How to Improve Your Life In The Pandemic With A Digital Detox
During a pandemic such as COVID, millions of people have been told to stay home more just so that we can ‘flatten the curve’ and hopefully reduce the exponential increase in infections.
Whether this method works or not is debatable, but one cannot deny that staying at home for too long without much productive work to do can lead to negative consequences such as depression, obesity and so on. Like they say, an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.
Take sometime and watch the Netflix movie “The Social Dilemma“. You’ll be blown away at just how manipulative social media is designed to be and how seriously it’s impacting people in a negative fashion.
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The Silent Culprit That’s Messing With Your Mind
One of the biggest culprits that causes depression, anger and anxiety is social media. While it can be used productively for one’s business and to stay in touch with your friends, etc. it can also become a toxic environment where you end up debating with total strangers and getting angry and depressed for no reason.
If you find yourself reaching for your phone every few seconds or you feel your temper rising as you argue politics with random strangers, it’s time for a digital detox.
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What Will You Accomplish With A Digital Detox?
The whole idea of a digital detox is to keep you away from digital devices such as smart phones, tablets, television, radio, computers, social media platforms, etc.
However, it’s not the device per se that you’re trying to steer clear from. The goal is to avoid the constant notifications that appear on these devices and get your attention repeatedly. It’s the negative effect of the fake news on TV and the vitriol from hateful people raging about politics and other ‘hot button’ topics that you’re trying to avoid.
The way to avoid these irrelevant aggravations in your life is to do a digital detox so that you can reclaim your sanity instead of spiralling down a vicious vortex of hate, anger and self-righteousness.
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Easy Ways To Do A Digital Detox
The best way to do a digital detox will be to avoid using the devices that will allow you to surf the internet or which have constant notifications. Decide how many days you’ll do the detox for.
Some people may choose to go with one day, while others may choose 3 days over the weekend. There’s no right or wrong answer here. As long as you follow a few simple rules, you’ll be fine.
The first rule is – NO social media! Period. Avoid using any digital device that will tempt you to log into your Facebook or Twitter accounts. By locking your mobile phone, tablet, laptop in a drawer somewhere in the house, you’ll be less likely to be tempted. Eliminate ALL ways you might get baited to check your social media.
The second rule – NO news! These days, most media outlets have their own agendas and the news they put out is slanted to fit in with their objectives. It’s no longer about reporting facts but about brainwashing people to ‘join their side’.
If you’re not on the same page as them, the news you see may aggravate you. So, it’s best to avoid watching TV where you might come across news bites and so on. The same applies to listening to the radio where controversial talk shows may rile you up. Avoid the TV and radio during your detox.
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So, now what do I do?
Now that you’re avoiding these devices, there are a few other steps you can take. Use an alarm clock instead of your phone to wake you up. This will reduce the temptation to check social media.
Engage in activities that will move your body. Yoga, cardio activities, resistance training, etc. will help to boost your dopamine levels and allow you to release stress through exertion. You’ll feel better, improve your health and set up some new habits that will serve you a lot better than scrolling through social media.
Alternatively, you may choose to visit a friend for a cup of coffee, as long as you don’t talk about polarizing topics or the current news. The goal is to catch up, have fun and pass the time. Enjoy being around people and being present in your conversations without the distraction of devices.
You may also try and declutter a room in your house. This will help keep you organized and your time will be spent productively. Improving and organizing your living space can be a huge productivity booster that stays with you long after the clutter is gone. And that’s a win.
The goal is to get through the day/s without reaching for your digital devices. The best way to do that is to stay occupied. It doesn’t matter whether you’re getting a massage or cooking a new dish or coloring in a book. Find something interesting to do and be proud of yourself for sticking with your digital detox. There’s tremendous power in keeping your word to yourself and sticking with it. When you put a positive spin on it and pat yourself on the back it makes it a breeze to get through the day without the habitual distraction of devices.
What matters is that you’re spending your time productively and/or relaxing and taking a break from the stress that’s associated with these digital devices.
Once you get through your digital detox, you’ll feel calmer and happier. From here on, it’s just a matter of scheduling screen time daily and keeping track of how much time you’re frittering away on social media. The rule of thumb – less is more. Remember, social media is designed to be addictive. Just having that awareness and making the commitment to yourself to use your time better puts you in control of your devices.
Avoid using your phone while you eat or before bed or while you’re soaking in the bath tub. All these are opportunities for you to step away from the stresses of the world. Don’t let your digital devices intrude in your day to day activities. And keep in mind that the blue light that emits from devices wrecks havoc on your sleep patterns. Turn off your devices at least an hour before bed or get some blue blocking glasses to minimize the effect of the light on your circadian cycles.
Being mindful of your usage of these devices will prevent you from getting depressed during a pandemic when everyone is ranting and raging over everything that doesn’t make sense. Be cautious and have your guard up. There’s so much division between people about covid, politics and masks that it can really have a negative effect on your well being.
Focus on being mindful, happy, peaceful and have faith that everything will work out well for you. After all it has so far and it will continue to do so. Take control of your device usage and let them be an asset and a resource for you that’s under your control. Having that awareness puts you in the drivers seat and sets you up for the win.