By Cali Alvarez
Since the start of the New Year, I’ve taken time to intentionally step away from my phone and social media throughout each week, and it’s been a wonderful experience. It’s been so beneficial and peace-bringing to take time away from something that so easily consumes us, whether that’s because of school, work, friends, or just “for fun.” Adding in days where I don’t open Instagram or lessen my screentime has really helped me be able to spend time on hobbies that I love, get important things done, and most of all, spend time in the moment with my loved ones.
Unplugging from social media every so often is so important to our physical, mental, and spiritual health, so here are three ways to help you implement digital detox time every week, even on your busiest days.
#1 - Choose a day to unplug from socials
Take a look at your week and figure out a day that would work well for you to take time off from the Internet. For example, I personally like to take Tuesdays off of social media–since we’re at school anyway, it’s a great place to start with ditching tech for a while. When was the last time you spent a whole day without Instagram or TV or video games? What could you do with all of that time that gets filled by these things more often than not?
Setting a day in your routine makes it much easier to not forget about this goal, and it’ll help you pay more attention to what’s important on busy days.
#2 - Just one hour can make a difference
If you’re not sure of a day that would work for you, then try taking just one hour away from your phone. Whether this is once a week or once a day, it’ll definitely make a positive impact. Putting your phone away or turning off Snapchat notifications for just 60 minutes can allow you to get some homework done, work on important projects, spend time with God, focus on a hobby, or simply relax.
Truly allowing your mind to take a break from the constant pinball machine of social media and bluelight can truly give your body and spirit such a sigh of relief!
#3 - Morning or evening detox
Another one of my favorite things to do is to take Sunday mornings off of socials. My goal is usually to not check my phone until noon. This way, I can spend time engaging with God’s Word, reading a book, talking to my family, or simply enjoying nature and God’s day of rest. Choosing a special morning or evening during the week to take that segment of your day off of your phone or computer is such a mood-booster and easy commitment to work on. Spend a slow morning getting ready distraction-free. Spend a cozy evening with your loved ones or enjoying some peace and quiet without earbuds or scrolling.
Choosing to take it slow and be mindful of how much new information you’re consuming in these important chunks of your day can really help you destress and focus on your wellness rather than someone else’s feed.
I hope you found these tips helpful! Implementing digital detoxes like these has been such a positive experience for me this year, so I pray that this process will be a blessing to you too.
Comment below which of these you’d like to try or let us know how you like to detox digitally each week!