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Jeff Moloi
Digital detox refers to a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic connecting devices such as smartphones and computers. It is regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.
There’s a chap over in the UK who is charging people 200 pounds – so close to R4000.00 a day to go to his digital detox retreat! For 3 days there is no technology allowed, and people do things like Yoga, Whittle Wood, Cooking, Hiking, Singing, Silence, Hot Tubbing and meditation.
But in all seriousness we don’t all have R4000.00 to take a digital detox, so here are 3 reasons and I am sure there are more – as to why it’s so important to take a digitial detox
Stress: Before technology and smartphones, when you left your place of work or learning, you most likely turned off the thoughts and emails related to it, too. Research shows we need mental breaks to refresh our minds and thoughts. In order to do so and leave our work behind, we need to shut off the continuous stressors of our work or classes. By staying constantly connected, we lose that boundary and end up taking it home with us. When you don’t give yourself time to be without emails, texts, and social media and to be present in the other parts of your life, you end up allowing yourself to stay in a constant state of stress.
Depression: Using computers, phones, social media, etc. late into the night, especially after using them all day, is shown to increase depressive thoughts and symptoms, as well as decrease one’s amount of healthy sleep. Bringing technology into the evening hours prevents us from encouraging our minds to be at ease and getting the sleep our bodies—and minds—need.
Inactivity: Spending too much time on electronic devices does not leave room for going outside, socializing, or exercising. However, exercise can reduce stress levels, it’s good for the body, and it promotes a better night’s sleep. So it’s no surprise that when we are constantly on a phone, tablet, or laptop, we are more likely to isolate ourselves rather than be active and out and about, which has far-reaching benefits for physical and mental health.
