(Without Completely Going Off the Grid)
Digital detox….kind of a trendy term but it does have good intent. How can we feel connected with our inner self when our focus is always external? But also, how can we detach from the digital world while still staying connected in this modern world? Let’s explore with some realistic digital detox tips!
Why do a digital detox?
Technology and the digital world in themselves are not ‘bad’, they have offered us so many opportunities that are just absolutely incredible. The simple act of being able to speak with someone miles and miles away is such a blessing. Being able to stay connected with photos and videos and having so much information at our fingertips, it’s amazing. So I’m not one who thinks we need to disconnect from digital things completely. The real problem lies in two things; one, how much time we spend in the digital world instead of in the physical world and two, how we’re actually using these resources.
I think for most of us, doing a digital detox where we completely go off the grid is unrealistic. So in this post, I want to offer you realistic digital detox tips so that you can feel more connected and centered within yourself as well as feel more grounded within this human experience.
6 Digital Detox Tips (that are realistic)
1. Limit time spent on social media
I know this is a basic sounding digital detox tip, but it’s really the first step for most of us and it’s an important one. Hopefully learning some reasons why it’s important to address this will help you to actually reduce your time spent on social media.
The doom scrolling on social media is one of those activities that just absolutely drains us. It makes it so there is constant noise that is pulling us away from our own center. This is why it is one of the main issues to address in a digital detox.
Again, I’m not one to say social media is all bad, there are videos, even on tiktok, that can be uplifting or educational, but you know what I mean when I say it’s draining. When you’re lost in the scroll for 30 minutes or when you just keep opening the app back up ‘for just for a minute’. This is when social media is no longer benefiting us and it’s actually just draining us. It’s feeding into that constant need to be entertained where we can no longer sit comfortably in slower quieter moments which are what we need to recharge.
In your digital detox, I would highly suggest limiting the amount of time you spend on social media. I’ve been noticing that I’ve been getting bad with this too, so I’m going to work on this as well! I don’t know if there’s a magic amount of time that’s ok to spend on these apps, but if it’s being opened multiple times a day or you’re on there for an hour straight…that’s probably not great. I’m going to leave this up to your discretion. Maybe you want to spend some days completely without social media or maybe you limit yourself to only 20 minutes once per day. Find what works for you so that you don’t feel drained and so that you feel more connected and centered in your everyday life.
2. Limit time spent in the digital world in general
Another ‘drainer’ in the digital age that we live in is simply the amount of time we spend in the digital world. This makes it harder for many of us to actually truly live in the present moment. Truly being present is already a challenge for the human mind as it does love to worry about the past and the future, and now add on the fact that we’re used to being ‘distracted’. All of this combined can make it feel near impossible to be actually present. And when you’re not present in the moment, it makes it difficult to see the wonder and beauty of life and the world around us.
Again, this is not to say that you can’t enjoy watching a show at the end of the day or playing a video game, but do remember to spend some time away from a screen. Maybe you choose one night a week where instead of watching a show you read a book. Maybe you try to have times where you don’t have something playing in the background, like when you’re eating. It might feel weird at first, but like we talked about before, we need these quieter moments to recharge. These are just ideas, I want you to do this in a way that works for you and to remember there is more to life than the digital world!
3. When you are in the digital world, be mindful about where you place your attention.
It probably feels weird to be reading about a digital detox digitally….and this brings me to my next digital detox tip which is to think about where you place your attention in the digital world. As I’ve been saying throughout this post, not everything digital is bad. If I go online to do a yoga practice or listen to an educational podcast, I don’t feel like that’s draining me. I hope my own online space and community is also a place where people feel good after they leave!
But if I scroll on tik tok for a while or watch too much netflix, then yeah I usually dont feel that good after. So this tip is to remind you to consume more mindfully. Use the digital world in a way that helps you to grow and uplifts you.
Want support caring for your body, mind, and soul? Click here for my free Holistic Living Checklist!
4. Don't be on your phone when you're with people...
If I’m with other people, I’m not on my phone. If you’re on and off your phone, you’re not present with the people around you. If you are not being present and giving the people that you’re with your full attention, then why are you even spending time with them in the first place?
You can have your phone nearby so if someone needs you, you’re there to answer, that’s fine.
But why are you all of a sudden on social media? Do you also need to answer every text that comes through? Maybe some of them are urgent, but I bet a lot of them can wait.
If you’re choosing to share your time with others, actually share your time with them.
5. Get in nature
We as humans are part of nature but it has gotten to be so difficult to see this in modern times.
When you start to digitally detox, you often feel more grounded. This is because when we’re constantly in the digital world, we are kind of disconnecting ourselves from the physical world in a way. This leaves us feeling ungrounded and can make things like anxiety feel worse.
If you can, spend some time in nature each day! It is so healing and mother earth is just so magnificent. This can be as simple as taking 10 minutes outside with your morning coffee or taking a 5 minute walk outside. I live in the suburbs with a yard so I know this might be easier for me than it is for others, but even just getting out into the outdoor air can just feel revitalizing. I know city air is not the same but at least it’s time outside, right? Maybe?
This is a simple digital detox tip to help us with this journey.
6. When you go to reach for your phone to scroll because it's just what you do, switch it with something else
Ok, confession, I was actually done with the list and then thought, let me take a break from my computer and I felt myself wanting to open my phone to go on social media. Even after writing a digital detox post…I’m ashamed to admit it but hey I want you guys to know you’re not alone!
Let’s change this! I can still take a break but instead, let me do something else. I need to do laundry so I can go put laundry on. I also have 3 wonderful adorable dogs, let me instead give them some snuggles for a minute. It’s ok to want to take those mini breaks when working, but can you do it with something other than the doom scroll??
Final Thoughts & Resources For You
There are your 6 digital detox tips that hopefully seem realistic! Don’t be hard on yourself, most of us are still going to spend a decent amount of time in the digital world, so just remember that choosing where you show up matters most. Not every online space drains you; some can actually support you, hopefully this blog post is one of those supportive spaces.
To give you something actionable that can support you on your digital detox journey, I put together a free Digital Detox Yoga Flow on my youtube channel which you’ll find at the end of this post. In a world that wants to pull your attention away from the Self, this practice is a simple way to help you to reconnect within.
Please remember: this practice is for general education only. Listen to your body, modify as needed, and check with your doctor before starting any new movement routine, especially if you have injuries or medical conditions.
If you want a space that goes deeper and helps you to nourish your body, mind and soul holistically, my Patreon community is where I share longer yoga practices, meditations, and holistic guidance. I created this to be a corner of the digital world that feels grounding instead of overwhelming. Even though it’s digital, it’s designed to help you to turn within and to feel more centered. If this kind of intentional digital environment resonates with you, it might be a good fit.
You can learn more about it here: Patreon Community
Thank you for reading and wishing you the best in putting these digital detox tips into action!