why I need a digital detox and how I plan to do it
I've been doing a little too much online shopping, Pinteresting, and endless scrolling this week, and my mood, anxiety levels, and sleep have suffered for it. I know that the blue light emitted from my screens messes with my circadian rhythms, but I also notice that it makes it harder to shut my brain off when it's time to sleep, and when I post more on social media I feel the need to check my feed for comments, likes, etc. All of this doesn't do my brain and body any good, and I've learned from experience that when I don't sleep well, nothing else goes well--my exercise, nutrition, mood--nothing!
Here are some things I'm working on to control my digital exposure and give my eyes and brain a break:
1. Block all notifications on my phone except for texts.
2. Leave my phone and laptop in the kitchen after 8:00 pm.
3. Make a list of things I need to do online before I open my laptop.
4. Set downtime on my iPhone to block out all apps except texting, phone calls, and email between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am.
5. Set a screen time limit on my iPhone for Facebook and Instagram. I still need Pinterest for my dinner recipes, after all. :)
6. Unsubscribe from at least one email list a day.
7. Leave my phone in another room while I'm trying to get other work done.
8. Put a rubber band around my phone to stop me from scrolling aimlessly, and to remind me to focus on one task at a time.
9. At least once a day, go outside and look at something far away, like a tree, the moon, or the horizon for a few minutes. You can also look at something up close, like a bug or a flower, and really try to appreciate it. However, we spend so much time looking at things close up that we need to exercise our eye muscles by looking far away too.
10. This one will be tough, but I'm going to give it a try: take Sundays off except for phone calls and texting. I can schedule this through screen time on my phone, I just need to have the discipline to not override it. I suppose I could have my husband create a passcode for me and not tell me, but I'm not sure I want to give him that power yet!
Let me know what you've tried, and how it worked for you.
Now get off your device and go outside!
If you'd like to talk to me more about how to implement your own healthy habits, book a free call with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking with you!
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