6 Ways To Tame Your Tech
If you notice your stress levels rise when you are connected too long, here are ways to unplug from your devices.
There is no doubt that increased use of handheld technology has changed our lifestyles. And while there are many benefits to the availability of technology, there can be downsides if not managed properly.
If you are someone who notices your stress levels rise when you are connected too long, here are 6 ways to tame your reliance on your devices.
Take Tech Breaks
Dedicated “detox days” have been trending in response to our constant connectedness. To do a technology detox, you decide what you will and will not interact with for a set period of time. Some ideas to “break” are to remove social media apps from your phone for a day (or more) or leave the phone at home when you are out running errands.
Single Screen
Guilty of putting on Netflix and scrolling your phone at the same time? You are not alone. Double screening means you aren’t fully immersed in either activity, which results in less enjoyment from either activity. Choose one screen at a time.
Alerts Off
Gone are the days when every contact in your list had it’s own ringtone. But having your phone on silent is only half the battle, when it comes to distraction. Constant alerts from messages, emails, and app notifications can cause stress. Remove as many alerts as you can by changing your phone settings.
Investigate Your Impulse
Slow down to recognize why you reach for your tech. The habitual check and scroll is a sneaky habit that is hard to break without space to notice. Strategies to slow yourself could be to move your apps, change your password, or move your device further away.
No Phone Zones
Create spaces in your home or workplace that are decided no phone zones, so that you have places where it is understood that technology is not needed. A meditation room, the dinner table, the communal breakroom are all places where phones can be banned.
Unfollow
With so much media available constantly, it is up to us to influence our consumption as best we can. If you are following news outlets, social media accounts, or others online that are making you feel bad about yourself, it’s time to unfollow to remove unneeded negativity.
