With the thrust towards a global economy, the world is increasingly becoming wired. Unplugging from this reality is certainly a challenge. Just as cars have become an integral part of modern life, the internet has become so much part of our lifestyle that most of us really cannot do without. Our cellphones, tablets, and computers seem like appendages that, when taken away, make us feel crippled like a fish out of water. This of course holds especially true for the generation that has grown up in an era where digital technology has become an integrated part of life.
What most of the wired generation do not realize however is that there is life outside the world of screens. Unplugging from time to time is necessary for a host of physical and mental health benefits. One needs to connect to nature; spend time with people in the flesh instead of an onscreen video; and engage in outdoor activities; all for the reasons of personal growth, health, and better productivity.
The Benefits of Unplugging
More Awareness and Appreciation of Life’s Moments
When people are focused on their cellphones or tablets, they are not present. They do not seem to be living in the now. That is because they are not. Absenteeism from the real world when one is tethered to their device causes the person to disengage from things happening in his environment. The more immersed an individual is in his game or apps, the more he is unable to live in the present and appreciate life at the moment. Life with all its glorious moments is happening right in front of people and they miss out because they are too busy to spare those moments a glance.Many real experiences do not repeat themselves but people are too caught up in their screens to even know what they are missing. Camaraderie with real people is one example; learning new skills from a person who has more to impart than a YouTube video how-to is another. Experiences are what enrich our lives and contribute to our personal growth. Technology may be changing the world, but the nature of life has not. We need to engage all our senses in the real world, not in the virtual reality of the net, to get the most out of living.
Improved Sleep and Cognitive Functions
Research has proven that blue light emitted by PC, laptop, and mobile gadget screens can impair sleep patterns. Light from electronic devices inhibits melatonin and can keep one awake for three hours longer. Sleep deprivation is a serious health issue that can impair cognitive functions such as memory, decision making, and concentration. Lack of sleep may also likely lead to low productivity in both the work and classroom setting. Giving up screen time at least an hour ahead of sleep time will help get one’s circadian rhythm back to normal.Better Moods and Healthier Self Image
It seems like if you aren’t part of the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or social media app crowd, you are a social nobody. Be that as it may, it doesn’t help your mood nor your ego to keep checking friends’ posts every half hour or so.We have that innate desire to evaluate ourselves based on how we live and what we own, do, feel, and think. We inevitably compare ourselves with others. Social media gives that opportunity to heavily immerse ourselves in snapshots of other people’s lives. We forget that photos and comments may not be all that it is made out to be. Those smiling faces may be contrived. After the flash has gone off, how does one know what the real score was behind the pics? A blissful twosome vacay in photos can hide the fact that things may still not be working out for the couple. Who knows? Yet, many choose to believe photo smiles validate a life better than their own.
Those who engage heavily in comparisons using social media tend to feel worse about themselves and consequently garner low self esteem. One must realize that other people’s lives are not as fantastic as they make it out to be in pictures and blogs. Stop lurking around other people’s accounts all the time and learn to appreciate what life has to offer you in the real world, not in that virtual reality you crave. Work on real relationships; smell real roses. It’s much more satisfying, you’ll see.
More Creativity, Less Consumption
Surfing, gaming, and social media addictions only fire up the consumer side of people...just taking and absorbing information but never taking the time to process these to create new ways, thoughts, or things to “give back” what one has learned. Time to unplug and power down those gadgets to get one’s creative juices flowing.Emails, text messages, digital work hubs, and other digital related activities coupled with the modern lifestyle of multi-tasking demands much from our cognitive capacities. Powering down frees up our brain from constantly working with attention and memory and gives it space for contemplation and deep thought. It has been known that creative geniuses spawn their creative ideas by indulging in copious alone time for reflection deep thinking.
Detoxing from the Digital Addiction
Yes, our constant wired state can be an addiction. Just think...how antsy do you get when your mobile gadget is taken away from you? And just like any addiction, one needs a rehab of an unplugging from time to time to get some real bearings. The question is how to get a digital detox:Choose a specific time in a day to power down. First hour of the morning, last hour before bedtime, an hour or two after work...you call the shots on whatever time works for you. What is important here is that you discipline yourself to get time off everyday from answering cell phone messages and calls, checking emails, playing that 30-minute game, and lurking through Facebook and Twitter. You may use this time to meditate, walk around the neighbourhood, or observe your environment. Live the moment.
Decrease the urge to go online. Instead of plugging into the net anytime you feel like it. You may choose to limit non-work related surfing or social media checkups to a specific period, once or twice a day, gradually weaning yourself to once every two days, etc.
Use apps to block non-productive sites or sites you do not need for work. Although the net may be crucial to your productivity, non-related work sites are simply a click away and are tremendous distractions. Fortunately, there are apps available that block access for a specified period to time-wasting but personally tempting sites like Facebook or your fave cooking blog.
Although many people have set the trend towards unplugging, this positive phenomenon needs to gain more ground. We owe it to ourselves to guard our self esteem, relationships, health, and career.
