What Is a Digital Detox—and Why You Should Consider One
Let’s face it most of us are always on. We wake up to notifications and it’s the first thing we do before we even get out of bed in the morning. We spend our days bouncing between social media feeds, and video content, and fall asleep scrolling just one more time. While technology has made our lives more connected than ever it can leave us more distracted and mentally exhausted than ever before.
Enter the digital detox – it’s a growing trend that’s all about hitting pause on screen time and establishing a healthier relationship with technology. Whether you spend a full weekend offline or just an hour a day of unplugged time, a digital detox offers you a chance to recharge and reconnect with what truly matters.
The benefits of a digital detox includes: improved focus, reduced stress, better sleep and a strong sense of presence in daily life. In a world where being “busy” is the norm, choosing to unplug – even briefly – is an important act of self care.
In this post, we’ll explore what a digital detox really means, why it’s more important than ever, and how you can start your own—even if it’s just one mindful step at a time.
A Digital Detox Weekend is a great way to disconnect, recharge, and focus on activities that don’t involve screens. Here’s a guide to help you create one:
Set Clear Intentions
Focus on why you need to do a digital detox. Do you find yourself going to bed too late or are you too stressed about what’s going on in the world? A digital detox would be beneficial to you. Set clear boundaries before you start. Decide what you count is digital. Will you still have access to social media or your email? What about television and streaming apps?
Choose the Right Weekend
Pick a weekend when you don’t have pressing work or other obligations and let those around you know that you will be unavailable so they aren’t concerned about you being unreachable.
Prepare in Advance
Start winding down a few hours before your planned detox begins. Power off devices and set them out of sight and turn on any auto responders if they are necessary. Be sure to let everyone know that you will be offline the entire weekend so they can plan accordingly. Don’t forget to download your favorite content before the weekend starts; download your favorite movies, podcasts, or books so you don’t have to worry about being bored.
Plan Activities
Spending some time outdoors if possible; take a hike, visit a park or simply sit outside and relax. Fresh air can be beneficial to help you reset and relax without technology. Consider doing some exercising whether that’s going for a walk, yoga, or riding a bike it can be beneficial to getting you into that zen mindset. What do you like to do? If you’re creative work on that project you’ve been putting off, or try something new. If you enjoy cooking or baking, try that new recipe you’ve been wanting to try or pick up that book you’ve been dying to read but haven’t been able to find the time to or consider inviting friends over to share a good clean, play board games, or just share a good time with each other.
Set Limits on Phone Usage
Consider putting your devices out of reach. If you can put your phone in another room or lock it up so you can’t access it. Take a look at your screen time and/or like apps and see where you spend the most time and limit or block access to those apps during your detox. Share an emergency number with someone close to you so they can get in contact with you in case there’s an emergency during your detox time.
Create a Relaxing Environment
Ever been to a spa and just feel so relaxed when you leave? There’s a reason why. Playing ambient music such as instrumentals, nature sounds or calming sounds have been found to put you in a better mood. If scents put you in a relaxing mood consider using your favorite calming scents in candles or incense to help you unwind. Physical clutter can make it more difficult for you to relax so consider doing a quick declutter of your surroundings. Not only will this benefit you physically it can help with the mental clutter in your mind as well.
Practice Mindfulness
Spend a few minutes each day practicing mindfulness or guided meditation. Breathing exercises can also help you lower stress levels especially when you feel overwhelmed. Journaling is another helpful tool in gathering your thoughts and letting go of anything you’re feeling stressed about. This can help process any withdrawal you may be feeling from being disconnected.
Reflect on the Experience
After completing your detox it’s important to reflect on how this experience has made you feel. Journaling is one way that can help you get out those thoughts about how you felt and what you noticed during your break. This will become a great tool in evaluating your relationship with technology and where you want to limit consumption. Also consider a gradual integration afterwards by integrating elements from your detox into your routine. Will you continue to set screen limits or schedule offline activities?
Tips for a Successful Detox:
Don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Don’t get upset with yourself if you accidentally slip up and check your phone or respond to a social media post. It’s okay and just refocus on your detox goals. Stay focused in the present. If you feel like your attention is slipping, take a breath and enjoy the moment. Most importantly, have fun. This detox is not a punishment but a rejuvenating experience. If you don’t think you can go the entire weekend come back to it another time and start with a smaller timeframe. Even if you take 30 minutes of screen less time a day it can be beneficial to you and help you reach your ultimate goal.
Jacqueline is a thirty-something mother to five children under the age of twenty. While she’s not busy attending to her large family she enjoys writing about organization, crafts, and DIY projects, creating recipes, and blogging about her family.
Leave a Reply