The boy had just begun his summer holidays. He marched in and announced he was going to be on his PlayStation for six hours. Whatever happened to going off to friends’ homes or playing outdoors? As for me, I had to send my phone for repair and it would be back with me only after a week. What was I going to do? It’s my music player, camera, phone directory and mobile office – all rolled into one. In fact, too smart for my liking. I couldn’t think straight for a minute. How did we manage without them till just a couple of years ago? My thoughts went back to the boat guy at Rishikesh, who got a call bang in the middle of rafting through the white waters. Who would have thought he would have a signal in the middle of the mountains, where one went to find peace? He was so engrossed in his conversation that I wondered if he remembered that others on the boat don’t go rafting every day. We were at his mercy while he chatted away. A digital detox was definitely what was needed – for all three of us.
The Smartphone has become a companion of sorts for many. The scene at restaurants is of singles engrossed over their devices. Virtual company has become the easiest escape from having to talk to real people. A recent study showed that people who were kept away from their devices experienced higher heart rates and blood pressure and poor performance. Consciously making a decision to keep our device usage under control can give us peace, relaxation and time to engage in other parts of our lives.
Here’s how you can detox:
Start small: Keep the phone away for short durations. Start with family meal time, or when talking to someone else. Setting smaller targets of “away” time will gradually lead you to depend less on your device. Most women carry handbags, but the mobile almost always remains in their hand. Bags are provided with inner pouches for phones; use them. Keep notifications off for the night and check updates only in the morning as answering and leaving comments in the middle of the night disturb sleep patterns.
Breathe: Instead of being cooped up indoors in front of a screen, go out and get some air. Ride a bike, walk around or visit a park without any gadget – you will savour the experience.
Look through a different lens: However advanced your phone camera may be, it cannot substitute for a regular camera (think digital). Photo quality is always better with a camera. Who knows, you may pick up a new hobby in the bargain.
Work around it: For those whose businesses thrive online, look at it like a day off from work. Choose a day of the week and disconnect.
Make a wishlist: There are a whole lot of things that we dream of doing with our free time. Once you put down your device, these can actually become a reality. It’s amazing how you can focus entirely on an activity or pursue an interest without hearing the constant ping, ring or ding of your Smartphone.
Do it with the family: Make the dinner table a device-free zone. Keep phones in a designated area and make an attempt to interact with one another. Let it become a family affair that everyone will enjoy, completely unplugged.
Detox the office: Keep lunch hours device-free. You may even discover new people at your workplace if you look up from your device.
The spas offer relaxation for the body, but for the mind to be relaxed, you need to disconnect yourself from all things external – start with your device.
(Write to me at staystylish24x7@gmail.com)
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