I took the decision two days before the new year broke to temporarily deactivate my Facebook and Instagram accounts; a digital detox is what health and wellness gurus call it.
In a world so hyperconnected, such detachment is always met with suspicion, the same way we view people who choose not to have accounts for themselves. We have gotten accustomed to immediacy and connection to such an extent that it is hard to realise life in any other way. Perhaps it was the over exposure to news coupled with a new lockdown, but I left 2020 feeling absolutely, mentally drained and worn out. As Guyanese would say “ah tek on everything”. I tried desperately at the end of the year to create patterns of normalcy, but this wasn’t sufficient.
I realised I needed to create a space for myself with less negativity as one I inhabited was so filled with intentional chaos. Social-media is one such force and though I tried to regulate and control what I’m exposed to, it has been exhausting to constantly monitor everything. My sleep patterns were interrupted, and I felt myself unable to feel grounded in the present.
It has been approximately a week and a half since I began my digital detox and I feel so much lighter. I managed to finish reading a novel, spend more wholesome time with family and connect with my vulnerable self; a few benefits that hyperconnectivity do not really allow.
According to We Are Social, the average person spends at least 2 hours between varying social media applications. While the hours may appear small for some, the information and content consumed in that time frame still takes additional time for the psyche to process even after the person decides to close his/her phone.
It shouldn’t have taken the global slowdown for me to realise I needed a break though. If you feel you would be missing out by not checking your device, if you are anxious over not having enough battery power, if you’re overly preoccupied with interactions from followers or feelings of inadequacy/frustration after doomscrolling, you are probably in dire need of a detox.
I found it hard to disconnect mostly because I thought it would worry my friends and family, but that just signals how consumed I was with valuing the needs of others over my own. I did it abruptly and it was liberating.
A detox is not a cure-all though, the work to protect your energy is continuous and the practicality of it shouldn’t be ignored. If one of your new year’s resolutions is to practice freeing your mental space continuously and a digital detox is your preferred path of choice, here are some things you should be aware of:
Baby steps
If your job revolves around social media or you simply have just become too engrossed in it, try taking baby steps. More browsing time is spent on your phone as opposed to your computer. With that in mind turn off notifications on your phone and try to limit to social media interactions to a computer.
Genuine impact
A detox is good, but it makes no sense if you’re going to be diving back into old patterns after your brain is allowed to breathe. Try to be intentional and reflect on how happy you were without it in specific situations. For me disabling my WIFI on trips has always be useful, as well as purposefully leaving my phone at home at times when I’m going to do something nature related, or spending time with loved ones or people I haven’t seen in ages. Detoxing is not a complete clean out, rather it is tool to help you refocus.
Offline connections
The art of conversation and interaction in social groups sometimes feels hard to establish or pivot. Primarily because new rules have been applied when we socialize. The location check-ins, tagging and mandatory posting immediately consumes us and while I am not judging, because I too am guilty of this, we are unconsciously losing our social skills and our ability to communicate effectively. We should be having our online conversations with friends, offline too.
With my digital detox, I have retreated to nature in the country where husband grew up. If you decide to detox, I hope it brings you much joy as it does me.
