In a time when staying connected to everyday trends and technology is such a big part of our lives, taking a break can be so important for keeping our minds healthy. Research from GSMA Intelligence and Eurostat showed that internet users have grown by 1.8% in the past year. While another analysis by Statista reported an upward shift in digital behavior, as people are increasingly spending more hours on social media platforms. For instance, in the last decade, average social media usage time has gradually increased from 1 hour 44 minutes daily to 2 hours 23 minutes daily. In Nigeria, our daily average is higher, as studies denote that the average daily usage of social media for Nigerians is 3 hours and 23 minutes.
Given these findings, one might wonder why we spend long hours on our social accounts. Better still, when do we find a moment to escape the constant buzz of notifications?
Why are we is it concerning to spend long hours scrolling on social media?
The transformations brought about by the digital age are truly remarkable. They are reshaping how we live, work, and connect with one another. While we enjoy the many benefits this era offers, some challenges have become evident with increasing social media usage.
- Pressure to keep up with ever-evolving social media trends
- Lesser sleep time
- Less time spent on other activities
- Rise in social comparison
- Increasing access to misleading information
Note, this shift makes it harder to maintain a healthy balance between work and life. As a result, many people are feeling more stressed, which can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, worry, and burnout. Thankfully, there’s hope. Engaging in digital detox can help us combat these mental health challenges caused by excessive social media use.
What is a Digital detox
Digital detox provides a wonderful opportunity for individuals to step away from their screens, like smartphones and social media, and rediscover themselves, their connections with others, and the beauty of nature. To ensure one is detoxing correctly, it is important to stay in peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Secondly, staying away from gadgets or social media sites can count as a detox.
Benefits of Digital Detox retreats
- Increased productivity and creativity
The constant demand to stay connected with the digital world can hinder productivity. Continuous email notifications and social media updates take a huge chunk out of our attention span. Constant distractions from digital devices affect the flow of thoughts, leading to mental fatigue and reduced cognitive performance. The widespread use of technology has made multitasking a norm, but it has also adversely affected the quality of work and productivity.
Eliminating these distractions can increase the time spent on meaningful work. Taking a break from digital devices can help declutter the mind, improve focus, and reignite creativity. It also improves mental clarity, which is an essential tool for creativity.
- Better Sleep Quality
The light emitted from the screens of digital devices, especially the blue lights, tricks the brain into thinking that it is daytime. When this happens, the body stops releasing melatonin, a sleep hormone that helps the body wind down and fall asleep. The release of the melatonin hormone is delayed by light from our devices, keeping the brain active and alert and making it difficult for the body to wind down and sleep.
Setting aside digital devices can help our bodies relax easily and prepare to sleep earlier. In addition, a consistent sleep-wake schedule helps improve the body’s circadian rhythm and improve our quality of sleep.
Ways to Digitally Detox
- Turn off your notification
- Put phones away during meal time
- Block or blacklist trigger words
- Plan a weekend getaway alone or with friends without gadgets
- Go on a hiking trip
- Learning a physical activity such as knitting, playing a sport, or learning to play a musical instrument
Be it a weekend getaway, a hiking trip, digital detox retreats offer a transformative experience and a greater well-being in the increasingly digital era. So, if you are a busy professional or an individual who finds it difficult to get away from electronics or you are just want to unwind from the day to day hustle of the electronic world, you may want to try a digital detox to give yourself that much needed break and rejuvenate your mind and mental health.
