When I think back 30 years ago, before the digital age, I miss those simpler times and crave it for my well-being. Then, I know it’s time for a digital detox, to clear the clutter from my mind and reconnect with nature and wellness, not WIFI. Overall, a digital detox is one of the best things you can do for your health to be more present, connected and relaxed. First things though for digital detox tips is you need to UNPLUG!
Here are some quick ideas on how to unplug from technology, such as, computers, cellphone and television. It’s obvious that overuse of technology is not good for your health or relationships. You don’t need to be addicted to technology to benefit from a digital detox.
21 Digital Detox Tips for Well-Being
Unplug from Technology
for a Digital Detox
The first 10 tips are on unplugging from technology in practical ways in our everyday lives. Then, the next 11-20 tips are on plugging into something more organic or healthier for our well-being.
1. Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails
Maybe, it’s time to have a one on one with your technology. What do you need to let go of on your devices. A great place to start is email subscriptions. If you haven’t read anything from subscriptions for a while or it doesn’t make you feel great, then just unsubscribe. We get bombarded by enough information. Why get unnecessary emails that you won’t read anyway.
2. Leave Your Phone at Home or Shut Off
Pretend it’s 1995 and leave your phone at home. I promise you will live. Humans thrived without cell phones for eons and lived to tell about it. Also, maybe you can have a cell phone-free day a week. Let your friends and family know so they don’t worry. At the very least, start with a baby step and just turn the phone off and get on with your day.
3. Get an Alarm Clock
Once again, pretend it’s 1995, use an alarm clock! Many of us are tied to our phones for so many reasons that it’s a lifeline. It can diligently wake us up in the morning. However, even in airplane mode, we can get restless and turn it off to scroll and interrupt sleep. Get the phone out of the room and use a good ole alarm clock.
4. Go on an EMF Diet in Your Bedroom
The high radiation from EMF’s (Electromagnetic Fields) can interfere with our sleep and well-being. So, it only makes sense to keep your bedroom on an EMF diet. Keeping your cell phones and computers out of the bedroom are ideal. At the very least, the computer should be off and unplugged and phone on airplane mode. Also, keep the wi-fi router out of the bedroom.
5. Delete Social Media Apps on Phone
Removing social media apps from the phone is always an easy way to reduce phone time. Finding out an acquaintance’s mother died is not what you need to hear for a good day. I removed all social media apps, except YouTube on my phone and am better for it. You will feel lighter by doing this.
6. Delete Apps You Don’t Use
It’s good to intermittently go through all your apps and delete what you don’t need anymore. Streamlining your technology is a good start to minimizing it and being lighter for it.
7. Unfollow Accounts that Make You Feel Bad
Besides apps, don’t forget to put your social media follow lists on a diet. I learned to let a lot of people go on my social media accounts regarding their posts that upset me. Our world is challenging enough without reading political rants from a person you never really liked much in the first place.
8. Disable Phone Notifications
This is a game changer. Constant notifications from your phone will keep you on your phone and distracted from life. There is no need to know about every email or social media post immediately. This is very unhealthy for you and your well-being.
9. Schedule Time for Checking Emails and Social Media
After eliminating the apps and notifications from your phone, you have taken the first step. Being realistic, you still need to check emails and social media accounts for work or personal reasons. So, why not schedule a time for this. By having a set time, you make it a routine not an unhealthy habit.
10. Eat Meals in a Room without Digital Devices
Once again, pretend it’s 1995 and don’t bring your cell phone to the table. Also, keep your computer out of the dining room. Once again, the bedroom and dining area should be on an EMF diet. Good and healthy vibes only!
Plug into Well-Being
for a Digital Detox
After letting go and clearing space by doing the first 10 Digital Detox tips, its time to fill yourself up with some well-being. Think more Green Time, not screen time
11. Go on a Walk
Ok, no excuses unless you are injured. Walking is one of the most accessible ways for most of us to unplug. We start to notice that the longer we walk, the more our stress and problems fade away. Movement is the key, as we leave behind EMF vibes. The fresh air along with endorphins and circulation moving, we automatic feel better and freer.
12. Go on a Staycation
Taking a day off for a staycation can be the best medicine. Just pretend you are a tourist and go on a tour of your hometown. Many times we take for granted our hometown attractions with intentions to eventually see them. Well, maybe the time is now. I lived in Seattle for a 15 years before I finally made my pilgrimage to Jimi Hendrix’s grave. It ended up being life-changing for me. You never know what you are missing, just outside your back door.
13. Digital Detox Vacation
For those more serious about a serious detox, maybe a Digital Detox Vacation is the ticket. This can be anything from a cabin in the woods to a spa vacation. Taking stock of your own personal needs is something only you can do. But, a universal truth is that nature will be part of the equation.
Related: 10 Tech-Free Travel Ideas for a Digital Detox Vacation
14. Take a Nature Break
Nature is the universal balancer on our planet. Nature grounds us and connects us with our physical selves and the moment. You can make this whatever you need most. Nature is always accessible there for us to plug into and connect with instead of wi-fi. For example, you can just go for a walk in a park, spend a day at the beach or indulge in a weekend camping adventure.
15. Schedule a No Phone Date with Friend(s) or Family
Imagine meeting friends for lunch with no phones. It actually sounds like a strange idea. However, we all have bee in those situation where we feel annoyed by someone who is not listening to us because they keep lookin at their phone. Well, we can eliminate the temptation and just focus on connecting with our company. Taking a timeout for human connection without technology is always a good idea.
16. Schedule a Bodywork Appointment
There is nothing like a massage or acupuncture session to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit. Sometimes, we just need a pause in life to reconnect with our body. Taking a timeout for ourselves could save us a lot of time in the future with better health and well-being.
17. Meditate or Exercise
Finding a routine or ritual to connect with your body and the moment is essential for sustainable well-being. Only you can decide what you need most. You have to ask yourself what you will be compliant and follow through with on a consistent basis. This is a very personal thing to consider for your own needs. There are infinite options, such as, tai chi, meditation, yoga, walking or weight lifting.
18. Start an Art or Creative Project
Here is an area where the sky is the limit. Art and creativity connect us with our higher selves. This can be an escape to align with our own personal sense of expression. Once again, this is very personal. For me, poetry and my travel blog is my go to for a creative outlet that I share with others. For others, maybe it’s painting, calligraphy, photography or digital art.
Related: Travel Poems – Creating Art from Your Adventures
19. Home or Yard Improvement Project
Sometimes, updating or nurturing our home environment is the panacea for our personal needs. Maybe, we need to change our palette at home is in order through painting or decorating. Feng shui is a fun way to balance our home environment with inspiration and energy. Maybe, it’s an outdoor project, such as, gardening or landscaping.
20. Volunteer in Service
Sometimes, stepping outside ourselves into helping others is a straightforward way to connecting with our community. Helping others is one of the best ways to put our own problems in perspective. Contributing to humanity or the environment is an easy way to gain a sense of connection and altruism for well-being.
21. Get a Pet
Sometimes this answer comes to you and not the other way around. As a former “dog person” I adopted the neighbor’s cat on a “trial basis” during acupuncture school. I have been a “cat person” since then. Animals are a quick diversion from our computer brain and can be downright therapeutic in our homes. Also, a pet is a personal choice, such as, dog, cat, bird, rabbit, fish, hamster or even reptile.
Enjoy a Digital Detox!
It’s inevitable that to break a cycle of overusing technology, you will need a period of time without it.. Then, you can recharge and come back with a more balanced time management approach for your well-being. Unplugging is the first step from a digital detox. However, then you fill the void with more healthy and productive things to do, like be in nature or with friends.
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