What is a Digital Detox, and Why Should You Don One?

Introduction to a Digital Detox

In 2023 technology is ever present in our lives, from smartphones to tablets that we use throughout the day. A life without digital devices would be unimaginable even for older people like me, who grew up without smartphones or computers.

While there are a lot of benefits to the internet, such as staying in touch with family far away or getting up-to-date news, there are also downfalls.

According to the website Digital Detox, which works with school children and offers digital detox certification, a 2015 survey found that around 59% of smartphone users check a social media platform five minutes before bed and within 30 minutes of waking up.

Further, 53% of millennials wake up at least once every night to check their phones. 50% of teens feel addicted to them.

The Nielsen Company has conducted research and found that the average U.S. adult spends 11 hours daily interacting with media. That’s excessive, considering we also need to sleep, eat and conduct personal hygiene.

‘Social media not only snatches your time, but it also teaches you attention deficiency.’ Neeraj Agnihotri, Procrasdemon, The Artist’s Guide to Liberation from Procrastination

Carol Vidal, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, says that excessive technology use can eliminate time from sleep, exercising and socialising.

Considering the above and the growing realisation by people about the damage that social media can do, a new trend known as digital detox has been rising since 2016.

Game quitters in an article on digital detox define it as follows:

There’s no clear definition of a digital detox exactly, but it typically entails a commitment to boycotting technology – or specific aspects of technology – for a certain period.

To learn more about what a digital detox entails and its purpose, read on below.

What is a digital detox?

According to Kendra Cherry on the website Verywellmind a digital detox is simply a period where someone refrains from using technology to focus on real-life interactions:

A digital detox refers to a period of time when a person refrains from using tech devices such as smartphones, televisions, computers, tablets, and social media sites. “Detoxing” from digital devices is often seen as a way to focus on real-life social interactions without distractions. By forgoing digital devices, at least temporarily, people can let go of the stress that stems from constant connectivity.

A digital detox can take on several forms. It can be a complete cut-off from all digital devices such as phones, computers and TVs, or it can be a restriction on their use. While staying away from the TV and social media might be doable, not using phones or email at all will not work unless on holiday. Most of us require computers and email for our day jobs.

A popular alternative to a full-on digital detox is a social media break. As the name implies, it means staying away from Twitter, Facebook and the like. Celebrities like Ed Sheeran and Kendall Jenner, who have done a social media detox, have popularised them.

How to Do a Digital Detox

If you have decided that a digital detox is right for you, you might wonder about the practicalities.

Start by writing down your reasons for doing a digital detox and what you hope to achieve from it. This will help you shape the nature of your upcoming detox.

Firstly, decide on the length of the digital detox and what to include in it. Would you like to do an all-out detox in which any type of digital device is verboten? Or will you still use computers and email for work? Whatever you decide, be realistic about what works with your lifestyle. Don’t decide on a 10-week detox when you run a YouTube channel or write emails for work.

Find ways to make use of your devices more difficult. For example, put your phone in a different room than the one you are currently in. Turn off notifications on your phone, temporarily uninstall apps, and unplug your computer when not in use. The above will avoid the temptation to cheat and sneakily go online.

Tell everyone around you that you are on a digital detox to stay accountable. Once you have declared your intention to the world, you will likely go through with it.

If you are a heavy user of digital devices and, for example, like watching TV, try to find activities before detoxing that could replace that. For example, arrange to meet up with friends or check out books from your local library.

During the detox, track your usage to ensure you are not exceeding your set limit. There are apps on your phone for that purpose.

Once you have completed your detox, create a plan of how to use your devices in the future. Do you want to go back to your old ways? Have you learned things from the detox? Are there things that you want to change regarding your digital usage?

What is the purpose of a digital detox?

There are all sorts of reasons why people take a digital detox. Some people may feel addicted to their devices, while others seek to free up time for a new hobby. Let’s explore some of them in more detail.

One reason could be to become more productive by having fewer interruptions to your work and sharpening your focus. Did you know it takes you 20 minutes to get back into what you were doing when you spend just 5 minutes online? It is so easy these days to go onto YouTube or the Guardian website to read or watch just one thing. Before you know it, half an hour has passed.

Sharper focus

With frequent beeps and pop-up notifications on electronics, it’s easy to be distracted from what’s going on around you, says Prewitt. During a digital detox, you may find that you notice more in your immediate surroundings. Your brain can concentrate much better on your tasks.

(Phoneix Bond Learning Center Blog)

Decreasing stress can be another reason to detox. Some people, especially teenagers, feel anxious about constantly being online and needing to respond to messages as they come in.

Tech overload causes anxiety and stress and isn’t very good for your mental health. Push notifications, the need to instantly reply to messages, work emails after hours.. The digital world is increasing our stress levels, and chances are it’ll only get worse. Even if you don’t reply to a notification immediately, the fact that you know it’s waiting for you is a distraction on its own. Embrace a digital detox in the evening or on your weekends and allow yourself to fully unwind and reset.

(Power living)

A digital detox can also positively impact your quality of sleep. According to a report, 40% of Britons are getting less than the NHS-recommended 6 – 9 hours of sleep. We have all heard about the adverse effects of the blue light emitted from your phone on your health. Further, if you turn off your phone at night, you will not wake up with a beeping notification or the urge to check it.

A digital detox also leads to better social interactions. For example, you can meet up with family and friends and give them their full attention rather than checking your phone in between talking to them.

Conclusion

I hope the above has given you some idea of what a digital detox is, the benefits of doing one and whether it is right for you.

If you want to find out how I got on with doing a digital detox and what I thought about it, watch this space!

If you want to read about last year’s challenge, where I engaged in a no-buy month, check out my blog post here.