Over the last few years, like many of us, I have noticed an increase in my use of technology – screens, and electronic devices - and in my need to be always connected.

From the video conferences now used to replace face-to-face meetings or to stay in touch with loved ones during the Covid pandemic, to the various apps for travel navigation, messaging, shopping, banking, holding events tickets or loyalty cards, monitoring my use of energy, my health or my fitness, etc…. I find myself glued to one screen or another more often than I would like to admit.

Packing for a short weekend away, I notice that my luggage allowance is more and more spent on carrying my phone, laptop, tablet, smart watch or other wearables, and all the chargers required to keep all that tech alive during my stay…

As a business owner I also find myself checking emails far too often … or scrolling aimlessly on social media – market research is my go-to excuse, but it does not fool anyone, not even myself…

I am blatantly aware that it’s not great for my health and I am already seeing the negative impact on my posture, my eyesight – granted, that could also just be a sign of ageing – but also on my mood and mental health.

Don’t get me wrong, I love technology and I am not advocating a return to the dark ages. I love that my smart watch encourages me to move more, and I am well aware that my electric toothbrush is more efficient at spacing out my visits to the dentist than my old manual one.

I am talking about being more mindful of my usage of DIGITAL technology, making sure I am in control of it and not the other way round. Even more importantly, I want to ensure that I am still getting some good old fashion tech free time and prioritising the human connections I am craving.

This is why I have decided to do something about it on National Day of Unplugging. It’s an awareness campaign observed annually the first weekend of March to highlight the impact of our increasingly hectic, always ‘on’ lifestyles and to encourage us to be tech free for one day. 

Now I am not going to go cold turkey – best recipe in my views to go back to my old ways after these 24 hrs, and you know my penchant for micro-stepping – but I will try to observe my habits, increase my awareness around my tech usage and minimise it, finding some alternative ways of doing or enjoying things.

Are you also finding that your digital tech usage is affecting your physical and mental health?

Are you ready for a digital detox?

Start by asking yourself:

·       Why do I feel the need to be constantly connected?

·       What am I fearful of missing out on?

·       What are the consequences of me being unavailable for a few hours? What could I gain?

·       Can I carve myself some offline, off-screen time every weekend? Every day?

·       What can I do to encourage myself to stay away from screens?

And a few suggestions to get you started:

·       Switch off push notifications on your phone, tablet, or laptop

·       Unsubscribe from irrelevant email lists (also great for your environmental impact, but that’s for another post)

·       Turn on your out-of-office stating when you are unavailable, setting the right expectations to colleagues or clients

·       Plug your smart phone away from your bed for overnight charging (invest in an old fashion alarm clock if you need to)

·       Be strict on device free meals – in my house if your phone is on the table at mealtimes, you don’t get any food!

·       Consider taking your emails off your phone or disabling them for a while

·       Leave your phone in another room while you really focus on what you enjoy doing – have you noticed how easy it is to forget your phone when you are cooking your favourite meal, gardening, doing some DIY or other hobby, or in deep conversation with some friends?

Get in touch if you’d need support working on your boundaries and your work/life integration, this is one of my favourite subjects!