Digital Detox

Having worked from home since March due to the lockdown period, I have regularly been using technology to stay connected with family, friends and colleagues. It has been an intense time being 'switched on' with excessive screen time and I was thoroughly looking forward to taking a week's holiday to Torquay, Devon to wind down. I decided to do a full digital detox whilst I was away and thought I'd share the experience!

What is a digital detox?

The term digital detox means voluntarily taking time out to switch off from using digital devices such as mobile phones, computers and social media platforms. Many studies have proved that it can be a form of addiction spending large amounts of time on digital devices and the Internet, so disconnecting from the digital world can allow us the time to reconnect with what really matters; our family, friends, health and general wellbeing. 

My husband Chris often reminds me of the phrase 'digital detox', whilst watching TV or films together, as often I will be distracted by my phone or laptop and not give my full attention to the programme or film we are watching. Every so often, we will both leave our phones in a different room so that we don't continuously check messages and can concentrate fully on what we are watching. There were times during the lockdown period where I could sit watching a TV programme and not be able to give an overview as to what had happened, simply because I had been responding to multiple messages and scrolling through social media rather than paying attention to what was on the screen. My attention span was certainly reducing and I was finding it hard to concentrate after work due to the numerous video calls with colleagues throughout the day. I have seen many posts from LinkedIn connections about 'Zoom or video call fatigue' and felt as though this was setting in after weeks of working from home and also speaking to friends/family over telephone or social media to keep in touch due to social distancing measures.

Ironically, prior to starting the digital detox I found myself looking online at other articles and top tips shared by people who had done it before. It reminded me how reliant we are on technology to find information. Previously, we might have turned to the library to find information or ask friends/family/colleagues. Whilst researching, I came across the concept of arranged digital detox holidays where you can check into a hotel that does not have WiFi connectivity, signal or computers available for guest use. As I was reading these, it sounded blissful. It made me realise how excited I was about not having to check emails, WhatsApp messages, etc. and instantly feel as though I needed to respond. 

Why did I do it? 

Research and studies suggest that technology use can be quite stressful, as the feeling of always being connected can make it difficult to create boundaries between home life and work life. Even when we are at home or on holiday, it can be hard to resist the temptation to check emails, respond to texts from colleagues or check in on our social media accounts. 

There are various apps that you can download to check the amount of time spent using your device and I dread to think how many hours in my day is spent looking at my phone. On Microsoft Teams, there are helpful analytics which show you how many hours are spent in meetings, calls and responding to emails. Having looked at my monthly statistics, it suggested over usage and lack of time to 'focus' and be more productive. In the weeks leading up to my annual leave, I was finding it difficult to sleep and was hoping that a digital detox might help me switch off and establish ways to live a healthier, less stressful work-life balance. Pre-lockdown, many of us took the commute into work, water cooler and kitchen chats, face to face meetings etc. for granted as these were many opportunities for us to take a break away and disconnect from the screen. Unfortunately, whilst working from home there has been less of a break away from technology which is the main reason I decided to switch off.

How did I get on?

Prior to going on holiday, my husband Chris and I had a discussion over dinner about technology and it felt refreshing not to have my phone at the table, to be able to fully focus on our conversation. During our chat, we raised a question that we didn't know the answer to and Chris instantly went to pick up his phone for the answer. He laughed and soon put it back down again. He then turned to the Amazon Alexa in our living room who unfortunately didn't have the answer for us. Again, this just showed how we are used to having instant response times and answers online through the use of technology.

The evening before we travelled, I turned all digital devices off and stored them away (work laptop, personal laptop, mobile phone and work phone). I had to tell my parents in advance that I would be 'off the grid' and that they could contact Chris if they needed to speak to me. Thankfully Chris had his phone on him in the event of an emergency. That was the main thing I was worried about initially, but knowing that we had his phone to fall back on if needed put me at ease. 

Waking up on day one felt good, as it was Chris' alarm that went off on his phone and I didn't have my phone to look at. In a previous role, I had my work emails on my personal phone which was not ideal, as I'd wake up to multiple emails in the morning which would cause angst before the start of my day. I have since changed this, I keep my work phone and personal phone separate which I would recommend to anyone who is able to. Another tip is to keep your phone in another area of the bedroom or outside the bedroom, so that you don't get distracted by it before you go to bed. It seems simple, but moving my phone from my bedside table to my dressing table has made a big difference and improved my sleep. 

Throughout our holiday, my sleep improved and I was finding it much easier to fall asleep (as soon as my head hit the pillow!), I was able to take in my surroundings fully and relax. Chris mentioned that it prompted him to stop looking at his phone so much, as he didn't want me to feel like I was missing out. Doing a digital detox is actually one way to set limits and reduce the fear of missing out, by not checking social media it didn't feel as though I was missing out on updates from friends or feeling the need to share what we were doing whilst on holiday.

Following the trip, I really feel refreshed and as though my personal time has been fully respected. Stepping away from technology allowed me to shift my focus, gain perspective and be busy with non tech, leisure activities that I enjoy doing. One of these was a 25 km walk from Torquay to Brixham, the fresh air and beautiful sea views were just what I needed.

Did I miss being connected? 

Honestly, I didn't miss being digitally connected at all although I did miss catching up with friends and family. I was quite reliant on using Chris' phone for navigation, car parking bookings, taking photos (I would usually use the camera on my phone), news updates and researching great restaurants or places to visit. The tech free break was really beneficial for my own wellbeing and will hopefully see the difference when I log back into work tomorrow (Monday) morning. 

I would recommend a digital detox for anyone who wants to unplug and unwind! It doesn't have to be for an entire holiday, small changes and breaks away from our screens will have a positive impact.

Stay safe and well,

Sophie