Finding an Escape from the Digital World: It’s Importance & Why You Should Try It Soon

By: Thomas Wall

Image: Indy Kethdy On Flickr

The average American spends about 8 hours a day staring at a screen. More time spent on any other activity.

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“Texting has become like blinking…

2/3 of Americans report feeling their phone vibrate when in fact, nothing is happening.

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Excessive web use is linked to loneliness, low moods, and the loss of real-life friends

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It is clear that too much time spent in front of technology can have very harmful effects, but at the same time, tools like the internet have allowed individuals to achieve great things.

It is clear that finding a proper balance between engagement and disengagement from the digital world should be the goal of individuals in today’s world.

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The problem with finding that balance, is that many of us find that we are stuck (or drowning) in our habits of using the internet, most notably social media. The following few slides will go through some strategies to help individuals break out of their overuse of technology, using social media as an example.

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1. Use social media as a means to and end, not the other way around

To increase your real-life interactions, and limit your social media time, focus on using social media to be an organizer of your other social events. This allows social media to be the facilitator of your actual social life, rather than social media actually becoming your social life.

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2. Create time boundaries, and stick to them!

If you find that you are constantly signing in and out of various social media outlets, you should consider setting boundaries. Just like you don’t need to constantly ask a friend how he or she is doing, you don’t need to do the same on social media.

Set daily times, such as first thing in the morning and last thing before bed; to help control the amount of time spent surfing on social media. Image: Judy van der Velden on Flickr

3. Try Something New!

Ultimately, time spent on social media, like anything else, is time we can’t get back. To reduce the time spent on social media, finding a new hobby or activity to fill some time with is a great step. More activities

give people one less excuse to spend more time in front of their screens.

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Now that it has been established that too much technology use can create significant problems for people; and after offering some strategies to limit technology use, the question becomes…

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...What are the specific benefits of finding an escape from the digital world?

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1. More Energy

Research has shown that too much time spent without a break from technology makes it harder to get a good night’s sleep. Leaving workers disengaged at work the next day.

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2. More Happiness

“…over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression”

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3. Increased Productivity

Less time spent in the digital world means more time spent doing other activities, ultimately making individuals for productive.

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4. A More Meaningful Social Life

By ‘unplugging’ from technology, individuals are better able to pay better attention to their social lives as they exist in the real world. It is important to maintain a balance between maintaining a social life both online and offline.

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5. Increased Physical Health

Research has shown that there is a correlation between time spent online and obesity. A break from technology is good for your health!

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Ultimately, effective and healthy technology usage comes back to finding a right balance. As outlined there are many very important benefits associated with taking some time to unplug and rewind, however it is noted that for most people in today’s digital world, a certain level of digital involvement is required.

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No matter, how much you believe you depend on technology in your life, everyone benefits from some time off.

Image: Nikos Koutoulas on Flickr

In closing, I’d like to leave you with one immediate action point. The sooner you try and balance technology usage in your life, the faster you will see the benefits!

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Sources: “Too Much Time Online Makes You Moodier, Lonelier and Obsessed” Psychologytoday.com “Is the Internet Making Us Crazy? What the New Research Says” Newsweek.com “World of Psychology” Internet Addiction and Depression Psychcentral.com “Smartphones Make You Tired and Unproductive, Study Says” Wallstreetjournal.com “The Pointlessness of Unplugging” Newyorker.com “There is Absolutely a Point to Unplugging” Huffingtonpost.com “How Facebook Makes Us Unhappy” Newyorker.com