HOW ABOUT A DIGITAL DETOX DETOUR!

Around 3,20,000 people in the United Kingdom have committed themselves to a social media free month as part of the first ever ‘Scroll Free September’ campaign.

From smartphones to satellite navigation, our lives are full of screens. We wake up to them, come home to them and carry them around all day.

While the experts have been warning that such constant exposure could be damaging our health, it is time we understand how damaging the addiction is.

To avoid becoming a slave to our smartphone, we do need a level of self-discipline. Occasionally, we also need a complete break.

But what does it mean to disconnect in this digitally dependent world? Well, yes a way in which people are exploring this idea is through a fast catching fad called a “digital detoxification.”

But how easy is it to start and, more importantly, stick to a much-needed digital detox?

We spoke to a few people in around the city to find out more about the trend.

Explaining the need for digidetox, psychologist Dr Rajesh Pandey says, “Technology is incredibly useful and educational and it certainly allows us much creativity, connectivity and enjoyment but it cannot happen always. We all need me time off screens and phones. So to cut yourself off from all such inclinations many around the globe are on a digital detox. And as always, celebs are the torch-bearers of this development too.”

“We all know that detoxification means cleaning up. So with digital detox you not only clean your mind, your eyes but also your thought process. It is the need of the hour and is definitely every effective if done in a right way,” he says while explaining the process.

“The process usually involves taking yourself to a remote place maybe to an undisclosed location and doing something completely out of your comfort zone or maybe simply getting involved in something productive or that what you have not done for long and it was amongst your hobbies like painting, sports or simple gardening or maybe spending real time with family and friends.”

“The only thing one needs to keep in mind is before you go on a disconnecting spree; plan it in a way that it’s more constructive in the long run.”

So, why is it important for us to do this?

There must be many who rely on technology for their livelihood or maybe their regular work involves being online most of the time. For such persons, it can be hard to go for digital detox.

Dr Pandey says, “First thing we should always remember that there was a time when there was no Internet. When we could manage then, we sure can manage now too. I’ll suggest beginning with waking up and sleeping patterns. Avoid using your smartphone for at least two hours in the morning. It should not be the first thing you look at when you wake up. Our brains are most productive in the morning and very tired at night only we start keeping it off phone for this much time we will start detoxifying our brains to great extent.”

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK