Time to Unplug: what, why and how?

During the pandemic, when you can not head out, the obvious choice that you might resort to is watching TV, playing video games or — our  favourite pastime—  being glued to your mobile phones. Aren’t we all guilty of losing sleep over online shopping and random scrolling through social media? It is almost impossible to escape digital addiction, but how does it affect our wellbeing? 

Spending too much time on electronic devices can trigger many health problems like sleep disorder and eye strain, causing stress and mental fatigue. A digital detox is a great way to take a step back from the pocket sized world and focus our attention on real world interactions. While heading out is not the safest thing to do in the right now, you can always look for interesting things to do in the confines of your home, to keep yourself occupied while  reducing your screen time.

Here are some tips to combat stress caused by excessive screen time

Take frequent breaks: Stand up, move around and stretch your arms, legs, back, neck and shoulders to reduce tension and muscle fatigue. Try to take 5-to10-minute breaks every 2 hours to reduce the feeling of fatigue. 

Encourage mindfulness exercises: Mindfulness includes activities like yoga, meditation, or breath work. A 15-minute break for such activities is an ideal time to give your body a much needed rest from the screen

Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Look away from the screen every 20 minutes or so and look at something around 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This activity reduces eye strain caused from constant gazing at the screens.

Keep Blinking: It is preferable to blink 10 times in every 20 minutes. It keeps the eyes from drying out. You can also rub your palms together and apply a warm compress to the twitching eye and gently massage the eyelid with your fingers.

Going ‘tech-free’ all of a sudden could be uncomfortable and stressful. You can choose to ‘unplug’ step by step 

Easy tips to take a quick screen break

Follow a  ‘no screen during meals’ rule- It’s time you give your meals the attention they deserve! 

Make your bedroom a gadget-free zone after a specified time– Develop a healthy bedtime routine like reading or journaling — anything that doesn’t involve electronic gadgets

Pick a hobby for boredom– Taking up a hobby will keep you from turning to social media apps to stave off boredom

Get rid of unnecessary app notifications- Notifications are distracting and can tempt you into checking your phone often

Limit your non-work screen time- There are many apps that help you monitor and limit your screen time and app usage. Download them. 

Do share your experience of going gadget free with us in the comments section below.

We would love to know if these tips were helpful to you 🙂