How is it possible that during a time where a majority of people are so isolated that I could possibly feel ‘too connected.’ Well, let me explain. I’m not talking about face to face connection; I am talking about the 24/7 access to social media and community. And don’t get me wrong, I am beyond grateful that we live in a time where we have easy access to communicate with friends and loved ones. I often felt drained from this constant connection and struggled to stay in the present moment.
But here’s a significant difference. Sometimes, we are so caught up in a false reality that we never truly sit with ourselves to tune into our own emotions. When I realized how toxic my phone has been for me, I decided to break this addiction. Here are a few ways that helped me reconnect with myself. Feel free to try a couple of these to detox from your phone.
- Set limits on apps you find yourself to be most drawn towards
People often either don’t notice the amount of time on media, or it doesn’t bother them how much time they spend on their screens. By setting limits, I made a conscious effort to be aware of how much time I intend to spend scrolling.
- Shut off badges on all your devices
I would say for me; badges are the most addictive part of my phone. When I see the little red circle in the app corner with some number, I feel the need to check it. This is especially true for my email. Now, without my badges on, it takes away the pressure to check based on a number continually.
- Turn on downtime on your phone
I stop using my phone at least 30 minutes before bed and never touch my phone within the first hour I’m awake. This not only has helped me feel more connected and relaxed but how allowed me to get a much better night’s sleep. Downtime will limit all notifications on your phone from a certain time span, so you don’t wake up and already feel like your day is being hijacked.
- Log off all social
Logging off of all my social media helped me detox from my phone. I was able to notice how often I subconsciously would tap on each application for no intended purpose. Try this one out and challenge yourself to see how long you can last.
I hope that some of these steps resonate with you and that you are able to reconnect with yourself.