By SITI NABILA HASHIM
In a world where many people depend on technology, the thought of putting away all electronic devices for a week can seem terrifying and almost absurd to the majority.
Digital detox, defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is a period of time whereby a person abstains from using any electronic devices in order to reconnect to the physical world.
The fear of missing out on latest news and happenings, not updating social media as well as not replying messages within a certain period of time proves that people have the urge to check their electronic devices all the time.
Many people would perceive going through a whole week of digital detox would be to abstain from any digital devices and be in a remote location. However, digital detox is doable even in the comforts of your own home.
Here are benefits of going through a week of digital detox.
1. Increase in productivity level
Checking for the tiniest updates or notifications on your electronic devices could seem like it would not take up a lot of your time, but regularly switching from Facebook to Twitter then to Instagram could distract you from performing the tasks you set out for.
Actor Perassath Servai Vedagiri, 22, said, “I felt less irritated with myself because I'm always distracting myself with my phone but for this period of time I actually went for more walks, did more reading, wrote more on my journal and did more self-reflecting.”
By switching off your electronic devices, it is possible to be more in the moment and mindful of your actions.
“There was more time to myself and it made me feel productive because of all the artistic work that I managed to complete by the end of the day,” he added.
2. Boost in creativity
By detaching yourself from the digital realm, there is more time to focus on the things that you love to do during your free time.
“My hobbies were writing my own stories and poems. But I think people have different creative outlets, mine was more to creating,” he said.
“The main reason I did it was to reinvent myself and create stuff that is different from what I'm consuming. It proved that I don't have to be completely dependent on these devices.” he elaborated,
3. Clarity of mind
Staying up-to-date with news and updating social media occupies a large portion of your time and effort.
Channeling most of your time thinking about the perfect angle for a photo, what caption to accompany a new photo and which filters or hashtags to use can take up a lot of your time and requires a number of decisions to be made.
By clearing out this process, it will provide your mind with the rest and clarity it needs.
“The motivation for doing digital detox was definitely clarity of my mind. I know that I can finally think straight and actually make important decisions,” Perassath said.
4. Reconnect with friends or family
There must have been instances where in a gathering of family and friends, a few of them would be glued to the screens of their devices.
These devices are connecting us to virtual relationships and creating distance in real life relationships.
With the absence of technology, you will pay more attention of what other people are saying and appreciate their presence by spending quality time together.
Be brave and take on the challenge of going through a digital cleanse. You might be surprised of the changes it can bring to your life.
Digital detox, defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is a period of time whereby a person abstains from using any electronic devices in order to reconnect to the physical world.
The fear of missing out on latest news and happenings, not updating social media as well as not replying messages within a certain period of time proves that people have the urge to check their electronic devices all the time.
Many people would perceive going through a whole week of digital detox would be to abstain from any digital devices and be in a remote location. However, digital detox is doable even in the comforts of your own home.
Here are benefits of going through a week of digital detox.
1. Increase in productivity level
Checking for the tiniest updates or notifications on your electronic devices could seem like it would not take up a lot of your time, but regularly switching from Facebook to Twitter then to Instagram could distract you from performing the tasks you set out for.
Actor Perassath Servai Vedagiri, 22, said, “I felt less irritated with myself because I'm always distracting myself with my phone but for this period of time I actually went for more walks, did more reading, wrote more on my journal and did more self-reflecting.”
By switching off your electronic devices, it is possible to be more in the moment and mindful of your actions.
“There was more time to myself and it made me feel productive because of all the artistic work that I managed to complete by the end of the day,” he added.
2. Boost in creativity
By detaching yourself from the digital realm, there is more time to focus on the things that you love to do during your free time.
“My hobbies were writing my own stories and poems. But I think people have different creative outlets, mine was more to creating,” he said.
“The main reason I did it was to reinvent myself and create stuff that is different from what I'm consuming. It proved that I don't have to be completely dependent on these devices.” he elaborated,
3. Clarity of mind
Staying up-to-date with news and updating social media occupies a large portion of your time and effort.
Channeling most of your time thinking about the perfect angle for a photo, what caption to accompany a new photo and which filters or hashtags to use can take up a lot of your time and requires a number of decisions to be made.
By clearing out this process, it will provide your mind with the rest and clarity it needs.
“The motivation for doing digital detox was definitely clarity of my mind. I know that I can finally think straight and actually make important decisions,” Perassath said.
4. Reconnect with friends or family
There must have been instances where in a gathering of family and friends, a few of them would be glued to the screens of their devices.
These devices are connecting us to virtual relationships and creating distance in real life relationships.
With the absence of technology, you will pay more attention of what other people are saying and appreciate their presence by spending quality time together.
Be brave and take on the challenge of going through a digital cleanse. You might be surprised of the changes it can bring to your life.