see you in the next one. Toodeloo!