Wouldn’t we all like to live offline anymore? Digital detox is a good step in the direction, because it ensures that you are less likely to reach for your phone or laptop, both consciously and unconsciously. You can apply these tips today.
Why digital detoxing is good for you
A pause Incorporating technology into your life has many benefits for your health. This applies both physically and mentally, if you ask science. Staring less at a small screen results in better posture, prevents dry eyes and reduces the risk of painful joints, but the emotional advantages are just as interesting. According to psychologist Kia-Rai Prewitt of the Cleveland Clinic, a digital detox is good for: more attention and focus. That makes sense, because the fewer notifications and beeps you receive, the less distracted you are by your devices.
This reduction in incentives also has consequences for you stress level: that reduces drastically when you spend less time glued to a screen. And that in turn ensures a better night’s sleep happier feeling and more time to do the things that are important to you, says Prewitt. Add to that healthier social interactions and you understand why the psychologist recommends everyone to detox as quickly as possible. The tips below will help you with this.
Tips to start today
- There’s a good chance that your mailbox is full of newsletters and advertisements. And how many of those messages do you actually read? Unsubscribe from all emails that you do not interact with. This can be done manually, but programs such as Gmail and Hotmail also offer an option to unsubscribe from all advertising in one go. So easy!
- The same goes for old WhatsApp conversations: group apps and conversations with people you never speak to anymore unconsciously ask for you attention. Time to delete them (or archive them, if you really still need them).
- Is the homepage of your laptop or phone full of red icons containing numbers? If you never click away from your notifications, this unconsciously takes up space in your head. Take an afternoon to bring all those numbers down to zero – and then try to keep them there.
- You can do that a lot easier notifications disable unnecessary apps. Of course, you often want to see calls and messages immediately, but emails and notifications from other apps can wait a while.
- Also ask yourself which apps you use at all necessary have. You can also view many things such as news websites in the browser. The big advantage of this is that you only look at it consciously and no longer out of habit.
Fewer notifications, a smaller inbox and a clear home screen are obvious fewer screen time to assure. But these tips also let you live more and scroll less.
The Offline Club is a digital detox hangout in Amsterdam that you want to attend
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