It’s a new world these days, don’t you agree? Does anyone remember when we didn’t have smartphones, instant access to the internet, text messages…I could go on? I remember when you actually had to go to the library to look something up – in an encyclopedia! Times have definitely changed – in a positive way – we have so many tech capabilities that weren’t even fathomable not too many years ago. While our tech toys and digital platforms are pretty awesome additions to life, they also tend to swallow us up from time to time. Do you ever feel like that? Like you can’t sit down to relax without checking Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter – you name it. It’s tough to resist! We’re in constant touch with people 100% of the time, up to date on everything happening, playing games, checking social media and not truly giving ourselves a moment to breathe. So, how do you do it? How do you walk away from your computer, tablet or smartphone – even just for an hour a day? If you can’t imagine life without it, trust me – this is worth a read. Let’s talk about three ways to get on a digital diet, stat.
3 Ways to Get on a Digital Diet
Set aside no-tech time each day. Rather than going cold turkey and removing all tech from your life (that would be really tough), dialing your tech consumption back just a bit each day is a great way to get it done. It will give your eyes and mind that little break you really need, but still keep you connected to the world. I promise you – you won’t miss much in an hour or so! So how about it? Find a time each day that works for you to be 100% offline and schedule that as your tech-free time. For me, one of the best ways to do that is when I’m exercising. If I’m at the gym, practicing yoga or out for a run, I’m not also checking my phone. I actually turn it off or leave it at home. When I’ve finished my workout, that’s my cue to take another peek at email or social. Something different might work for you, like no tech after a certain time each night or before a certain time in the morning. Maybe the whole family puts all tech away during dinner. Figure out what works best for you and make a pact to stick with it.
Think about something non-tech related that you do want to focus on. What are your goals for yourself this year? Do you want to take up cooking? Or maybe run a marathon, learn to knit or even start a veggie garden? Put some time into focusing on activities and things to do that are 100% free of tech dependency and get out there and do them. You’ll find yourself really enjoying having the chance to focus on something that is totally entertaining and allows you to free yourself from checking social media, playing games or texting constantly. You’ll probably learn something new and get a great hobby out of the deal too.
Dial back all the notifications. Do you feel like your phone, computer, watch, tablet are all constantly beeping, dinging and vibrating? It happens, and it’s very difficult to ignore. Take a look at your phone settings and figure out which notifications you can turn off and still survive. Do you need to know every single time your bestie posts to Instagram? Probably not. Can you skip knowing each time someone tags you in a tweet? Probably. Whatever and wherever you can bring the notifications down a notch, you’ll be much more likely to focus on what you’re doing rather than checking devices constantly.
So how about it? Can you put yourself on a digital diet? Do you need to take a bit of a tec
