How to do a Digital Detox

Do You Need One?

Have you ever opened your phone to answer a text or search something up, and somehow ended up scrolling on TikTok or Instagram for hours? It's humbling. I think many of us (including myself) are on our screens a lot longer than we would like to admit. Think about how much of our lives we spend on social media, when that time could be spent improving ourselves, spending time with our friends and family, and living our lives meaningfully.

Honestly, social media can be very tiring. While I can only speak for myself, I believe many of us are addicted to it and love to know about everything there is to know online. Because we have everything available to us right at our fingertips, we are overloaded with information and stress that has no meaning to our own lives. Yes, it's good to be aware of what's going on in the world, but not everything, and certainly not the lives and news of every celebrity, influencer, and content creator out there.

Yes, I know, it's ironic to be talking about detoxing from technology as you're reading this blog (and I'm writing it)! However, I believe there should be a balance between our life and social media. You don't have to completely remove yourself from all technology. But you can limit your time and manage it in a way that's useful to you. For example, this blog will (hopefully) teach you how to detox from social media and eventually benefit your life. That's a much different way of using social media than mindlessly scrolling on TikTok.

What Would a Detox Do?

A digital detox can be very beneficial. They can help to:

1. Enhance productivity

2. Expand your attention span- which we know has unfortunately been broken by tiktoks & reels

3. Engage in offline activities

4. Increase mindfulness

5. Improve sleep

6. Improve mood

7. Allow you to find new hobbies

8. Decrease reliance on technology

9. Promote good posture-no more hunchbacks!!

10. Improve relationships

11. Reconnect with the natural world and spend more time doing the things you love

And there's much more! Anyway, if this has proven to you that you want a break (or at least a limit) to technology, then let's start!

Where to Start

Completely removing yourself from all technology is a stretch. It's a good idea to start with baby steps and assess the issues. Start with asking yourself these questions:

1. "How many hours am I spending on screens?"

2. "What do I want to prioritize in my life? Is my technology use aligned with my priorities?"

3. "What parts of social media make me feel better, and what parts leave me feeling worse?"

4. "Does social media pull me away from my values? For example, is it making me sleep less, spend less time with my loved ones, or procrastinate from doing my work?"

5. "What's my biggest problem with technology?"

Now that you've determined what's negatively impacting you and what you want to change, you have a plan set. Now you can make it more specific and set certain goals that you want to reach.

Setting your Goals

Your next step is to set specific goals that you want to reach that will allow you to easily see your progress and commitment. Since you know your plan (on what you want to change, prioritize, etc. about your life and relationship with technology), you can make goals to align with it.

A detox can be different for everybody because everyones lives and priorities are different, so here are some ideas of goals that you can set:

• Limit Screen Time: Set specific limits for how much time you spend on screens each day. For example, you might decide to reduce social media use to 30 minutes per day or avoid screens entirely during meals and the hour before bed.

• Schedule Device-Free Zones: Designate certain areas of your home, like the bedroom or dining room, as device-free zones. This can help create spaces where you can focus on relaxation and face-to-face interactions without digital distractions.

• Reconnect with Offline Activities: Set a goal to engage in at least one new offline activity each week, such as reading a book, taking a walk, or trying a new hobby. This helps to shift your focus from digital consumption to enriching experiences that don’t involve screens. Personally, I love crocheting, solving puzzles and diamond art, and cooking/baking.

  • This crochet kit on Amazon comes with everything you need to get started; 15 skeins of various colors of yarn, 21 crochet hooks, 10 locking stitch markers, 6 yarn needles, stitch counter, row counter, tape measure, scissors, thimble, 4 point protectors, crochet supplies organizer and cute crochet tote bag to keep everything tidy! They have a smaller crochet kit as well if you want something simpler to start with.

  • I LOVE solving puzzles and diamond art. In fact, I have a diamond art hanging in my room and a puzzle being solved right now! The 500 piece puzzle I'm working on is gorgeous and goes beautifully in any house. If you want diamond art with this type of style, this diamond art sakura garden kit is beautiful. I love this vase of roses kit as well.

  • If you don't have baking supplies already, this kit contains everything that you could possibly think of!

  • Embroidery, Origami, and an Indoor Garden System are all fun, interesting hobbies for you to try that can keep you away from screens.

*Warning, these hobbies are addictive!

With these goals, you're on your path to a healthier and happier life!