Tech Detox and New Flavours
Good morning everyone!
Today is a great day and I will share with you my experience with avoiding every Socia Media platform, including reading news online and watching Youtube videos before 7 pm.
I have to be honest, I did notice huge changes with this experiment and even though I won’t keep doing this in such a radical manner, I will keep applying some of these techniques into my life.
I decided to start at the beginning of the week. Nothing better than a Monday to reinvent yourself as a healthier human.
I woke up and had my breakfast in the balcony whilst reading a book instead of checking the news online. I was reading Little Fires Everywhere because. After I finished the first chapter, I wrote a few lines in my bullet journal, where I write specifically everything I need to get done by the end of the day.
In my last post, I mentioned a list of activities that I wanted to practice every time I felt bored or lost in my new tech-free life. Well, that was an amazing idea. If you are setting yourself up for a clear mind unchained (until 7 pm) from the internet, I encourage you to write a list of multiple activities that bring you joy or skills that you want to master.
In my list, I had projects like trying new recipes and tinting my mandala colouring book.
I went back inside and started working. No lies here, it was extremely weird for me to not open any news page or platform. Every time I took a break, I felt strange. I was so attached to my phone that I had to leave it away from my desktop for security measures.
In order to follow my new rules for a healthy life and a happy mind, I went outside to have a walk with my camera. This was a great idea, the animals were feeling pretty wild and I took a few pictures of them and uploaded them to my Instagram.
After I came back home, I read a bit more and started organizing the flat. On a normal day, I would have started watching Youtube, which means that I had to control myself in order to not to open my laptop and be a productive person instead.
I cleaned my dusty shelves for an hour and decided that I wanted to have a hot drink. I created a new drink: After-Eight Mint Chocolate. And because I didn’t have all of the ingredients at home, I walked to the grocery store and the ingredients that would make my customized treat.
I loved the result, feel free to try it at home!
The following days I followed the same order: work, walk outside, cook, read, organize the flat, go outside to record ducks in the river. Looking at the ducks interact and enjoy life has become one of my favourite hobbies. I felt a lot healthier.
On one hand, I was pretty surprised at how many things and activities I was able to practice. On the other hand, my brain felt healthier, I was feeling fresh and able to do almost everything I proposed. It also felt pretty great to know that I could control myself, it felt powerful and gave me a new splash of self-confidence.
Experience score: 10/10
Do you think you spend too much time stuck to your phone/computer? Let me know if you have tried any Digital Detox.
16 Comments
John Malone
I have tried internet detox a few times as the use of it can get a bit crazy sometimes. The things that really helped me were:
I bought a wrist watch. I bought a Casio wrist watch, and I wear it at all times. Saves me needing to pick up my phone to check the time… aaaand quickly check Facebook for half an hour
I got a cheap second phone. Because of the rise of instant messaging etc, it feels like we’re always connected – and everyone assumes we’re always “on”.. it fragments our attention so much to always be holding mental space for that shit. I bought an emergency phone with no internet access to have with me for most of the time
I bought an alarm clock.
Bedroom is now no-tech zone. Seriously. Charge your phone downstairs, or charge it in the day and turn it off during the night – remember, you have an emergency phone, so you really don’t have much excuse. Be firm with yourself… because it really is for your benefit. If you absolutely have to use a screen, the f.lux app puts a filter on your screen so that you’re not exposed to so much blue light
Deleted Facebook and turned off social apps
This can help you if you try this again!
Kiira Smith
Wow you know how to do this! I totally agree with you regarding the wrist watch. I got a new one a couple of months ago and I try to use it everyday.
The alarm clock is genius, I often find myself checking emails first time in the morning after the alarm goes off on my phone. Will probably get one too in order to avoid the temptation.
Well done John I will steal some of your tips!😁
Hicham
Lovely post, it is great to hear from you! Loved the video hahaha
I have to try a detox, I am sure it would help me…
Kiira Smith
Highly recommended 👍
Karen
Great update. The extensions that have helped me with doing some detox have been the following:
DF Youtube – This blocks out all of the ads, suggested videos and the comment section so all you can see on Youtube is the video you clicked on from searching. All that’s visible is the search bar…
StayFocusd – This extension allows you to block sites, dictate how long you’ll allow yourself to spend on sites per day etc. I use this allll the time!
Limitless – This extension tells you how long you spend on each website per day, with a little ticker type thing at the top of the window. It haunts me haha – the first day I used this is the day I implemented this plan – that’s how effective it is at slapping you in the face with numbers
Kiira Smith
Awesome, I use a very similar app to Limitless on my phone too 📱
Jade
Great post. In my opinion (who went form 8-10h of internet a day to less than 2 today)
-Walks
-Exercise
-Reading (books and magazines, not internet, not in a tablet or phone)
-Prepare tea
-Personal Journal
-Meditation
I believe those are the most important things that changed my life for better.
Kiira Smith
That’s wonderful, I have started reading andwalking a lot more, so I feel happy with the results so far👍
Anna K
I just discovered your blog, it is so cool! I love all the insights and posts related to minimalism, and improving…
And you videos are cool 🙂
Kiira Smith
That’s amazing! Thank you for the support Anna and welcome to the blog ❤️
Pratham
What helped me immensely was discovering the exact moments when I always would go online, and then replace the going-online with a different, better habit. I always went straight to my computer whenever I came home from somewhere for example, now I just make myself a cup of (decaf) coffee instead! I take a shower right after waking up instead of grabbing my phone to go online. I read or watch a movie right before bed
Kiira Smith
Detecting those times when you are more likely to turn on the computer or open Social Media is essential to understand yourself and change those habits. Well done! 💪
Jane
The way I see it there are two major ways to beat addiction: either spend a lot of time and effort developing self control, or make changes that make addictive behavior impossible. Both methods involve fiding new ways to spend time, which for me is the hardest part for me!. Picking up old hobbies can be emotionally taxing depending on your history. In my case starting music again was hard because of constant comparison with friends who continued evolving while I was escaping, and trouble finding a new place jin the social circle. Starting studying is hard because of the reduced attention span.
I had limited success with locking the browser on my phone and only using the computer, where I also blocked certain websites. Something more extreme would be to lock away your router and surf only at the library/work/school.
Your post is very encouraging and I loved it
Kiira Smith
I agree it’s extremely difficult to change patters. I found very helpful to find hobbies that kept me entertained and enjoying myself.
It’s a lot harder during the first days, but it feels great at the end of the day 💚
Kate
Great to hear from you again!
Regarding unrestrained smartphone use, especially as you are about to go to bed or wake up, I would encourage you to power off your phone at some point between when you get home for the night and when you are ready to hit the sack. Leave your phone in a different room other than your bedroom, preferably as far away as possible. (I’ve been leaving mine on the dining table, for example.) Tuck it away in your backpack, messenger bag, or coat pocket in your closet. Leave it in your car, if you have to. Just keep it out of sight as best as you can.
Kiira Smith
Thank you I am keeping this. I have realized that one of my weakness is look at my phone first time in the morning after turning off the a alarm clock in my phone.
I think I will get an alarm clock (if they still sell them) and keep my phone away from my bed 😂