Last month, I wrote about preparing for effective rest, and I was asked if I could turn that post into an actual digital detox checklist.
Are you overwhelmed by the amount of technology in your life? Do you feel like you’re constantly connected to the world and that it’s taking over your life? If so, you may be in need of a digital detox.
Are you ready for a change that might lead to the opportunity of a better, more balanced life in the digital age – with digital technologies smoothly integrated as a significant aspect of your everyday life?
To live well, to thrive in the digital age, we all need to actively practice better and healthier habits. It’s an ongoing journey and yes, it requires soft effort. Not passive time off.
Another paradox of digital detoxing is the fact that many people focus on the “digital”, not on the “wellbeing” aspect of this practice.
Can the need for the detox in itself be an indication that your digital habits need to improve?
If you are taking time off digital experiences, it may be beneficial to actually commit to reflection and change.
So I have a suggestion: why not digital detox in micro-moments of gentle, soft awareness instead?
In order for the digital detox to work, we need to plan and make space for restoration.
It’s interesting how we like to apply the language of nutrition to our digital habits. While that might be a helpful metaphor, it is wrong and is in simplifying our experiences. Just like the studies of the impact of screens on our health were based on television, not Internet, the common perception is that all we ever do online is consume content.