Taking a digital detox: Here are 5 ways to reset

Technology is not the enemy, in fact it has provided us all with ways to stay connected with family, friends, colleagues, small businesses, it is used as a tool for studying, it offers us a chance to unwind in some cases.

But when technology starts to interfere with your work commitments, physical health, causes rifts in relationships, then its time to ‘switch off’ and take a break from the digital world.

For the majority of people ditching all screens for 2 weeks just isn’t an option so lets look into a more realistic way to unplug.

1. Break the habit – When you have a little window of quiet time or a lull in the day instead of reaching for your phone and taking a quick scroll through Instagram like we all do, give yourself an alternative; Put a book in your handbag to read at lunchtime, subscribe to a magazine and vow to read one page at a time to savour it or learn a new breathing technique such as ‘Nadi Shodana’ – alternate nostril breathing used to calm and clear the mind.
2. Power down – Decide on a specific time in the evening, perhaps a couple of hours before you’d normally hit the hay to switch your phone to silent, turn your T.V off and put your laptop back in its bag. Turning everything off will not only create a calming atmosphere, it will signal to the brain that its time to wind down and prepare for a better nights sleep.
3. Take a day off – Choose a day each week where you stay away from the distraction of screens, you let yourself be in the present moment, allow your mind to find something other than a digital source of entertainment. Alternatively pick a morning or afternoon to detox, taking a couple of hours to just be.
4. Reach out the old fashioned way – Get creative here, write a letter to an old relative you haven’t heard from in a long time, go and knock on a friends door to say hi or use it as an excuse to take their birthday card round instead of posting it. Search for another way to say hi instead of a text message.
5. Challenge yourself – Set yourself a goal such as putting your phone away every time you eat a meal or dig out an old radio to listen to instead of watching a T.V screen. Something achievable that can count towards your tech break.

Ultimately it is up to you how you want to detox and what goals or boundaries you would like to set for yourself, but the benefits remain the same – reconnecting to our true and present self, less headaches and eye strain, a boosted mood, reduction in depressive thoughts, the ability to focus and work productively.

Use the above steps to set yourself up with a plan, for some it will be a welcome break, others will find it more difficult and find boredom creeping in early doors, but once you are over that hurdle and find yourself filling your time with a hobby, project or more fulfilling activity other than a screen, your mind and body will certainly thank you in the long run.

Take this opportunity to deep dive into who you really are away from your screen.

Sending love & light into the world.