Digital Detox: How to Unplug
Detach from digital.
We admit to starting more than a few declarations with “When I was growing up…” these days, but there is actually a deeper point to be made via these curmudgeonly observations. Case in point: the once-upon-a-time rewards of a simple road trip—you know, the one where you loaded a finite number of songs on a mixtape (or took your chances with a staticky radio), map in hand, and had to talk to an actual person if you took a wrong turn. The thing is, we remember those escapades fondly—conveniently disassociating all of their minor inconveniences. Since we’re growns, we know we could go back anytime we want to those halcyon days before digital and rediscover those offline offerings. (Just read on before you step away from that phone.)
Force a break-up.
Since Sarah Lock suggested the book How to Break Up With Your Phone: The 30 Day Plan to Take Back Your Life, we have indeed tried to make that split. While we must admit our phone is a bit of a stage 5 clinger, we’re moving through the pragmatic advice nonetheless. Fear not: The book is hardly filled with the ravings of a self-proclaimed luddite, but rather a practical approach to help us get the best from our phones—and leave the rest. Fingers crossed we’ll be flying solo soon.
Leave home without it.
Have you ever left home without your phone and promptly freaked out? Of course, you returned to get it. But hear us out: Leave it on purpose. You’ll be better equipped if you leave it at a time of your choosing; we suggest you bring 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet along for the ride to remind you that you’ll be more than fine.
Refill your rabbit holes.
We didn’t need our phone tracking app to tell us we once spent an inordinate amount of time on instagram or watching “Drunk History.” Like eating too much junk food, what felt good in the plugged-in moment often leaves us with a vaguely icky sense of remorse. Luckily, we don’t have to abstain altogether—we just need to schedule time for our digital wanderings. Turns out when you deliberately dive down that rabbit hole, it doesn’t feel so bad.
Shalom (digital) Shabbat.
Perhaps you’ve heard of Digital Sabbath, where people have a day of rest from all things digital? While we admit our head hurts when we think a whole day away, we’re going to try it anyway. Pro tip: Let people know what you’re doing and identify a way they can reach you in case of emergency.
Do not reply.
We loved the trip down memory lane courtesy of this podcast about how email evolved, which also reminded us that our online lives once were tame before we unwittingly let it all consume far too much of our time. From friends who have gone to checking emails once a day to those who now banish it entirely, we think it’s worth a fresh look at where it’s getting us. For a little extra (analog) reading, we love Cal Newport’s book on the topic, appropriately titled A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload.
