Digital Detox: What it is and why you need one
Last month, I found myself falling into a spiral of constant comparisons. Was my website nice enough, was my Instagram feed catchy enough, were my photos good enough? Was I enough? I was thinking about content and engagement while having a shower, cooking, working. Clearly, it was not a healthy head space to be in and, something needed to be done. It was time for a digital detox.
The average person spends two and a half hours per day on social media. I don’t know about you, but that blows my mind. Two and half hours. That’s almost the length of the Titanic film. It’s longer than most people take commute to and from work. It’s a quarter of the time that most of us sleep. And it’s an awfully long time to be getting constant impressions from the world at large. Imagine standing in a room for two and a half hours with hundreds of different people talking to you, showing you videos, sharing music, all trying to get your attention. If you’re anything like me, the thought fills you with dread. Don’t get me wrong, social media is a great thing. I’ve connected with so many amazing people, it’s a source of inspiration and can really enhance our lives. But it can also be a reason for so many of us to start self-loathing, doubting, or downright procrastinating.
Digital detoxing is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s taking time out from the digital world - whatever that looks like for you - and reconnecting to yourself and the people around you. For me, it meant social media, being Instagram and Facebook. I made the decision on a Monday morning and figured I’d go until Friday, to give myself time to get work done, catch up with friends and have some ‘me time.’ I put all my social media apps (including related photo editing apps) into a folder and shifted them to my second screen, and then turned off the notifications. And from that moment on, I pretty much forgot social media even existed.
I worked. I started an online course I’d bought months prior. I read. I slept, much deeper and longer than usual. I enjoyed a friend’s visit and a yoga event without even thinking to take photos. It was heaven. I felt much better about myself, where I was at, what I was doing and why I was doing it. And when Friday rolled around, I decided I wanted to extend over the weekend.
I don’t use social media as much as some people around me and still, it had such a huge and positive impact on my overall wellbeing - not to mention my iPhone battery. So if you’re wondering if a digital detox is for you, then ask yourself the following questions:
Do you look at your phone first thing in the morning?
Do you find yourself scrolling through your feed without even noticing what you’re scrolling past?
Are you constantly checking the number of your followers and getting stressed about it?
These are just 3 questions that might start to make you realise that a break from the online world might be a good thing. And, no joke, as I write this, I’m sitting in a cafe, with two guys next to me who’ve been sitting on their phones (using Instagram) without speaking to each other for the last 30 minutes. A perfect example of social media use gone too far (in my opinion). And if you need any further convincing then here are three reasons why a digital detox is going to leave you feeling calmer, mentally and emotionally stronger and more present:
Self-care. Not having something to constantly compare yourself to, put yourself down about or feel left out over frees up so much time for you to focus on YOU. That’s two and half hours to read, journal, go for a walk, have sex - whatever! If you’re trying to establish a self-care regimen, then start with this.
Connect with the people around you. If you’re not constantly on your phone, you’ve got more time to talk to people in real life. Don’t be like these two dudes sitting next to me!
Get shit done! If you’re complaining that you don’t have enough time to meet your friends, to start that course, to learn that language, to go to yoga, then are you really being honest. Freeing up that 2.5 hours per day means time to do things that bring you joy and make your life something beautiful.
If you’ve never tried a digital detox before, this is a great time to experiment!