Digital Detox: Relearning offline connection at home
In a previous ASI article, it was reported that for most of us, the days before social media and smartphones are a distant memory. Today, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like without these constant interruptions and compulsions. Many large-scale surveys have concluded that the average person spends between three and six hours a day looking at their phones. Social media has many benefits and downsides as well. Research suggests that excessive time spent on social media has a direct impact on our mental and physical health.
SPOT.ph writer Mia Rodriguez shared insights about creating tech-free zones at home and listed down practical steps on how to go about it:
“Creating a physical space where I went to unplug, literally, and do something (or nothing) offline helped me tune back into a world without Internet (i.e. that so-called “real world”). Arguably the hardest part for me about going tech-free even for a little while was coming to terms with how my mind had nothing to fidget with, there was no endless entertainment pouring in from the screen, no quick content to distract me from my own thoughts; it was me finding comfort in my own mind—and understanding that no, I was not missing out on anything. When I went back on my phone after whatever offline activity, the Internet was still there, moving in as fast a pace as it always does, and I was okay to let those things slip by.”
- Identify a physical space. The first step is to identify a space, or spaces, in your home that you want to designate as a tech-free zone, i.e. an area where gadgets are not allowed. Depending on your home’s setup and the lifestyles of the people you live with, this space can be your own permanent area, or a shared area that is only tech-free at certain times, or any other type of mix. That means it can range from a designated hobby desk that you intentionally never use your gadgets on, or you put in a rule that nobody can use their phones during meals at the dining table, a reading nook, and whatnot.
- Remove all gadgets and temptations. Once you’ve chosen your tech-free zone, ensure that you remove all gadgets in the area. This will help especially if self-control isn’t your strong point; best to be preemptive and get rid of any temptation. If this zone is typically where you charge your phone or tablet, then decide on a new charging area away from it. Keep it in your mind that this area should be free of gadgets at all time to be able to keep that mental zoning in your head, too.
- Transform the area. Now this step is where you have to be truly intentional. Making yourself focus on one task will help to drown out all the noise, or the urge to multi-task—and admittedly, finding that one task that fills your mind will take trial and error. You can try bringing back old hobbies that you had, or find a book to read (we’d say it’s okay if it’s on a device, as long as your WiFi is off and you’ve got amazing self-control), put together puzzles, or invest in something new.
- Create a ritual. Now that you have a dedicated space to go tech-free, you need to dedicate time as well. You can start as small as a few minutes a day, and grow it to scheduling a whole day offline weekly, or even more, depending on your own relationship with going tech-free. The core thing you need is to be intentional about it. Going offline is a choice in today’s world, so you have to choose it, and consistently so (a mindset that is best to have with any relationship, really).
