Technology is interwoven in almost every part of our lives. Did you know that on average we spend almost four hours every day on our phones? From the moment we rise in the morning to the moment we go to sleep, our focus is largely spent on our phones, computers, televisions, or any other number of digital devices. Although the technology we have available to us is incredible and the benefits reach into many aspects of life, taking a digital break can do wonders for your mental, physical and emotional health.
Spending some time away from screens can…
Provide mental clarity
As wonderful as it is to have constant access to our digital network, pressing pause and detaching for a while can help clear our minds and allow us to relax. If staying connected 24/7 means that you’re under perpetual demand, this pressure can amount to a mental block that can be tricky to navigate around.
Switching off and taking a deep breath of fresh air may be all the remedy you need! Detaching from your emails, messages, and notifications is a fantastic way to declutter your mind and refocus on what’s important.
Reduce your stress levels
A digital detox can have incredible effects, including lowering stress levels. Excessive use of phones and computers has been linked to high stress levels, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms. Social experiments have also demonstrated that people have felt their stress alleviate after taking a break from technology.
It’s easy to become utterly absorbed in the digital world that our devices transport us to, but it can hinder us from living in the present. A break to help you regain awareness for the here and now can help put things into perspective.
Enhance your quality of sleep
Using screens up until the time you go to bed can disturb your sleep. When it’s time to go to bed, your brain releases melatonin to help your body relax and prepare for rest. However, the light from your devices sends a signal to your brain that it’s time to remain awake, consequently delaying the release of melatonin and interfering with your ability to fall asleep shortly after you put your screens aside. If you toss and turn throughout the night, this could be one of the reasons.
To help break the habit of using screens late into the night, we suggest placing a lock on your phone apps to activate a couple of hours before you sleep, or setting an alarm to put away your screens so that time doesn’t slip away.
Improve your productivity
As wonderful as our devices are for efficiency, they can easily become a distraction that hinders our productivity. The buzz of notifications on our phones and the pop-ups on our computer screens immediately breaks our focus on the task at hand and divert our attention. Even when we turn our devices to silent, the curiosity or worry of what news, messages and calls we could be missing can be just as distracting.
A digital detox can be wonderful to refresh your mind and body, improving your ability to focus and get things done.
Benefit your overall health
We’re often sitting or lying down when we’re glued to our screens and it’s easy to lose our sense of time and forgo physical activity. Unplugging for a while grants us the opportunity to get outside, breathe in some fresh air and get our blood circulating. Incorporating physical movement into our day-to-day lives is essential for our mental and physical health, improving our posture, fitness, energy, mood, stress levels and more. You may be surprised at how rejuvenated you feel simply from moving!
Here at Eden, we believe that a digital detox is essential for mental peace and physical health. Stripping back to the basics and focusing on the present allows you to truly identify and address ways in which you can enhance your overall wellbeing for longevity in happiness and health.
If you feel as though you may benefit from undergoing a digital detox, click below to submit your interest to stay with us. One of our friendly staff will discuss how we can tailor your stay to suit your goals and lifestyle.
