Do you need a digital detox?

We’re living in a digital age, there’s no doubt about that. However, there’s no way we have any idea how much we’re actually using our phones, tablets and computers on a daily basis. Recent research conducted by British psychologists discovered that on average young adults use their phones for around five hours a day, which is a third of the time we spend awake. Do you need a digital detox? If you spend most of your time on your phone and the rest of the day anxiously waiting for messages to pop up, then we have the tips you need to help you cut down!

Find out how much you’re using your phone

Do you know how often you use your phone every day? It’s probably a lot more than you realise. There are apps that you can download (ironically, on your phone) that can monitor how long you use your phone during the day. Once you find out how many hours a day you waste scrolling through Instagram, you’ll definitely want to cut down.

Turn off notifications

Turning off the notifications for Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and so on is a sure-fire way to reduce the amount of time you spend with your eyes glued to the screen. All those messages can wait until later!

Ban technology at specific points of the day

It’s all about willpower. Make a decision for yourself to ban technology for specific points of the day, such as putting your phone away during meals. Once you spend a few days getting used to not checking your phone at the dinner table, it’ll become part of your daily routine.

Give yourself a time limit for certain apps

When you’re on your phone or your tablet, you should make a conscious effort to only go on certain apps for limited amounts of time. Give yourself half an hour to go on Twitter and once time’s up, switch off. It’s definitely easier said than done, but it’s worth a shot! Otherwise you’ll end up on YouTube at 3am watching videos of puppies meeting babies for the first time. Been there, done that.

Delete apps altogether

If you’re really hardcore, you could try deleting your most-used apps completely. Firstly, go through your apps and decide which ones you actually use. Then, for apps like Twitter and Facebook that you can use on a computer, just get rid of them! You don’t need to check them at every spare hour of the day. Delete them and don’t look back.

Carry a book or a magazine with you

When you have nothing else to do during your morning commute to work, it’s so easy to just get out your phone and carry on playing Candy Crush. Bring a book or a magazine with you or pick up a newspaper to browse through. Read the news or a gripping spy novel and your phone will no longer be a distraction.

Don’t use your phone as an alarm clock

Using your phone as your alarm clock simply means that it’s the first thing you check when you wake up in the morning. Invest in a separate alarm clock and avoid waking up engrossed with the day’s trends straight away. It’ll also save you time getting ready in the morning, as you’ll spend less time browsing the web and more time prepping yourself for the day ahead.

Put technology aside at least an hour before bed

If you use technology right before you go to bed, no matter how tired you are, your brain will be digitally charged. It’s the most frustrating thing trying to sleep when your thoughts are whirring about in all different directions. Putting your phone or your laptop aside at least an hour before you go to bed is a great way to give yourself a digital detox and to ensure you have a restful night’s sleep.