Do You Need a Digital Detox? - Day 21of 40 Bags in 40 Days - Decluttering Challenge

I was raised that you didn't call anyone before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Taking a phone call late into the evening meant one thing — emergency. Now it’s commonplace to receive and send text messages, emails and check social media feeds throughout the night. Another thing that's different from when I was growing up is what "plugging in"means. We used to play video games on a computer with MSDOS (does anyone remember that?). The family down the street had one, and after school we would play "Oregon Trail" on their computer. Here's what we had to do, turn on the computer and wait for it to warm up and read the floppy disk. It literally took anywhere from 20 minutes to up to an hour. So, while we waited, we went outside and rode our bikes, played tag, hiked in the "hills". Being “plugged in” had a very different meaning back in my childhood than it does now. Today it’s hard to find someone “unplugged.”

In today's definition of being plugged in, how do you know if you're spending too much time online? Is it time for you to take a break from technology and reset your online habits? Do you need to detox digitally? If finding time to exercise, spend time with your family, see a movie, read a book, visit friends or even take a nap is a struggle, then maybe it’s time for a digital detox.

Here are some signs that it might be time to take a digital detox:

1. Do you charge your phone before going to bed in case you get a late-night text? Do you sleep with your phone next to you or with you?

2. Is your phone always with you? Is it by your side while you eat your breakfast, lunch or dinner?Do you check your email and social feeds throughout every meal?

3. Does the thought of shutting down your phone, tablet or computer for an extended amount of time make your heart race? Does it make you feel anxious? Do you get panicky if your phone completely dies? How long does it take you to respond to an email or text? Do you have to get to it right away?

4. Are you frustrated with spending so much time online, and accomplishing little else? Are you finding that the day is "getting away" from you?

5. Does your partner, spouse, kids, family, or friends complain they never have your full attention because your phone is a continual distraction? Is your time online is surpassing the “real world” time with friends and family? This can become obvious when family and friends are beginning to challenge your choice by expressing concern about the amount of time your spending online. Rather than putting a time stamp on this it is more important to evaluate whether your online use is interfering with social connections “offline.”

6. Have you put your favorite hobbies on hold because your spare time is spent online? Have you been choosing to spend time online rather than choose to participate in your own life?

7. How is your health? Are you experiencing having a more sedentary lifestyle? Do you suffer from dry and itchy eyes, blurred vision, general fatigue, back pain, neck pain and headaches often? Are you finding that you have been putting aside your health and important other responsibilities. Are there areas that even you begin to notice? Oy? Choosing to go long bouts without eating, sleeping, or washing are true signs there is a problem. When you choose to neglect things that were once important, things you were glad kept you moving forward and gave you a sense of achievement and pride, you are in a dangerous place.

8. Does social media impact how you feel about your own life? Are you using the internet in hopes to alter your mood (change your feelings?) Do you feel the need to constantly update your status or post to social media?

You may have answered "yes" to some of those questions. However, if you answered "yes" to more than 3/4 or even all of them, you aren't alone. It also means it's probably time for a digital detox. Don't worry though, you aren't alone.

As my previous blog has indicated, I had been limiting my access to social media to only one half hour daily during the Lenten season. I also had an unexpected digital detox when we were without internet for a few days. A digital detox means unplugging your cell phone, tablets, laptops, computers, etc. for a certain period of time. Digital detox means switching off all mobiles, smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers for a certain length of time. Not answering emails, text messages and yes, even staying clear of your laptop, allows you to spend screen-free time doing whatever it is you enjoy. A digital detox gives you a chance to rest your brain and recharge your spirit.

Tomorrow's post deals with how to take a break from technology in the next step of the Decluttering Challenge.