Digital Detox II

What We Know…

Being screen-free is crucial for better mental/physical health, deeper relationships, and cognitive health by reducing anxiety, improving sleep/focus, fostering creativity, and encouraging real-world skills like empathy, problem-solving, and physical activity, which screens often hinder. It balances the brain’s dopamine system, combating addiction, and helps develop emotional regulation and stronger bonds through face-to-face interactions.

In fact, Dr. Sahib Khalsa a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, explained in a recent interview that “technology can distract us from noticing important signals from the brain — and it can also be the source of our distress. We can scroll for hours, not paying attention to how tired we are, or how unhappy scrolling makes us feel.”

Our previous post about ‘offline being the new luxury’ spoke about all the stats and research, but didn’t focus on the ‘how’. Let’s take a look at how we can achieve less screen time.

When Should I Start?

The recommendations suggest only 2 hours a day of screen time for adults. While this seems impossible due to work being so reliant on technology, we can all afford to cut back.

Physical & Environmental Strategies

- Keep it out of sight.

- No phones in bed.

- Create “no-phone zones”. This can mean charging your phone in a different room and using an actual alarm clock.

- Try movement breaks.

Digital & Setting Adjustments

- Minimise notifications.

- Use grayscale.

- Set limits.

- Delete apps.

- Switch your phone off.

Habit & Mindset Shifts

- Replace the habit.

- Find new hobbies.

- Schedule phone time.

- Practice mindfulness.

- Stop walking & texting.

Did you know?

Studies show that about 80% of smartphone users check their phone within 15 minutes of waking up each morning. In addition, 66% of the western population show signs of nomophobia: the fear of being without our phone.

There are also many organisations that can help you implement digital free practises in your household, like @sfc_south_africa. Make this year, a year to protect your mental, physical and emotional space.

www.sanalifestyle.co.za