How To Digital Detox Naturally And Effectively
A natural digital detox is essential for your mind, body and spirit. A digital detox is an effective and common strategy to avoid technology and work burnouts.
Earlier, we talked about different ways to improve your workout. In our humble efforts to not only look good on the outside, but also feel good on the inside, a digital detox helps us achieve balance in a world cluttered with electronics. The average American spends over 10 hours per day using a computer, smartphone, tablet, TV and electronic devices. I am writing this article in front of a computer and you will most likely use another computer to read it.
Digital Detox Steps:
To avoid the monotony of everyday electronics, let’s look at a digital detox strategy that will balance your life.
STEP 1: Schedule your Emails
We spend 80% of our attention on short-term, low priority action items. White collar workers “peek” at their inbox about 20 times per day. Worst yet, we read and email, put it at the bottom of our to-do list, and come back to it later.
Turning off your email, or at the very least scheduling your email once every day (or two) will allow you to digital detox effectively.
STEP 2: Put down your cell-phone
A lot of experts suggest “no phone’s at the dinner table”, or “turning off notifications”. I would like to take this one step further and actually put down the cell-phone. If you do not want to turn it off, place it on silence. Take a step back and imagine what would happen to if you did not use your cellphone for 2 days? Would you lose your job? Would your significant other forget where you were? Would YOU forget where you were?
STEP 3: Plan an outing or go outside
Go outside – there are quite a few things to do. Particular outdoor activities which help digitally detox include, biking, hiking, exercising, reading a book under a tree, growing your own garden, wine & canvas, and joining a dance club. The idea of course, is to create a fun habit out of your new activity.
STEP 4: Schedule an out of town vacation
Ana’s World definitely applauds this one! Scheduling a vacation is the best way to digital detox. The more creative and adventurous your vacation, the easier it will be for you to digital detox. Last summer I was fortunate to enjoy an all-inclusive vacation on a small island in the Bahamas. Our vacation days were super packed with exciting activities from dawn to dusk. As a result, we avoided any computer use and were forced to use our cellphones only for pictures (we decided to leave the camera back home).
You may find these digital detox steps self-evident. However, the important part is to actually follow the guidelines. Write these digital detox steps on a sticky note and start the regimen today.
About the Author
Carlos Alvarez is a holistic lifestyle blogger and a dedicated gym goer. Carlos enjoys topics ranging from holistic lifestyle to healthy regimens. Carlos counts calories and exercises on a regular basis
Barely Vegan
February 19, 2016Put down my cell phone?!?! HOW? It’s attached to my hand!!! lol. This was a much-needed read for me. Great tips!
View CommentCynthia @craftoflaughter
February 19, 2016We all need to detox technology once in awhile! I love to pick up a real book and enjoy the texture and smell instead of an electronic gadget once in awhile
View CommentCourtney
February 19, 2016A digital detox sounds like a great thing to do and you gave some great tips but I don’t think I would be able to do it!
View CommentIzabela
February 19, 2016Great tips. I’ve been spending too much time on social media ever since I stared my blog. I think a digital detox is what I need.
View CommentKelly
February 19, 2016Great post and ideas! I try to shut down once a day and go for a long run or a group fitness class. That way I’m as far away from technology as I can get!
View CommentIdaintyit
February 19, 2016This is so important, we all need to switch off from time to time or we will miss what is going on around because we are glued to the screen
View CommentJemma
February 19, 2016I think we all struggle with too much time on social media. I like the sound of a digital detox.
View CommentZoe Forde
February 19, 2016I’m not very good at digitally detoxing. Always feel like I have so much to do online (especially with the blog) but it does make it hard to unwind. It’s extra hard when my source of television is watching Netflix on my laptop. I need to read more I think x
View CommentMatilda
February 19, 2016Yes, great tips! I really need to work on the first two!
View CommentAlison
February 19, 2016Great post! This has been something I have been struggling with for my family because we need a detox every now and then but it is so hard to reinforce. I like that these ideas are actually doable for people of all ages.
View Comment