Digital Detox: Balancing Screen Time and Well-being in the Digital Age

With much of today’s world becoming digitalised it’s hard not to spend hours unconsciously staring at a screen. Whether it be doomscrolling on social media, staying up late facetiming your friends, or even doing your daily Anki reviews, stepping away from our devices can seem to be an enormous feat. A recent survey showed that young adults (15-24) in Britain  spend almost 5 hours daily on their mobile phones with social media accounting for half the time spent on phones for adults in general. While our digital devices have given us many benefits, like the ability to remain connected to a wide range of people, studies have shown that excessive screen time can have a toll on our mental health.

Digital detoxes are now becoming increasingly popular - this is a commitment to intentionally reduce the use of digital devices and technology for a certain time period. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean locking yourself up in a cabin with no signal for a week! It’s about evaluating your relationship with technology and being realistic on what you can cut out. Below are a few benefits and practical tips to help you with your digital detox.

Benefits of a digital detox

• Reduced stress and anxiety:Taking a break from social media gives you a chance to step away from the constant comparison online and nurture your self-esteem.

• Improved sleep: When it’s time to sleep, your brain releases a chemical called melatonin to help you relax. Using screens, especially before bed, can block melatonin release, disrupting your sleep cycle. A digital detox can help to improve your sleep, and as a result, your wellbeing and health as well.

• Increased productivity: During your detox, you might find you have more time for tasks you’ve been meaning to get to. Whether it be finishing reading your book or taking that well-deserved hour-long bath, a digital detox can help you find time for those important self-care tasks.

How to do a digital detox

1. Identify what is negatively impacting your mood and be realistic on what you can cut out.

2. Setting specific goals can help you stick to your detox. That might look like logging off emails in the evenings or swapping your nightly social media scroll for some screen-free wind-down instead. Setting phone screen limits via your phone settings can help limit your daily use.

3. Planning out your time off-screen with hobbies, going out with your friends, or even taking a nap can help make the free time more enjoyable and help you realise how refreshing time off your screens can be!

4. Take small steps. It can be difficult to do a complete blackout so slowly weaning off technology makes it easier to stick to your detox. Remember - it’s ok if you don’t stick to your plan perfectly, you can always restart and improve.

Hopefully this will convince you to undergo your own digital detox and help you enjoy living in the present!