If you’re like most people, you can’t go a day without technology. You use it to work, watch movies, keep up with your social media accounts, and stay connected with friends and family. There’s no denying that technology has made our lives a lot easier. We can access information faster and more efficiently than ever before. But sometimes, it’s important to unplug from technology and enjoy the moment. Here are tips to help you unplug from technology.
Why it is important to Unplug from technology
Did you know? That an average America spends around 12 hours in front of their screens, this combines the time spent on computers, watching shows, and smartphones. This suggests that half our day is spent staring at our screens and using technology. This is just one reason you should unplug from technology but let us take a look at the other reasons.
Improved sleep quality
Unplugging from technology can also help you sleep better. The blue light emitted from electronic screens can disrupt your natural sleep cycle, making it harder to fall asleep. Therefore to get better quality of sleep, it is important to start unplugging from technology a few hours prior to going to bed.
Not only is our sleep disturbed because of the blue light, but because we are addicted. Sometimes we feel that we are missing out on important information and therefore wake up in the middle of the night to check our phones.
More time for family and friends
Spending time with loved ones is important for maintaining healthy relationships. But if you’re always on your phone or computer, you’re not really present. Unplugging from technology will allow you to be more engaged in conversation and create meaningful bonds with the people you care about.
Improved productivity
When you’re constantly checking your phone or email, it’s easy to get sidetracked. You may start reading an article that has nothing to do with what you’re supposed to be doing. Or you might get drawn into a social media debate that takes up hours of your time.
The distraction you may face is because of your addiction to technology. Therefore one key to increasing your productivity is reducing your time spent on smartphones.
Allows you to be in the present moment
One of the best things about unplugging from technology is that it allows you to be in the present moment. Technology can be a huge distraction, preventing you from enjoying the simple things in life. When you’re not tethered to your phone, you can take in your surroundings and appreciate the moment you’re in.
Reduces stress and anxiety
Constantly being connected to technology can be stressful. You might feel like you have to respond to work emails outside of office hours or check your social media accounts every few minutes. This can lead to anxiety and stress.
Unplugging from technology will give you a break from the constant notifications and help you relax.
How to unplug from technology
We all know that is important that we take some time off from technology and learn to unplug. The question that arises is how to power down in a wired world. How do you actually unplug from technology when it plays such an important part in our life. Here are some tips which you can try to incorporate into your daily life.
Track your usage
Before you start making changes to your technology usage, it’s important to take stock of how you’re currently using it. For a week, track the amount of time you spend on your phone, computer, watching tv, and other electronic devices. This will give you a better idea of where you need to cut back.
It is easy to track how much time you spend on your phone using the screen time app. This app gives you a detailed report of your usage. In order to track your usage on the computer and television. I would suggest using a paper or your smartphone to note down the time you started using the technology and at what time you stopped. Try to include any breaks.
This is important because it will determine where and what you need to cut down.
Start small
Once you have tracked your usage, it is important to make changes slowly. If you try to go cold turkey, chances are you will fail. Instead, start by making small changes such as cutting back your screen time by 30 minutes each day. Try to increase this slowly every day. You can also try and set limits, for example, you can decide that you will only use technology for 1 hour. Whatever you do try starting small and slowly increasing it.
Delete social media apps
A great way to reduce your screen time is by deleting social media apps from your phone. If you find it too difficult to stay off social media, deleting the apps will make it harder for you to access them. You can still use social media on your computer, but this will help you cut down significantly.
Set Device-free zones
Set up a zone where you are not allowed to use your phone or any other electronic devices. This could be your bedroom, the dining table, or even when you’re out with friends or family.
This will help you start unplugging from technology, and focus on the present moment.
Have fun – Do something you enjoy to unplug from technology
Often we are addicted to technology because we are bored and have nothing else to do. I myself used to have a screen time of 11 hours 23 minutes a day. I realized it was because I had nothing else to do.
Therefore it is important to find something which you enjoy and keep yourself busy. This could be anything from reading, going for a walk, or even cooking. Find something which you enjoy and make sure to do it every day.
I realized that when I had people around me I was entertained enough that I didn’t need my phone. When I am home all day and don’t have anything to do I find myself on my phone for multiple hours of the day.
Journal when unplugging
One way to hold yourself accountable and make sure you’re really unplugging is to journal about it. When you take a break from technology, write down how you feel, what you did during your break, and how it made you feel. This will help you see the benefits of unplugging and make it more likely that you’ll do it again.
Try a 30-day phone detox challenge to unplug from technology
With our work schedules, it might not be possible to unplug from technology for good. However, you can try and do a 30-day phone detox challenge.
This will allow you to reduce your phone addiction slowly
After the 30 days are up, you will have successfully reduced your screen time and phone addiction which is a great way to reset your relationship with your phone.
Get started and unplug from technology today
Technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives, and it can be hard to break away from it. But by slowly making changes and being mindful of your usage, you can learn to unplug from technology and enjoy the benefits of a technology-free life.
I hope these tips help you on your journey on how to unplug from technology. If you have any tips of your own, please share them in the comments below.
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