You are reading about digital wellness from your digital device, ironic, right? Technology has become an indispensable part of our lives. For every little thing, such as ordering food to be in touch with friends and family, we might be using your digital devices.

Imagine being told, “It’s time to shut down all your phones and electronic gadgets.” What thoughts came into your mind when you read this statement? If you are a person who is constantly on your digital device, it might have created a mix of strong nostalgic emotions in you.

We are living in a fast-paced world, and it is not unusual for us to be dependent on all digital devices and be surrounded by multiple screens.

Technology: Boon or Bane?

Back in the days, you must have written an essay on ‘Technology, a Boon or Bane?’ Most of us must have mentioned technology as a boon, with gaining access to vast amounts of information with just a few clicks as well as reducing the distance between two people.

But what we overlooked as a child was the bane to technology. Digital devices and technology have unlocked Pandora's box, and every day, you must be discovering it’s more convoluted side.

Poor sleep, diminished attention span, stunted imagination, failure to connect with people around you, cyber theft, etc. to name a few issues that we might face due to excessive use of technology.

Tried to overcome or manage excessive and mundane use of digital use?

Let me take you through a concept called ‘Digital Wellness’ that would help you to deal with it. Like physical health and wellness, Digital Wellness focuses on the quality of your body and mind in the age of technology.

To develop digital wellness, you need to maintain a good and healthy balance between your online and offline world. This entails determining when technology is beneficial in your life versus when it is distracting and hampering your life.

Use your SUPERPOWER wisely.

If you choose to play a passive role in your relationship with your digital devices, then over time it is possible that technology will take the driver’s seat and will try to direct you in various aspects of your lives, be it your interactions with family and friends to controlling what information you are exposed to.

But the good news is you have the SUPERPOWER to reduce and overcome excessive digital use by taking charge and control over your digital devices.

Let’s look at various ways through which you can use your superpower.

Schedule digital break

Prepare a ‘no gadget’ time slot, probably during meal hours. Turn off your work phone during weekends. Before going to sleep, log out of all the social media accounts. Due to lack of access to technology you may feel less restless or irritable. Do it slowly.

Find alternative ways to stop the ‘digital craving’

Instead of scrolling endlessly through social media, you can engage in some new and fun activities, which you enjoy and also makes you feel motivated. You can select any activity from writing to singing to dancing to cooking to any other kind of activities which doesn’t involve the need to engage in digital media.

Assess your digital use

Examine how you use your digital device and what activities you use them for. You can restrict how much time you spend on the internet by setting time limits, either every day or once a week, depending on your convenience. Spending too much time on social media limits your chances of utilizing that time in a better manner.

Tech-Life Balance

Developing a good balance between your online and offline lives is central to digital wellbeing. To satisfy all your psycho-social needs, it is important that there is a balance between your online and offline connections.

Get out, get moving, and be present

Spend some time outdoors in nature, get some fresh air. This will help you to reconnect with your real-world and will boost your mind and energy levels.

Conclusion

Living a life without technology seems almost impossible. However, one may aim to live a meaningful life with technology. You need to decide how you want to manage your digital devices so that they don’t manage you.

To inculcate digital wellness, you don’t have to completely leave your gadgets or disable your social media accounts. To stop being trapped, you just need to use it wisely.

So, now keep your laptop/phone aside and go and engage in some other activity. Get connected with yourself.

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What steps do you take in your digital detox journey?