Take a Digital Detox

There are plenty of benefits to being and staying connected with our friends and family. In today’s digital age, we have the ability to connect with love ones all of the time with our smart phones and social media. However, do you find your phone is always in the same room as you or next to you? For most, a smart phone is an accessory that is so essential that we feel naked without it. For a lot of us, our phones are the first thing we look at when we wake up in the morning, and the last thing we check before bed. It can feel like there is no escaping the screen, especially if your job requires you to work on a computer all day.

When you take a step back and think about how much time you spend on your phone, watching shows, or being on your computer you may see you are spending more time staring at a screen than you think. Almost one-third of American adults have reported they are online almost constantly. On average, most people are spending three hours and 50 minutes on their smartphones and checking their phones at least 58 times a day. Studies are showing our screen time habits can have a negative impact on our attention and focus.

If you find you are spending too much time on your computer or smart phone, consider doing a digital detox. A digital detox is defined as a period during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as, smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.

You do not have to completely go off the grid when doing a digital detox, as most of us still have to work. However, you can do a digital detox for the excess amount of screen time you add after you are done with work or school for the day.

Some benefits of doing a digital detox include feeling content and calmer, being more productive, having healthier relationships and connections, improving your physical health, as well as improving sleep.

If you find it is hard to stay away from your smart phone, try out some of these tips you can do to help take control of your screen time. We have an incredible tool at hand with a lot of amazing benefits to it as well, but I do urge you to try out a digital detox every once in a while.

Jill Haupts, Outreach Coordinator for The Kim Foundation

Jill Haupts is the Outreach Coordinator at The Kim Foundation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child, Adult, and Family Services from Iowa State University in 2016. Jill joined the Kim Foundation in January coming from Des Moines, Iowa. Her previous experience includes volunteer recruitment and fundraising, as well as experience coordinating services and providing resources to adults who have a mental health diagnosis. Jill’s role in the foundation is coordinating event logistics, presenting and attending community fairs, as well as volunteer coordination and recruitment. She enjoys working in the nonprofit field and has a passion for advocacy and helping others.