Your alarm goes off. You reach over, hit snooze a time (or three), then you finally sit up to check your messages, emails, and notifications. At the last possible minute, you drag yourself out of bed and text your kids to make sure they’re awake upstairs. After you shower, you turn on your favorite podcast while you get dressed. A reminder notification dings, reminding you to pick up coffee creamer, and before you head out to drop the kids at school, you send a voice memo to a co-worker asking for the Zoom link for the meeting you have later that day.
Before you’ve even left the house, you’ve leveraged technology at least 10 different ways, most of them without even thinking about it.
No one will argue that technology can enhance our lives. Without it, our economy wouldn’t have survived the pandemic. Our sanity wouldn’t have, either!
But at the same time, technology comes at a cost. Its automated nature creates an inclination toward disconnection. Screens begin to feel more comfortable than faces. Texts begin to feel easier than words. And before you know it, you feel awkward being around humans, ever.
But how do you scale back your use of technology in a world that’s more digitally reliant than ever?
Glad you asked! Here are a few ways to detox from technology and ensure you don’t lose your ability to connect with your people:
1. Calendar non-tech time. You can actually set your device to remind you to put it down. Even if it’s just 15 minutes a day, schedule intentional, consistent time to be completely tech-free. Do it now!
2. Get a tech-free hobby. Join a bowling league. Start a collection. Pick up jogging or walking. Whatever you do, make sure it’s outside of your house and tech-free.
3. Make the call or the date. This one may push you out of your comfort zone. But the more difficult this sounds, the more important it is for you to do it. Instead of sending a text or message, make a call. Instead of making a call, make a date to meet up. Start small—with one or two calls or hang-outs a month. Deliberately increasing your personal interaction will safeguard against becoming too attached to your technology.
4. Leave-it-at-home challenge. In order to break away from technology, you may physically have to distance yourself from it. If you find that challenging, start with small time increments. Leave your tech at home and go for a walk. Leave your tech in the car during your coffee meeting. Even leaving your tech in the other room while you tidy up or cook a meal can detach you from it.
If you’re struggling with how much you or a loved one uses technology, you’re not alone. There are countless organizations and counselors that want to help.
If you think you or someone you know may need some type of intervention to help them confront their use of technology, visit us at LINK for additional suggestions and information.