It’s time for a technology detox!
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit it, I spend too much time on technology. I use my computer for work daily, and I spend way too much time on my phone; sending texts, posting social media posts or just scrolling. I also love watching television and movies. I am the queen of binge watching shows!
I have been contemplating a technology detox for awhile, but addiction is a sneaky thing. It will talk you out of making a change every time. Apparently, I am not the only one who loves technology. Recent estimates show that the average American spends more than 5 hours per day on digital devices and watches approximately 4.5 hours of television.
A technology detox is a set period of time in which you stop using technological devices. Smartphones, television, Computers, tablets etc… You can choose to give them all up for a set number of days, you can limit your time on them daily, or you can do a little of both.
why should you do a detox?
To Improve Your Mental and physical Health
Too much time on technology is bad for your health. It can affect your sleep, as well as cause anxiety and depression. It can also affect our work like balance. It’s difficult to separate home and work life when you are constantly connected to work through technology. In addition, social media makes it hard not to compare ourselves to others. We compare our lives to family, friends, total strangers and celebrities. Comparison is the thief of joy.
So you can have better relationships and communication Skills
Because of technology, people of all ages are losing these basic social skills:
- Eye Contact – It is hard to look at other people when you are looking down at your phone. Eye contact is the strongest form of non-verbal communication. 43% of the attention we focus on someone is concentrated on their eyes. It is one of the most important components in forming emotional connections. Eye contact is used to convey many emotions : respect, confidence, standing your ground, kindness, love etc…
- Phone Skills– Are becoming a thing of the past. The tendency to text rather than call people has left the younger generation inept and nervous while having a conversation via the telephone.
- Conversation– Technology is also taking it’s toll on the art of conversation. Many people don’t know how to ask questions about others. They also don’t know how to listen and they are unable to read other people’s social cues.
- Attention Span – Technology has made it hard to concentrate on one thing for any length of time. Social Media platforms and apps are made to hold our attention for a fraction of a second before swiping to something new.
- Face to Face Confrontation – Texting is a disinhibited form of communication. Many people, especially children and teens today are using texting or social media as a way of communication to avoid challenging conversations. The reason given most often for this : “I don’t have to do look at the other person’s face.” This type of communication is causing us to miss out on critical social and problem solving abilities. In addition it is making people less empathetic.
So you can be more creative
People’s cognitive abilities are being challenged because of technology overload. The capacity for analytical thinking is declining. Studies also show a decline in memory, focus, creativity, reflection and mental resilience.
“The more the culture equates knowledge with data and social life with social media, the less time is spent on the path of wisdom, a path that always requires a good quotient of self-awareness. Devices make it easy to find answers elsewhere so people forget to ask deep questions of themselves. This lack of uninterrupted introspection creates a very human problem: the anxiety of not knowing oneself.”
Meg Mott, Professor of politics at Marlboro College
How to do a detox
The parameters of a technology detox are really up to you. I have decided that I am going to start by not using any technology for one day a week: no phone, television or computer. I will check my phone a few times a day for calls and texts in case of emergency. Other than that I will not engage with any electronics at all. I will do this for two months and then I will increase it to two days a week.
There are so many things I want to do, but don’t do, because I get sucked into using or watching mind numbing electronic devices. I want to start painting (I have actually had all the supplies for over a year). I also want to start riding my bike and reading more books. I think if scrolling on my phone and Netflix are not an option that I will be more inclined to do these things.
I am also going to put time constraints on my technology use daily. I’m only going to go on my phone for a half hour in the morning, and a half hour in the afternoon. I am going to try it for awhile and see how it goes.
It is completely up to you how you want to plan your technology detox. I think any amount of time that you spend away from it to do other things is going to be beneficial to you. I hope that this blog gave you some useful information and I wish you luck with your own technology detox!
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