How to Find Digital Detox Moments in Every Day

How to Find Digital Detox Moments in Every Day

In recent years, and particularly in 2021, we are struggling more and more to find digital detox moments in our day. A YouGov poll found that more than half of respondents admitted to their screen time going up in lockdown, and that makes sense. We now use our phones to work, learn, connect, relax and even to simply distract from the reality of our new normal. We are checking our smartphone every 12 minutes and 34% of us check it within 5 minutes of getting up in the morning.

It is no wonder that our attention spans have decreased and we are no longer able to give our work and our lives the same undivided focus we used to. We need those digital detox moments in order to be able to function at the same level- our tech habits are denying us much needed downtime to maintain our ability for deep-thinking. So, we have put together some tips to help you rediscover those digital detox moments which used to be more easily found, before our world moved on screen.

Get outside
How to Find Digital Detox Moments in Every Day

As we featured in another recent article on things to do instead of scrolling on your phone, one of the best things you can do to recenter yourself is go outside. According to Harvard going outside improves happiness, concentration, healing and, more obviously, fitness. Our devices were not designed for use alfresco so it is much harder to get distracted by social media or never-ending news notifications. One way to increase the effectiveness of this strategy is to leave your phone at home. Without it you won’t have the crutch of music, a podcast or the occasional check for emails- you will have to focus on the world around you. If you choose to go outside without your devices regularly you can integrate it into your routine and gain back those invaluable digital detox moments on a regular basis.

Link digital detox to your routine

It is very difficult to stick to new resolutions, there is so much going on in our lives that we struggle to remember and implement them regularly. One way to get around this is to tie your digital detox moments to habits that you already engage in. You could tie it to brushing your teeth morning and night, eating, walking your dog or any other habit that you complete without fail daily. That way you will remember it and be able to stick to it.

How to Find Digital Detox Moments in Every Day
Cheat code: If you are struggling to get started on a mindful practice why not use an app such as HeadSpace to help you get in the zone?
Commit

When it comes down to it, the most important step of your journey to regaining your digital detox moments is to commit. There will always be things you can do instead of taking some time to be mindful! So, you need to reexamine your attitude to digital detox and prioritise it the same way you prioritise food and exercise. Our mental and brain health is just as important as the physical so value it in the same way mentally. Once you have made this shift to seeing digital detox moments as a non-negotiable, it should be easier to incorporate them into your day-to-day.

View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

By It's Time to Log Off

Time To Log Off was founded in 2014 by digital entrepreneur, tech ethicist, and author Tanya Goodin. Tanya was inspired to set-up Time To Log Off after over 20 years working exclusively in the online world. She is an award-winning digital entrepreneur: twice a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year award, and for the Blackberry Outstanding Women in Technology award.

It's time to take back control. Recovery IS possible and YOU deserve it! ❤️