I have taken this subject pretty seriously over the years. You need time offline.
Regularly & Intentionally. For lots of reasons.
THE DIGITAL DETOX SERIES OBJECTIVE SERIES CONSTANTS:
My plan with this series is to intentionally remind you, daily to get offline, give your brain, eyes, soul a break and time to reset and remind you that relationships with people can suffer if you are always on your phone and not PRESENT -- in every sense of the word.
The irony of bringing this series to you online, asking you to get offline, on an online blogging platform, is not lost on me.
There have been limited studies done on some of the effects of this digital hold on our lives and they are concerning to say the least. Social media use appears to encourage some of the following negative effects, some of which we hear about regularly now:
-- Narcissism
-- Screen time/white light/activity appears to be causing insomnia/broken sleep cycles (circadian rhythm)
-- Detached reality making our society and kids less empathetic and in touch with reality
Results from the few studies that have been done are troubling. Social media appears to promote narcissism, smartphones could be causing insomnia, and screens seem to be making our kids less empathetic.
Earlier posts in this series covered that in more detail.
TODAY'S DIGITAL DETOX TIDBIT:
PREPARE AHEAD FOR TEMPTATION:
--
Using the dreaded "diet", it’s wise to keep single-serving chocolates on standby to dip into, should a big sugar or chocolate/junk food craving kicks in. Think similar for your digital detox, one expert says.
“Have activities available to distract you when the urge strikes to check your phone or laptop.”
Consider having books, magazines, or schedule your shopping, chores or that visit to the hairdresser or gym, or head out for a walk to keep you occupied & away from device / wifi temptations.
Take in what’s going on around you. Be PRESENT with the world around you.
“When you are fully present in the moment, you’ll feel more thoughtful, your stress levels will dial down, and you’ll develop stronger relationships as you chat with friends and family,”
says a digital detox expert.
Find a Digital Detox buddy as was mentioned earlier to do these things with, it helps to have support in place for little things like this.
Support and accountability again.
I've blogged here and in the past about this, but new people are finding the posts, or searching online, so I am saying this again today because it is VERY very important:
--
Switch OFF or to Airplane Mode During Breaks or Workouts:
Unless you are using an iPod or no device during workouts or lunch breaks.....(both are good ideas) - chances are like most - you use your phone to listen to music. Yes, music has been proven to improve your mood etc. during workouts but think of it.....
-- stopping mid- exercise all the time, to answer a text or social media notification is terrible and stealing your experience, tech break and focus from you, as well as lowering your heart rate, which is key to working out in the first place. It can wait an hour.
This is an easy way to take back your Digital Detox freedom and stay in the zone, and focused on YOU and what you are doing, during a work out or even doing nothing..... taking a complete break for your lunch break etc.
--
A constant tip is change 1 habit at a time, so I will keep this in the series.
Reminder: (see past posts) -- Try to use proper, healthy posture techniques always and be purposeful about this.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/posture-for-a-healthy-back
Stick with it and make notes daily about how you feel doing this! Share thoughts with a friend or 2!
--
I don't embed my sources like "professional bloggers" -- 9/10 times -- people don't click the sources anyways, let alone hover the cursor to even check quickly, and this way, they can SEE the sources / url's -- that's what I prefer myself anyways, so if i get flagged, I get flagged, I am trying to appeal to the masses here.
--
It is more than just unplugging intentionally as I call it -- it is a return to some societal values that we have abandoned in favour of having all the access to data and online resources we have -- a shift is required. However:
Intentional Unplugging as I call it -- is a huge and necessary step.
--
As a reminder of what we see daily in the PHYSICAL realm of problems, here is a graphic showing the damage of the neck and spine as it relates to pounds of pressure looking downwards all the time:
--
--
(Sorry this is grainy but I enlarged this 2x, so you could see it better. This is right from the Ontario Chiropractic Association (hard to read but that is the source) -- and I wanted this unedited, it was a jpeg and resizing those means less quality)
Don't Risk a Crash in Your Health!
--
My Community Engagement questions to you, today, if you have read this far are simple and will evolve over time:
--
-- Did you INTENTIONALLY "unplug" or stay offline this week? How many times? Give yourself 1 point for each day in your reply!
-- Did you unplug with a family member / friends intentionally this week and thus CONNECT to them meaningfully? If yes, give yourself a point!
-- Have you realized this is a problem in your life, because that is the FIRST step! If so - 2 points for you!
-- Are you aware of this problem around you and your friends and family and have you addressed it with others? If so, you get a point also! ( Note I have always used the word "addressed" in this series, some people confuse this word with telling others what to do.... this is not the same thing. Dialogue with others is the goal. Awareness.)
-- Did you put your devices in another room at dinner time and at bedtime this week intentionally? That's a point each time, champ! List it! Think on it!!
--
Please tally up your points, list it in a reply and please open up about how you feel about these issues in your life and the world today!!
Why??
Because this is a Community Resource and I care and we are all in this together. None of us are getting out alive.
That is the end of today's post in this series. I wanted to cover all the basics in the Series constants, as usual, for all the new people reading this post for the first time,
If you are still reading -- thank you very much and have a nice day. I hope something here helps you.
Thanks for reading, have a nice day.
If you liked this blog post - please Resteem it and share good content with others!
--
Some of my recent blogs:
--
Most Images: Gif's - via Giphy.com , Funny or Die.com / Pixabay. Today:
If you feel my posts are undervalued or you want to donate to tip me - I would appreciate it very much.
--
LiteCoin (LTC) - LKdsnvSXk9JW99EiNicFMGKc1FXiBo9tUE
Monero (XMR) - d8ecb02c09f70ec10504b59b96bc1f488af28b05933893dfd1f55b113e23fbff
Ethereum (ETH) - 0x3Ad69Ff057C9533ca667B2d7E3E557F5eeFd4477
Ethereum Classic (ETC) - 0x5ab2b08d4ce8d454eb9d1ecc65c6d8b0c5f9784c
Bitcoin (BTC) - 18J6RRuzX4V7b2CDbx7tWZYNBLkkGWsvWX
DASH - XgZvsvSZgPkNbmGbRhc3S1Pt2JAc7QHwiS
PIVX - DA3azxQqJiX9t7EviuacpamfNhMi2zGAUh
Expanse (EXP) - 0x819b9cce8630ab638198eabfd7496786c20d629a
Stratis (STRAT) - SNsJp6v1jXvKWy4XcXSXfNQ9zhSJJppJgv
Synereo (AMP) - 1KnrL6wFHaT4gjJ2YJ5f6WmKTDJNsaBS8s
ZCash (ZEC) - t1aCPEYELkGaf3GtgGTiCEDo7XfPm4QEwmL
Please note -- I will have limited internet access for awhile -- so PLEASE do not be upset that I cannot reply right away, or to everyone. I am dealing with some changes, and will have limited time online and will be happy if I get a few blog posts up a week.
I have taken this subject pretty seriously over the years. You need time offline.
Regularly & Intentionally. For lots of reasons.
THE DIGITAL DETOX SERIES OBJECTIVE SERIES CONSTANTS:
My plan with this series is to intentionally remind you, daily to get offline, give your brain, eyes, soul a break and time to reset and remind you that relationships with people can suffer if you are always on your phone and not PRESENT -- in every sense of the word.
The irony of bringing this series to you online, asking you to get offline, on an online blogging platform, is not lost on me.
There have been limited studies done on some of the effects of this digital hold on our lives and they are concerning to say the least. Social media use appears to encourage some of the following negative effects, some of which we hear about regularly now:
-- Narcissism
-- Screen time/white light/activity appears to be causing insomnia/broken sleep cycles (circadian rhythm)
-- Detached reality making our society and kids less empathetic and in touch with reality
Results from the few studies that have been done are troubling. Social media appears to promote narcissism, smartphones could be causing insomnia, and screens seem to be making our kids less empathetic.
Earlier posts in this series covered that in more detail.
TODAY'S DIGITAL DETOX TIDBIT:
PREPARE AHEAD FOR TEMPTATION:
--
Using the dreaded "diet", it’s wise to keep single-serving chocolates on standby to dip into, should a big sugar or chocolate/junk food craving kicks in. Think similar for your digital detox, one expert says.
“Have activities available to distract you when the urge strikes to check your phone or laptop.”
Consider having books, magazines, or schedule your shopping, chores or that visit to the hairdresser or gym, or head out for a walk to keep you occupied & away from device / wifi temptations.
Take in what’s going on around you. Be PRESENT with the world around you.
“When you are fully present in the moment, you’ll feel more thoughtful, your stress levels will dial down, and you’ll develop stronger relationships as you chat with friends and family,”
says a digital detox expert.
Find a Digital Detox buddy as was mentioned earlier to do these things with, it helps to have support in place for little things like this.
Support and accountability again.
I've blogged here and in the past about this, but new people are finding the posts, or searching online, so I am saying this again today because it is VERY very important:
--
Switch OFF or to Airplane Mode During Breaks or Workouts:
Unless you are using an iPod or no device during workouts or lunch breaks.....(both are good ideas) - chances are like most - you use your phone to listen to music. Yes, music has been proven to improve your mood etc. during workouts but think of it.....
-- stopping mid- exercise all the time, to answer a text or social media notification is terrible and stealing your experience, tech break and focus from you, as well as lowering your heart rate, which is key to working out in the first place. It can wait an hour.
This is an easy way to take back your Digital Detox freedom and stay in the zone, and focused on YOU and what you are doing, during a work out or even doing nothing..... taking a complete break for your lunch break etc.
--
A constant tip is change 1 habit at a time, so I will keep this in the series.
Reminder: (see past posts) -- Try to use proper, healthy posture techniques always and be purposeful about this.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/posture-for-a-healthy-back
Stick with it and make notes daily about how you feel doing this! Share thoughts with a friend or 2!
--
I don't embed my sources like "professional bloggers" -- 9/10 times -- people don't click the sources anyways, let alone hover the cursor to even check quickly, and this way, they can SEE the sources / url's -- that's what I prefer myself anyways, so if i get flagged, I get flagged, I am trying to appeal to the masses here.
--
It is more than just unplugging intentionally as I call it -- it is a return to some societal values that we have abandoned in favour of having all the access to data and online resources we have -- a shift is required. However:
Intentional Unplugging as I call it -- is a huge and necessary step.
--
As a reminder of what we see daily in the PHYSICAL realm of problems, here is a graphic showing the damage of the neck and spine as it relates to pounds of pressure looking downwards all the time:
--
--
(Sorry this is grainy but I enlarged this 2x, so you could see it better. This is right from the Ontario Chiropractic Association (hard to read but that is the source) -- and I wanted this unedited, it was a jpeg and resizing those means less quality)
Don't Risk a Crash in Your Health!
--
My Community Engagement questions to you, today, if you have read this far are simple and will evolve over time:
--
-- Did you INTENTIONALLY "unplug" or stay offline this week? How many times? Give yourself 1 point for each day in your reply!
-- Did you unplug with a family member / friends intentionally this week and thus CONNECT to them meaningfully? If yes, give yourself a point!
-- Have you realized this is a problem in your life, because that is the FIRST step! If so - 2 points for you!
-- Are you aware of this problem around you and your friends and family and have you addressed it with others? If so, you get a point also! ( Note I have always used the word "addressed" in this series, some people confuse this word with telling others what to do.... this is not the same thing. Dialogue with others is the goal. Awareness.)
-- Did you put your devices in another room at dinner time and at bedtime this week intentionally? That's a point each time, champ! List it! Think on it!!
--
Please tally up your points, list it in a reply and please open up about how you feel about these issues in your life and the world today!!
Why??
Because this is a Community Resource and I care and we are all in this together. None of us are getting out alive.
That is the end of today's post in this series. I wanted to cover all the basics in the Series constants, as usual, for all the new people reading this post for the first time,
If you are still reading -- thank you very much and have a nice day. I hope something here helps you.
Thanks for reading, have a nice day.
If you liked this blog post - please Resteem it and share good content with others!
--
Some of my recent blogs:
--
Most Images: Gif's - via Giphy.com , Funny or Die.com / Pixabay. Today:
If you feel my posts are undervalued or you want to donate to tip me - I would appreciate it very much.
--
LiteCoin (LTC) - LKdsnvSXk9JW99EiNicFMGKc1FXiBo9tUE
Monero (XMR) - d8ecb02c09f70ec10504b59b96bc1f488af28b05933893dfd1f55b113e23fbff
Ethereum (ETH) - 0x3Ad69Ff057C9533ca667B2d7E3E557F5eeFd4477
Ethereum Classic (ETC) - 0x5ab2b08d4ce8d454eb9d1ecc65c6d8b0c5f9784c
Bitcoin (BTC) - 18J6RRuzX4V7b2CDbx7tWZYNBLkkGWsvWX
DASH - XgZvsvSZgPkNbmGbRhc3S1Pt2JAc7QHwiS
PIVX - DA3azxQqJiX9t7EviuacpamfNhMi2zGAUh
Expanse (EXP) - 0x819b9cce8630ab638198eabfd7496786c20d629a
Stratis (STRAT) - SNsJp6v1jXvKWy4XcXSXfNQ9zhSJJppJgv
Synereo (AMP) - 1KnrL6wFHaT4gjJ2YJ5f6WmKTDJNsaBS8s
ZCash (ZEC) - t1aCPEYELkGaf3GtgGTiCEDo7XfPm4QEwmL
Please note -- I will have limited internet access for awhile -- so PLEASE do not be upset that I cannot reply right away, or to everyone. I am dealing with some changes, and will have limited time online and will be happy if I get a few blog posts up a week.
--
LiteCoin (LTC) - LKdsnvSXk9JW99EiNicFMGKc1FXiBo9tUE
Monero (XMR) - d8ecb02c09f70ec10504b59b96bc1f488af28b05933893dfd1f55b113e23fbff
Ethereum (ETH) - 0x3Ad69Ff057C9533ca667B2d7E3E557F5eeFd4477
Ethereum Classic (ETC) - 0x5ab2b08d4ce8d454eb9d1ecc65c6d8b0c5f9784c
Bitcoin (BTC) - 18J6RRuzX4V7b2CDbx7tWZYNBLkkGWsvWX
DASH - XgZvsvSZgPkNbmGbRhc3S1Pt2JAc7QHwiS
PIVX - DA3azxQqJiX9t7EviuacpamfNhMi2zGAUh
Expanse (EXP) - 0x819b9cce8630ab638198eabfd7496786c20d629a
Stratis (STRAT) - SNsJp6v1jXvKWy4XcXSXfNQ9zhSJJppJgv
Synereo (AMP) - 1KnrL6wFHaT4gjJ2YJ5f6WmKTDJNsaBS8s
ZCash (ZEC) - t1aCPEYELkGaf3GtgGTiCEDo7XfPm4QEwmL