1. You feel exhausted
So much of the Internet makes us feel tired, emotionally. Being bombarded with a constant stream of news, gossip, and other peoples' opinions, not to mention trying to ascertain whether something is true or not, is exhausting.
Having a detox allows you to take a break from so much news, peoples' perfectly polished life updates, and potential conspiracies. You will feel so much better and more energised, even if it's just a brief digital detox.
2. You're overstimulated
Over the past few years, the speed of information online seems to have increased even more and it can lead you to feel absolutely wired. (TikTok, I'm looking at you...)
By having a digital detox, your mind will have a chance to breathe, and you'll actually start to feel bored - which might not seem like it, but can actually be a good thing.
3. Your stress/anxiety levels have skyrocketed
When you spend too much time online, it can overload your mind. I'm particularly susceptible to this. The more time I spend online, particularly in a state of mindless browsing and consumption, the more stressed and anxious I feel in general.
Spikes in my anxiety levels are normally a warning sign to take a step back from the Internet, give myself space and time to breathe and process everything, and to give myself time to rest. If you're the same, a digital detox may prove to be really helpful in managing your stress and anxiety levels.
4. You're irritable
This kind of ties in with the point above, but if you find that you're getting irritable with those around you, it can be a sign that you need to reassess some of those less than ideal habits. Part of this can include having better boundaries with screens and the Internet.
If you take a digital detox and your mood definitely improves, then you know that, going forwards, you need to keep screens in their place.
5. Your sleep is suffering & screen time is increasing
Sometimes, when I'm tired, I notice that my screen time increases. It becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, because I go on the Internet due to being so tired that other things feel unachievable, and yet the more time I spend online, the more tired I get...
A consequence of this is that my screen time creeps up and up and up and before I know it, I begin spending hours longer than intended online each evening. This then has a knock-on effect on my wellbeing. I sacrifice sleep for just 'five more minutes', but this can often snowball into hours, which then eats into time that would be better spent resting.
Having a digital detox when you feel your screen time is creeping out of control acts as a helpful 'circuit breaker' even if your detox only lasts a day or two. It can act as a valuable reset and remind you that real life is more fulfilling than the digital world.
_
Have you tried a digital detox?
Post a Comment