Phones away! Since the Lenten Season is here, it’s time to reflect on ourselves with God and focus on real-life situations rather than your eyes glued to your screens. In this era of digital technology, people are distracted in the digital world through the excessive use of social media rather than enjoying today’s reality. However, spending time on phones usually brings prolonged effects such as insomnia, low self-esteem and increased stress levels.
Digital detox is the intended reduction of time spent on technology use by disconnecting devices and limiting social media use. This is a way to cut distractions from the digital world and focus on real-life interactions and on personal well-being, resulting in a deeper understanding of reality and oneself.
Also, it brings healthy benefits to mental health by promoting better sleep, leads to a balanced life and improves healthy relationships with oneself. Cleansing yourself with some negatives from social media can bring your life satisfaction and boost self-esteem.
Ways to do a digital detox:
- Set your boundaries. Setting boundaries is normal whenever you feel like extreme usage is consuming you. Try to limit using phones when you are eating meals, spending time with your family, working on academic or professional work or even going to bed. This gives you time alone with yourself. Also, limit the duration of using social media platforms and turn off social media notifications so that you can be more present in offline reality.
- Provide a schedule of activities. Instead of spending all day in bed scrolling your phone down, try to go out for a walk alone or with family and friends or even do household chores and play with pets. Engage with physical activities that can boost your immune system and enhance your overall physical lifestyle such as exercise, dancing, running, or community activities like tree planting or coastal clean-ups.
- Create tech-free zones. Workplace areas in the house should have off-limits places on using cell phones such as in kitchens, bedrooms or even inside bathrooms. This way helps to be more productive with oneself rather than spending time using social media in all places for long period of time.
- Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is an act of paying attention to the current situation. Focus and assess your feelings during digital detox and focus on the present moment in your life. This can help you to manage your emotions properly without any influence of social media.
- Make time with friends and family. Time is too short to spend with family and friends. You can all use all the time in the world to spend endlessly with your phone but not with them. Try to reconnect with them and engage in wholeheartedly casual conversations, this helps you to rewind and strengthen emotional and physical bonds with them.
Although limiting cell phone usage is hard, especially when you are regularly using it for school and work, it can simply be rewarding because it will help you in the long run by lowering stress, anxiety, better sleep, and improving focus on life goals. When one is simply overwhelmed by everything, digital detox is the key.
