Digital Detox: Disconnect To Connect

We live continuously connected, whether it’s mobile, computer or tablet. The digital world has become a fundamental part of our daily routine, but have you ever thought about doing a digital detox?

In fact, mobile is the first and last thing we use every day. However, are we really aware of the time we spend immersed in the digital universe? Perhaps, if we were aware of this, we would start taking measures to avoid this situation, such as a retreat or a digital detox, for example.

What would happen if we cut down on the time we spend on social media? It may be that for some people, just thinking about it causes worry or nervousness. The point is that, not so long ago, social media didn’t even exist.

We are not saying that it is necessary to be radical and reject all types of contact with the digital world. However, we need to be responsible for their use… we need to use these tools sparingly and thus prevent them from taking hold of us.

It is about freeing ourselves from this growing need to be permanently connected  and thus avoid technological dependence. For this, we can start with a digital detox, by disconnecting from technology to connect with reality, that is, with ourselves and with others. Let’s delve into this.

What is a digital detox?

A digital detox or digital detox is to take a breath in the digital world. It is about disconnecting from social networks, the internet and new technologies, breaking the digital bond that we have created and which consumes our time more and more, to occupy ourselves with other matters; like relationships, how to understand where we are, or accomplishing a to-do list that keeps getting longer.

The word detox comes from English and its translation would be detox. It is about extracting the toxic that is in an organism, in this case, the digital world. After all, while it sometimes helps us a lot and entertains us, it also has its negative consequences.

However, it is not about putting an end to our relationship with the digital world, but about being aware of the use we give to this world, the time we spend and what we leave aside because we are connected.

Secrets to digital detox

Thinking about detoxifying from the digital world sounds easy, but it’s not that simple. We get used to your presence in our daily routine. Therefore, we need persistence and dedication. Here are the secrets that can help us achieve this:

• Establish a digital detox moment. It consists of establishing a time for detox. That will depend on each one. It can be on weekends, at a certain time of day, etc. The important thing is to start with something, even if it’s just for a few minutes. That way, let’s make it a habit.

• Go step by step. The rush was never very good. No detox happens overnight. It is important to build the ladder that will take us to our well-being with patience, step by step.
• Going deeper into ourselves. Knowing ourselves, paying attention to our interests or how we feel will help us understand this need to be continually connected. What do we avoid? What do we need? How do we behave in solitude? The most important thing is to be aware that we can live without the digital world…
• Goodbye to notifications! Notifications often turn into great pain. Receiving one notification after another impedes concentration and interrupts our conversations with others. Keeping them turned on with the sound turned on all the time can generate anxiety and a greater need to stay on social media.

• Search for alternative plans. How about going for coffee with a friend, reading a good book or playing a sport? Looking for plans and activities that we like to occupy our free time is a good idea.
• Be empathetic. Putting yourself in the shoes of others is essential. If we are all the time using the cell phone, tablet or computers while staying with our friends or family, we are not respecting them.

On the other hand, it would also be a good idea to avoid leaving the cell phone near us while we sleep. That way, we won’t get caught up in the excitement that comes from exploring the digital world at bedtime and, thus, the quality of our sleep will improve.

It is noteworthy that there are people who not only need a digital breather, but also professional help. This can happen because they rely heavily on the digital universe and are not able to disconnect.

Benefits of this type of detox

There are numerous benefits of performing a digital detox; some of the most important are as follows:

• Stress reduction;
• More time for yourself;
• Better time distribution
• Increased empathy ;
• More time to establish relationships with others and improve bonds with them;
• More authentic relationships;
• More free time;
• It increases the likelihood that we will become more peaceful and relaxed;
• Ease of practicing self-knowledge.

Digital detox favors better relationships with the world, with others and with ourselves. It allows you to make other types of plans and set priorities instead of spending time watching videos or viewing images. A digital detox is an opportunity to connect with reality and maximize our free time.

Disconnecting to reconnect is a wonderful way to notice what we’re missing.