Digital Detox: Benefits of disconnecting Digitally

Ditch social media, smartphone, T.V., etc., for a day or maybe week or month? This idea will drive most of us crazy. 😛 Everything around us and everyone around us is linked to a digital world. Everything is available on the tap. For a few, being connected and engaged in the digital world is part of their daily lives. Their day starts and ends with their smartphone. Most of us spend our day reading, listening, watching, or interacting with media. Digital detox for a day, week, or a month might sound too strenuous for many, but baby steps can help you appreciate its benefits. Start by keeping a few minutes or an hour aside for a digital detox every day. Let’s see what digital detox is and what are the benefits of disconnecting digitally.

No matter who you are, all of us need a digital detox. Especially for teens and children, as their brains are still developing.

What is a digital detox?

Digital detox refers to the time when a person intentionally avoids using smartphones, computers/laptops, and social media platforms. And, it is essential, especially in our developed 21st-century world. Let’s check out the reasons behind it and the benefits it has. Stick with us, and the benefits of digital detox will encourage you to try it. 😛

Benefits of disconnecting digitally:

1. Reconnect to connect: There’s a world that needs your love, time, and attention. Social media can make a significant impact on your life. You’ll be around the people you don’t know much about, and sometimes social comparison makes it hard to feel content. You might also find yourself imagining that the people there seem to be leading a cheerful, fuller, and exciting life just by watching their Instagram story or a Facebook post. Social media can break your connection with yourself and will make it difficult for you to find your real purpose in life. The comparison game makes it hard to make better decisions sometimes, and you’ll not know what you truly want to do. So, Spend some time away from it will help you know what really excites your soul. Don’t miss the beauty around you.
2. Boost your productivity: Don’t waste your day scrolling Instagram or Facebook because once you start doing that, there’s no going back(for a few). You’ll not even realize how quickly your hours will vanish doing that. And, remember you promised yourself that you’d have only a 10 mins break. Take a break and see how much time you waste doing it.

Great ideas come from everywhere if you just listen and look for them. You never know who’s going to have a great idea. – Sam Walton

3. Great Ideas: Digital world can solve a few of your problems, but the best solutions and ideas come when you’re away from it. Take some time to reflect and observe the world around you. Put your phone down and your eyes up, talk to the people around you, listen to them, and learn from them. The world around you can help you get better ideas and solutions. As Sam Walton says, ” Great ideas come from everywhere if you just listen and look for them. You never know who’s going to have a great idea. ” So, ditch the digital world for some time and get in touch with the world around you. 

Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it. They just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.– Steve Jobs

4. Get creative: Likes and shares on social media can distract the creators from the natural creative process. Scrolling other profiles related to your niche and comparing yourself with them can waste a lot of time and energy. And, can even leave you unsatisfied if you’re someone who’s not confident about your work. Remember that we all start with zero. Many great people on the internet can inspire you, but there should be a balance. As Steve Jobs says, ” Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it. They just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. ” But, this requires you to spend some time away from the digital world.
5. Improve your health:  You can improve your physical and mental health by doing a digital detox. Most of the time, you might find yourself lying or sitting while using a phone or a laptop in an improper position. Wrong sitting posture can cause back and neck problems also. And, excessive screen time is also bad for the eyes. Many other health problems can emerge from sitting for long hours. And, most of the time, you’ll not even realize this, mostly when absorbed in social media. Higher levels of screen activity in children and youngsters are linked with reduced physical activity, increased risk of depression, and lower well-being. About 50% of life mental illness problems start at the age of 14, and 75% began by 24. Take some time off, and get in touch with the world around you.
6. Sleep well: People usually start and end their day with their smartphones. The last thing they do (most of the time) is scrolling Instagram feed, watching Netflix, etc. But, digital devices can suppress the sleep-inducing hormone – melatonin, and our devices keep our brain alert and awake rather than slowing down. So, if you’re the one who can’t get to sleep quickly and spends an hour rolling here and there on the bed, then disconnect yourself from the digital world. Also, a night of improper sleep can make it challenging for you to get up in the morning. You can start small by doing the 15-30 mins digital detox before bed, which will improve your sleep.
7. Build healthy relationships: Digital world influences the work/life balance, and for some, it is challenging to keep their phone aside. Constant connectivity with the digital world will break your connections with the real world. Even if you’re outside with your friends or family, it can be hard to tolerate the desire to check emails or social media accounts. We all have that one person in a group who can’t keep their phone aside during mealtimes with friends and family. Please don’t be that person; you’ll regret doing it later. These few minutes of digital detox can help you connect with your loved ones.
8. Fight Social Anxiety: Fear of missing out(FOMO) is social anxiety that arises from a feeling that someone else is having fun while the person feeling this anxiety is not present. And it is a desire to stay connected continuously with what others are doing. Doing a digital detox will help you set the boundaries and reduce your anxiety about missing out. Do it in a way that you don’t care about what’s happening in your digital world. 

My experience with digital detox: 

I never use any digital device as soon as I wake up and before going to bed. Sometimes, When I decide to go for a digital detox for a day or two, I inform my close ones to understand why I am not taking up any calls or responding to their texts. It’s an incredible experience – you’ll get over your temptation to check your phone every hour( Probably one of the most significant benefits).

Digital detox gave me time to reconnect with myself and the people around me. Most of the blogs here are the result of a digital detox because I got ideas from the people around me. Their problems, doubts, questions, etc., are the main driving force here. Most of the time, I don’t carry my phone to the gym, which made my understanding much better about health and fitness.

Also, there’s a time when we don’t use any digital device for some time at our home, be it a mealtime or any other time. The digital detox helps our family discuss the problem if anyone is facing any and allows us to make better decisions. Interaction with family is essential, and it will always help you choose the best for you.

Drop your experiences here and let us know what other benefits you have experienced 🙂 And please share, if you liked it 🙂