Need a Digital Detox?
Why a Digital Detox Can Help You Live Well
We’re digitally surrounded. From computers to smartphones, TVs to tablets, we’re pinged, notified, emailed, and interrupted by the digital devices that power our way of life as we go about our daily activities. We celebrate our hyper-connected state, believing we’re multi-tasking as we get entertained and educated. Despite some of the advantages of being connected, it’s leading to anxiety, stress, and lack of productivity. That’s why everyone should periodically take a digital detox — intentionally taking breaks from digital devices to reduce their negative effects.
Will you spend 17 years of your adulthood online?
According to the Global Overview Report, if you live to be 80 years old and continue with current digital usage, you’ll spend 17 years of your adult life using the internet.
- On average, individuals in the United States spend 7 hours and 3 minutes daily on screens; this has increased by 30 minutes per day since 2013
- 49% of 0 to 2-year-olds interact with smartphones
- U.S. teenagers spend more than 3 hours per day watching videos or TV
- About 61% of people believe they are addicted to their digital screens
What are digital devices doing to our brain?
Research on the digital revolution’s impact on the human brain is ongoing. However, many experts cite concerns about potential negative physical and mental effects, including:
- Digital addictions
- Decreased attention spans
- Digital dementia — cognitive decline and memory issues caused by excessive use of digital technology
- Reduced gray matter density in the brain impacting regulation, decision-making, and impulse control
- Sleep disruptions
Digital detoxing: Unplug to live well
Technology is intertwined in all aspects of our lives, so it’s impossible for most of us to completely unplug even if we wanted to. However, being intentional about using them less can help you:
- Be more productive: When you stop mindlessly scrolling on social media or the internet for large chunks of time, you’re available to focus on other tasks.
- Feel better: Less time staring at screens means less eye strain, dry eyes, and headaches. Your back and neck discomfort will be relieved when you aren’t hunched looking down at your smartphone. Plus, you’ll have more time to move your body when you’re not tied to a screen.
- Less social comparison: Teens are particularly susceptible to comparing their lives against others on social media, but any person at any age can experience depression from comparison or fear of missing out.
- Reduce stress: When you do things such as reduce your news consumption, it can help you avoid stress. Negative news can trigger your fight-or-flight response, contribute to anxiety, and affect your emotions. Taking a break from the 24/7 news cycle can reduce your stress and improve your mental health.
4 tips for a digital detox
There’s no downside to a digital detox; however, it can be challenging at first. Here are a few tips to make a digital detox successful.
- Start small but start: Your goal should be reducing your screen time, not eliminating it. Over time, you can increase non-screen time.
- Make it a family affair: Implement some family rules around the use of technology. Adopt screen-free times throughout the day or designate certain areas of your home where screens are not allowed (and make everyone follow it). Share the negative impacts of excessive technology with your family so they understand the benefits of a digital detox.
- Turn off notifications: All the text, email, and social media alerts are hard to ignore. Take away the temptation by turning off your notifications.
- Plan activities without technology: If you’re occupied with other activities, you’ll be less apt to miss your devices.
After you schedule your Pilates session by calling or texting us at 303-472-6743, we encourage you to put your phone down. Pilates and functional fitness classes at Taylor Pilates and Fitness are no tech zones. We invite you to see how we can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.