How to do a Full Digital Detox

 What is a Digital Detox?

A digital detox is a period of time during which you refrain from using electronic devices such as smartphones and computers,  to reduce stress or focus on social interactions in the physical world.

Let’s look at 5 ways you can achieve this…

Remove distractions

We are taught about the four burners theory—your four burners are family, friends, health, and work. Anything that is not essential to your four burners should be removed. That means no alerts, beeps, buzzes, or notifications of any kind. By instituting these practices and removing distractions, we focus on what really matters and make better use of our time.

Don’t glamorize busyness

It seems silly how proud we are of being busy. “I’m so busy!” are really just our attempts to avoid making hard choices about how we live our lives. Staying busy is easier than taking time to pursue what would really make us fulfilled. Worse yet, the Internet makes it so easy to be “busy” indefinitely. So be careful not to glamorize busyness. By doing so, you can start to think more clearly about how you are choosing to spend your time.

Always ask “why” when you pull out your phone

Sure, our smartphones are handy tools for finding out answers, keeping in touch with friends, or even checking the time. But often, more often than we think, we use our phones to distract, to avoid, or to ignore whatever is happening right in front of us.

“I truly believe that keeping our phones in our pockets is one of the bravest things that any of us can do,”  Instead of pushing down our anxiety—perhaps when we’re sitting alone or just feeling alone with a group of people—we can choose not to use our phones as a security blanket. Then we remember how to be present and grateful for the moment.

Try using the “rule of thirds”

Divide your life into thirds—8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep, and 8 hours free. Working more does not actually make us more productive. Working smart and keeping time free allows our minds to wander in ways that make the hours we do work more effective. In fact, research shows that for rote workers, more than 40 hours per week diminishes productivity; for creative workers, more than 20 hours per week does. So if you let your smartphone be your work ball-and-chain, you’re not doing yourself any favors when it comes to productivity.

Periodically, fast from electronics

Yes, literally fast. Abstain from electronic devices. Having tried this technique myself last month, I can’t overstate how positive the effects are. Although it feels a little scary at first, an electronics fast helps you to connect with others and with yourself and God, which turns out to be a pretty amazing experience.

To help with accountability, you can invite some of your friends to try this with you.