Body & Fitness

Could you survive a digital detox?

In our October issue we challenged three writers to have a digital detox for a week… and it was really was a challenge for them! If you struggle to unglue yourself from your electronic devices, here are five ways to digitally detox.

1 Swap your phone for an old-school clock:

If you use your phone as an alarm clock but also use it to check Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter before going to bed, why not buy an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake you up? Make sure you leave your phone in the living room and not on your bedside table; that way you’re more likely to get a good night’s sleep.

2 Turn off work email alerts:

Although work may seem all-consuming, why don’t you spend quality time with your family at home by leaving work at the office? Switch your brain from work mode to relaxing mode by turning off all those annoying work email alerts you might get. Leave all your work tasks until the next day so you can have a nice evening in.

3 Have dinner sans phone:

Make digital detoxing easier by doing it with friends. When you go out for dinner with a group, make a rule that you have to put your phones on the table, and whoever checks their phone first has to pay the bill! You’re sure to have a great time with your friends without the distraction of checking your phone all the time.

4 Have technology-free days:

When’s the last time you read a book or went on a family outing without all your electronic gadgets? Pick a day where you don’t check any social media platforms or go on an adventure without bringing the kids’ digital activities for the car ride. Take the time to read that book you’ve been meaning to, and play those classic car games like ‘I Spy’. You may find a new appreciation for activities that don’t require a screen.

5 Don’t be digi while driving:

If you tend to answer phone calls or text while driving, you can force yourself to take a break and digitally detox by putting your phone in your bag and your bag in the backseat. Easy accessibility to our digital devices is why we’re so attached to them. But an effective way to detox is by removing that accessibility, and all you have to do is put your phone out of your hand’s reach.

Related stories