Being born in the early ‘90s, I grew up in the thick of the digital revolution. In the words of thought leader Marc Prensky, I am a “digital native.” Throughout my childhood, I was immersed in the rapidly expanding technological landscape that exploded in the mid ‘80s and has yet to slow down. It is an exciting time, as innovation after innovation improves our quality of life and communications technology makes the world increasingly connected. The list of benefits are endless, but it is important to realize that our digital age comes with its own unique challenges and that all of this tech may not be all it’s cracked up to be.
The drawbacks of the digital age read like the warning label on a prescription drug: The Digital Age – side effects may include but are not limited to insomnia, reduced creativity, increased stress, loss of intimacy, shortened attention span, information overload, reduced productivity, dry eyes, narcissism, loss of empathy…the list goes on. The issue is that these problems have only recently started coming to light. Technology advanced so quickly, the research on adverse effects is only just beginning to catch up – and the results are worrying.
Luckily, there is a way to mitigate the side effects of digital addiction: a digital detox. Scary, I know, but it can really make a difference. If you had told 18-year-old me to ditch digital for 24 hours, I would have laughed you out the door. Thankfully, I am now both older and wiser, and I was forced to take a mobile break due to an unfortunate incident involving my phone and a canoe. I spent two weeks smartphone-free as I waited for my replacement to come in the mail and found the entire experience to be surprisingly liberating. I read two books. I had full uninterrupted conversations with my friends. My homework took me half the time it usually did. There was a noticeable difference in the way I interacted with people and projects, and it was honestly for the better. Since then, I have set aside chunks of time each week to unplug and it is incredibly refreshing.
I am not the only one to realize the benefits of a technology break either. Pop star Ed Sheeren hasn’t had a cell phone for over a year, his reasoning being that the constant flood of messages was emotionally draining and he felt increasingly disconnected from people. Padmasree Warrior, current CEO of NIO, sets aside every Saturday to completely unplug after realizing that she was constantly working, even on the weekends, and it was killing her creativity. Digital detox camps, like Camp Grounded, have become increasingly popular as they allow adults to step off the grid for a full weekend. Studies are showing that ditching your electronics for an extended period of time can improve your relationships, productivity and your physical and mental health.
The great thing about doing a digital detox is that you can tailor it to fit seamlessly into your life. You can take one whole day off a week, or a month. You can take a whole week of once a year. If you have trouble sleeping, you can unplug a few hours before bed each night to relax. You can ban phones and laptops from your work meetings or schedule an hour of uninterrupted work time in every day. You could have screen-free family dinners. It’s all about finding a way to unplug that most benefits you, so why not give it a try?