In this day and age, the urge to be aware of all that is happening in the world has increased, and hence the use of digital devices has become a necessity to a lot of people. Whether you are working in an office or staying at home, you constantly feel the need to check your social media which can be a little overwhelming sometimes.
What is a Digital Detox?
Digital detox refers to the time you spend away from all your devices like smartphones, laptops, iPad, tablets, televisions, and social media sites. Just like your body needs detoxification to eliminate the trapped toxins, your mind craves it too.
A study found that almost 10% of the people in the United States are addicted to social media. With the increasing accessibility, the number of users has increased a lot.
This year has been tough for all of us already and there is so much going on our minds all the time. To escape all this chaos, we find an easy escape to distract ourselves in the form of social media.
Here are the top reasons why you must consider a digital detox to prioritize your mental well-being:
1. Health Benefits
Too much use of technology is no doubt bad for your mental as well as physical health.
Anxiety and Stress: As much as 92% of the teens in the world are already addicted to social media apps and they become anxious without their smartphones. With all these apps, the constant need for validation from other people takes a toll on your mental health.
Anxiety can be triggered by something as small as the number of likes on your favorite picture on Instagram. And this has a negative impact on your life, work, and relationships. Stress is even found to be one of the most common causes of premature ejaculation in men. You need to avoid it at all costs.
How?
Giving yourself some space by keeping a track of your screen time can help with this. After all, enjoying some me time with a cup of coffee is not a bad idea in exchange for better mental and physical health.
Relationship Quality: Around 64% of children under 20 reported that they make new friends on social media apps daily. And 23% of them experienced cyberbullying on the same platforms. This has affected their relationship with their parents at home and friends at school.
In adults, the numbers are even higher. Making a deliberate effort of digital detox by not using phones while having meals, talking to your partner, or before sleeping can make a huge difference.
2. Work-Life Balance
It is difficult to pull yourself out from the web of social media as it is designed in a way where it becomes challenging to keep a balance between your professional and personal life.
A report from Facetime Communications shows that the users at work are more inclined towards the usage of online apps which ultimately affects their work productivity. And 91% of these employees remain online for personal or professional purposes, 61% log in once a day, and 15% use apps continuously at work.
If you find yourself facing this problem you must turn off notifications that not only helps you focus on your work or household chores but also increase your efficiency. Maybe a quick chat with your colleagues or family members at home can stop you from thinking about your phone.
3. Fear of Missing Out
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a big deal, especially in youth. Exposing yourself 24/7 to technology and gadgets naturally develops FOMO in you. The fear of missing out on so many opportunities that you see your friends are getting is toxic for your mind.
Research shows that women have a greater tendency to fall for FOMO than men. It not only affects their confidence level but their physical health as well.
Detoxing your social connections every once in a while is crucial for your body and mind. It gives you the space to recollect your thoughts and come back even stronger with much more clarity.
4. Increased Productivity
We all have heard the phrase “The excess of everything is bad”. It was reported that approximately 2.35 hours are spent by an average employee on social media and hence the overall productivity reduces by 13%.
It is tough to limit the time on the internet especially if it is compromising your work big time. Access to these social sites during breaks for a shorter period can help. Clear guidelines regarding digital detox should be issued to the employees at work for their growth and development.
5. Peace and Content
Reducing screen time helps in better sleep as the harmful blue radiations originating from digital devices affect our melatonin production leading to insomnia and irritating behavior throughout the day.
Social experiments show that constant comparisons on social media get you at times and make you feel low and bad about yourself. Taking a digital break for yourself makes it easy for you to cope with such problems and control your emotions effectively.
How technology can be a reason for lack of sleep
Technology is one of the main reasons for sleep deprivation in people. Due to your phone, you are not able to get proper sleep. You will be shocked to find out how much time you spend on your phone every night. One way to get rid of your phone during nighttime is to limit yourself. Find ways on how you can limit your phone usage. One of the new ways of using a phone to help you sleep is using apps for meditation. There are new apps on app stores that help you meditate during nighttime. These new apps will help you with your mental health as well.
Digital Detox is a Must for Entrepreneurs
It is very easy to get carried away on the internet especially this year as we are surrounded by so much negativity and uncertainty about everything. When you decide to take some time away from all your digital devices you can work towards digital detox:
- Plan your detox and think of all the possible reasons for avoiding digital devices. Limit your screen time. You can let your friends and family know about your digital detox and why it is important for you.
- Try spending an entire day without checking social media will help you fight FOMO and it will make you feel better about yourself. Delete some apps from your smartphone.
- Some physical exercise and yoga can help you avoid digital temptation. Waking up early and going for a morning walk will manage the stress and it also boosts mood.
- You are what you eat. Follow a balanced diet and drink a lot of water. Spend quality time with your family and friends and avoid responding to emails and text messages during that time.
Adopting these positive lifestyle changes will make a huge difference in your day-to-day life and will keep you happy and motivated all the time.
Good luck with your digital detox.
