My first day back on social media after a 2-week break, I want to share my experiences of my digital detox. The time away gave me a purpose to reflect and to identify what was important in my life and most importantly what I have learned from all this. I had signed out of all my social media accounts on 19th March 2021, after a few hours I was feeling the need to sign back in; just in case if I had missed a post or if someone had messaged me. I had felt very twitchy and a part of me was thinking if I had made the right choice.
As the days passed I realised that I had got a lot of stuff done that was on my to-do list, this ranged from catching up with uni work and actually spending quality time with family, without the need to constantly look at my phone or spend hours scrolling through various posts.
So what have I learned from all this?
- Technology can be stressful. I have often felt at times I can’t imagine my life without tech devices, the first few days were very difficult.
- Sleep disruption. I was active on social media before going to bed and sometimes if I was having difficulty sleeping I would continue to use my mobile phone, this really interfered with my sleep quality and quantity.
- Constant connectivity affects work/life balance. That feeling of always being connected has made it difficult to create boundaries between my home life and work life.
- Social comparison. I have found myself comparing my own life to friends, family and total strangers. I used to think that everyone else seems to be leading a fuller, richer, or more exciting life based on the tiny, curated glimpse of what I see on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Prior to my annual leave, I was feeling very tired and low, It was a blend of home and work life and most importantly the time I was spending on social media, friends would often say I sounded very ‘ratty’ and looked very exhausted on video calls. I really needed to do something about it and nip it in the bud before it becomes a concern.
What were the signs that I needed a detox?
- I was compelled to check my phone every few minutes.
- I felt depressed, anxious, and angry after spending time on social media, the time could have been better spent doing something more meaningful.
- I was heavily preoccupied with the likes, comments, or reshare counts on my social posts.
- I was afraid that I will miss something if I don’t keep checking my device.
- I would often find myself staying up late or getting up early to see who has posted.
- I had trouble concentrating on one thing without having to check my phone.
Detaching from my devices has also brought benefit to my mental well-being, from my experience a digital detox does not have to involve a complete separation from your phone and other tech connections. The process is often more about setting boundaries and making sure that you are using your devices in a way that benefit, rather than harm, your emotional and physical health.
What will I do now to maintain this balance?
- Set some limits. I aim to be on social media for 2 hours a day, an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. I will also switch off completely once a month (over 1 weekend)
- Less negative doomscrolling, more joyscrolling. Only engage with posts that give me value.
- Turn off notifications. This is the ultimate, no notifications no scrolling, it is a win-win situation.
My final thoughts…..
My digital detox journey has given me the experience that there is no need to have a constant online presence. To maintain a work/life balance it is pivotal to switch off every now and then, it has been an emotional couple of weeks and I had wished I could have done it sooner. Reflecting back on this I am glad I made the choice to do this, not only have I managed to bring some stability back in my life; but also learned how to set boundaries and actually switch off when I feel tired and exhausted. My 2 little princesses loved spending those 2 weeks with me and I feel I have really got to understand them and also to do things that make me happy.
