Are you feeling burned out and tired all the time? Do you feel like you regularly waste a lot of time on social media? Then it may be time for you to do a digital detox and let yourself unwind properly. Wondering how to do that? Here is everything you need to know.
6 Tips to Have a Successful Digital Detox
1. Decide How Long Your Digital Detox Will Last
This will better prepare you for it both psychologically and emotionally. And when you’ll be prepared for it, you’ll be more likely to succeed with it.
If it’s your first time doing it, try to make it as brief as possible, such as a day or two.
Because when you are a beginner at this, it can be difficult to have a digital detox getaway that last for more than a few days.
But if you are already experienced with it, you can do it for a week or even longer.
2. Share Your Plan With Others
Let your loved ones and acquaintances know that you will be unavailable for a while. This way, they don’t have to worry about you not responding.
After all, it’s quite common for people to get worried when you don’t reply to them as quickly as you usually do.
If you feeling anxious that they may not reach you during emergency, tell them they can ring you at a landline phone.
If you don’t have a landline phone, you can use some other method so they can contact you promptly.
3. Define Your Goals
Knowing why you are doing a digital detox will keep you motivated. After all, you may feel like giving up if you don’t have any clears goals for it.
Consequently, you may be tempted to reach for your phone and quit it altogether. So make sure to avoid this scenario by defining your goals from the beginning.
4. Silence Your Notifications
Turn off all non-essential notifications on the devices you use. This way, you can stay concentrated on offline activities and get things done.
Otherwise, you will be constantly interrupted by the sounds of notifications, which will steal your focus and make you less productive.
5. Be Aware of Your Digital Habits
Ask yourself when you usually reach out for your digital devices. In other words, identify the common triggers that make you use a specific device.
This will protect you from the triggers and significantly increase your chances of having a successful digital detox.
6. Prepare Yourself for Bedtime
Try to do some relaxing activities at least an hour before going to bed. For example, you can read a book, drink a green tea, or take a bath.
It all depends on what you feel like doing as long as it doesn’t involve a digital device or tv.
Note that bedtime can be the most tempting time of the day to quit your digital detox.
So being relaxed can help you avoid that because you won’t feel the need to mindlessly reach out for your digital devices.
Benefits of Digital Detox
1. It Improves Your Productivity and Focus
When you distance yourself from social media and all the buzzy notifications, you naturally improve your focus.
After all, when you are free from distractions, you are able to give a specific task your full attention and concentration. This in turn increases your productivity, helping you accomplish things faster and better.
2. It Helps You Reduce Anxiety and Stress Levels
Many people feel the pressure to keep up to date to all the latest news within their own social circle.
This can make you tired and stressed when it starts to feel like a chore. Especially when you do it regularly.
So taking some time away from it can help you feel more relaxed, while reducing stress and anxiety levels.
3. Improved Sleep
Reducing your screen time, particularly before bed, can significantly improve the quality of your sleep.
Blue light emanating from devices can trick your brain into thinking that it’s still daytime. After that happens, your body stops releasing melatonin; a sleep hormone that prepares you for bedtime.
This in turn can negatively affect your circadian rhythm and cause you sleeping problems or worsened quality of sleep.
Final Thoughts
Digital detox can do wonders for your mental health, helping you de-stress and regain focus. It can also allow you to concentrate on tasks important to you while increasing your productivity. So if you feel like you are in need of it, go ahead and get that digital detox getaway you need.
