Digital Detox
Last month I embarked on a challenge to make my smart phone dumb. The rules were simple - keep necessary utility apps on your phone (maps, banking, alarm, etc) and leave the rest off. Some folks in the challenge even went as far as putting their phone on grayscale. Oh and let’s not forget turning off the pavlovian notifications.
I committed to turning off notifications and social media for the month of May and opted to read in the evenings vs dozing off to (name random documentary here).
5 Takeaways from my digital detox experience:
Bad Habit: Much like fasting, the first few days were the hardest. I was wired to subconsciously reach for my phone constantly at all times (stop light, dinner, walks, you name it). I realized how unhealthy that habit is and I am happy to report, for the time being, that I am not checking my phone on autopilot.
Hyper Awareness: As the detox progressed I became hyper aware of how much everyone around me was constantly checking their phones, head down and zoned out. Dare I say I felt a little bit of superiority expressing even the least bit of self-control. I am now very aware of how non-present I have been.
Unspoken Rules: I felt like I was breaking some unspoken social rule. FYI there is no rule that says you need to respond to a notification the moment you get it (unless you signed a legal contract saying so). It helped me realize that about 10% of matters were truly time sensitive. I also realized that no one even commented about my absence from social media (we can unpack that later).
Distraction and Disruption: I realized what a complete distraction and disruption the phone can be if not properly managed. If I needed to “get in the zone” I would simply turn my phone off until I was done. I would also leave the phone out of the office, off the dinner table and definitely out of the bedroom to further limit distractions.
I’m In Control: At the end of the day I realized that I am in control and I always have been. I allowed my bad phone habits to slowly take over. I also realized more than ever that the phones and apps are designed to be sticky, enticing, attention grabbing and quite frankly addicting. Yet, I am still in control of how I interact with it and I definitely have a responsibility as to how I allow my children to interact with it.
Is the modern smartphone with millions of apps and possibilities bad? NO. But most things in moderation, with intention and control can be used to better yourself and your surroundings.
So go find a way to make the world a better place with one of the most powerful tools ever developed in the history of mankind (proceed with caution).
If you’re curious about the Digital Detox challenge, learn more here.
Tim Martinez
“The Inside Man”
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