From shopping to dating, connecting with family and friends to even learning, the last two years have turned our entire life into a virtual reality of sorts. Before when we would use our phones to only connect with our families across the state, now it is a way to connect with everyone for even the smallest detail. While using our phones would be a way to relax and discover new, fun things to do, now it has become an addictive pleasure.
We have begun to start and end our day by the phone screen, and have forgotten the meaning of ‘living life.’ We have stopped experiencing nature, getting physical exercise, and spending time with family. Hence, it’s time to unplug and maintain a healthy balance between IRL (in real life) activities and the digital world.
5 Signs That You Need To Detox
A digital detox can be very beneficial. It improves your mental health, reduces stress and helps you explore your long lost hobbies. Click here to know more about digital detox.
1. You Spend More Time Than Intended
Technology can be quicksand, sticky and challenging to escape. It starts with one post on Instagram to an endless sea of posts and tweets. You start texting a guy you like and end up texting all night. And before you know it, you’ve spent hours, mindlessly scrolling. Start setting blocks and scheduling your phone time to achieve a digital detox.
2. A Wave Of Guilt Passes You
Using the internet, scrolling through social media is fun but indulging in it, more than usual makes you feel guilty. You are filled with the regret and question, ‘where did all the time go?’ and ‘I could have done my assignments.’ Overindulging in technology will have you lose time more than gain anything.
3. Digital Connectivity Can Make You Feel Like You’re Missing Out
Fear of missing out, known as FOMO, is the fear that you are missing the experiences that everyone else is having. Constant connectivity can feed this fear. Every time you see a vacation story, post or even hear plans about it, you would feel like you are not living life well enough. Like you are missing out on the good parts of life. And eventually might find yourself overcommitting to social events out of the fear that you’ll be left behind. FOMO can also keep you constantly checking your device out of fear that you are going to miss an important text, DM, or post.
4. You Have Urges To Constantly Check
You might have sent a text to your crush and now you are glued to the phone waiting for a reply. Or maybe waiting for your boss’ reply on the proposal you sent? One of the main signs you need a digital detox is that you constantly check your phone. And maybe the text is important. But when you are not at work, keeping away from all work-related calls can help keep away from the phone. For instance, you might choose to turn your phone off or on a do-not-disturb mode when you are on a weekend holiday or just with family.
5. You Don’t Have Enough Time & You Have A Disturbed Sleep Cycle
You are on your laptop and phone screen throughout the day. And that can get a little stressful. After a certain point, your body adjusts to the fact that as work is stressful. Your phone, (since it’s used for work purposes also) can also be stressful and draining. Imagine you turn to social media to relax for some time before sleeping. But heavy device use, particularly before bedtime, can interfere with sleep quality and quantity. It has been found that using social media when you are in bed at night increases the likelihood of anxiety, insomnia, and shorter sleep duration. This is why phone detox becomes necessary, especially during nighttime. Here is some expert advice on how you can ditch the phone and get your sleep cycle back on track.
