Digital Downtime… Sounds like pure Bliss.
?the phone is an amazing tool? we own our devices, they don't own us.?
Randi Zuckerberg, former Facebook chief marketing officer.
There?s certainly no denying the marvels of technology. We can Skype with long-distance family and friends. We have unlimited information at our fingertips 24/7. And we can even run our businesses remotely from the other side of the world, which I recently did during a three month European business trip. Amazing.
But like everything, too much of a good thing can be bad. Social commentators are now claiming technology is becoming toxic with associated mental health issues on the rise:
- addiction (a growing concern)
- depression
- sleep disorders
- stress
- psychological well-being
Digital detox is the new buzz word and if you answer yes to two (or all) of these questions, chances are you may need a little digital downtime:
- Do you find yourself checking Facebook when out with family and friends?
- Do you get the ?beep? from the car behind as you (illegally) Tweet and miss the green light?
- Do you dish up most meals with a quick Instagram?
- Do you find yourself thinking in hashtags?
- Do you go into panic mode if you leave your phone at home or ?out of range??
- Do you leave your phone on overnight?
- Do you email colleagues or clients after hours? And then expect them to respond?
- Do you spend more time Tweeting about life than actually enjoying it?
- Do you check your holiday destination has ?wifi? before you confirm the booking?
- Do you scan Facebook rather than reading a good book?
- Do you know what ?Nomophobia? means?
Have we become a society who is so used to being ?available? that we no longer enjoy valuable time with family and friends?
The average Australian executive is now on-call 24/7 thanks to our addiction with mobile smart phones. More than 8 million Australians now have a smartphone and that number is increasing at a faster pick-up rate than any other Western country.
Add Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and other social media platforms and nobody is considered unreachable, even on holidays.
We are now expected to be constantly ?on?. There are not definitive work hours any more. And most of us simply don't know how to ?switch off?.
Digital Digits:
- 61% of users can?t ignore their device
- 65% feel worse after checking
- 81% interrupt face time to check
Researchers at Kansas State University found that it is essential for the brain to mentally recharge for the next working day. Receiving an unsettling email late at night is only going to lead to a stressful, sleepless night.
Speaking of sleepless nights, those who spend a couple of hours on Facebook before hitting the sack are more likely to have a disruptive sleep pattern. Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center found that the light from using a phone, tablet or PC for just two hours lowers melatonin production by about 22%, which could make it a lot harder to get to sleep afterwards.
And despite being ?so connected? studies are showing that we are actually spending less time physically interacting with friends due to our social media replacement meals. This lack of interaction is taking a huge toll on our psychological wellbeing.
Melbourne?s Swinburne Institute for Social Research claims that the average social media user will check their account upwards of 15 times per day. And i women who are ruling the web with the research further showing that women log on, on average, 17% more than men in a majority of western countries.
And add to all of this the fact that the stress hormone, cortisol, can instantly rise when confronted by mobile phone conversations, the tapping of laptop keyboards and the sound of a ringing phone.
So it seems our use of technology is on dangerous turf and we?re in need of some digital peace. Sound like pure Bliss?
As the owner and creator of ?Bliss Sanctuary for Women?, I have seen firsthand the wellbeing results of a digital detox. While the Sanctuary is not a digital-free zone, many of my guests are taking the opportunity to turn off.
Those who have kept their phones on have reported that they?re only really using them a few times during the afternoon. Some give themselves a ?digital curfew? and find by not being connected online for several hours before bed time, they?re sleeping much better.
By the end of the stay, guests are so relaxed they find themselves forgetting to even turn their devices on!
And with a recent University of Wollongong study showing a rise in ?tech free tourism?, this is a trend that I feel will continue to grow.
If this is resonating with you, I'd encourage you to step away from your phone, iPad or computer, just for 24 hours over a weekend and see how it makes you feel, because, le face it, too much of most things can be overwhelming and we all need a break sometime.
About the author
Zoë Watson was a media and marketing executive in Adelaide and Sydney and moved to Bali two years ago.
She is now the owner of Bliss Sanctuary For Women. Currently operating in Bali, with plans to expand Bali and open in Europe, Zoë is available for interview.
For more information about ‘Bliss Sanctuary For Women’ please head to our website. www.blisssanctuaryforwomen.com
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