Technology has become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, and for many of us, technology is something we don’t even think twice about. From spending our days at computers during our workdays to smartphones dominating our lives with constant dings, buzzes, and notifications that demand our attention, technology practically controls our lives.
With more and more households moving towards digital streaming services, smart home devices, and further leveraging technology as part of our home lives, it can be more than beneficial to digitally disconnect for a period of time. Here are some of our tips for how to digitally disconnect your home.
Negative Effects of Technology
Studies have increasingly shown how detrimental technology can be to our brains, relationships, and our relationships with the outside world. There’s likely no way you can completely get rid of technology considering how dependent our business lives and personal lives are on phones, computers, and tablets, but taking a step away can be massively beneficial.
The human brain didn’t develop to be constantly bombarded with information from our smartphones and other technology. As a result, too much technology can affect creativity, take us away from valuable relationships, narrows our worldview by limiting our overall social intelligence, and disrupts sleep. While this is a shortlist of the effects of technology on our lives, it should be convincing enough to entice you into a technology break.
Benefits of a Digital Disconnect
Naturally, for every digital negative, there is an opposite positive effect from taking a digital detox break. In all likelihood, you’ll almost immediately recognize better sleeping habits even if you sleep the same amount. You’ll likely be better rested without your brain firing unnecessarily just before bed.
Additionally, you’re certain to see improvements in your relationships, more connectedness with the people in your life, and possibly a more well-rounded outlook on the things in your world. Granted, depending on your current dependence on technology, these effects may not be as noticeable right away and it may take several days of digital disconnecting before you see the results you’re looking for.
How to Digitally Disconnect
In all likelihood, you won’t be able to cut out all technology all at once. For some of us, technology has a great deal to do with our livelihoods and therefore is a necessary part of our incomes. Start instead by dedicating time throughout each day to put down all technology. For some families, this may mean no technology before or after a certain time each day. For others, it may mean technology-free meals or a dedicated amount of time without smartphones.
Start by limiting your technology in a way that is achievable and attainable. Also, stay consistent as a single one-off digital detox, while beneficial, likely won’t see long-term results. For example, limit or eliminate technology use after 8:00 PM every night. Cutting off technology in the evening will eliminate the temptation to use your smartphone or technology before bedtime.
If you’re able to stay consistent with your technology detox, then make efforts to further extend it. Try either moving your “digital curfew” up 15 minutes or dedicate an entire day to digital detox. For many families, Sundays are a great day to completely eliminate technology.
Finally, have an activity in mind to occupy your time away from technology. Family game nights, card games, or technology-free meals are great ways to fill the time and likely will add more tech-free time to your home
