I am a huge fan of LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, a few e-commerce sites and other popular platforms. I spend an hour or two on it (outside my working hours).
I observed that most people are glued to their mobile phones, including walking and riding subway trains. I see pedestrians fall with their eyes on the screen while rushing to the trains. It was hilarious initially, but this came to another thought — screen addiction.
The majority of us in the city are so ingrained to be connected, and the fear of being disconnected can be immense for some. Look at a gathering over a meal; many are glued to their mobiles even with their friends/ family around. Some husbands and wives even text each other at home. This screen time does not include our regular 5–8 hours on our computer.
Screen addiction can lead to a wide array of physical and psychological problems, including eye strain, muscle strain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. It can lead to a wide array of physical and psychological problems, including eye strain, muscle strain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
I am not saying that the majority have screen addictions, but the wanting to connect excessively (which is related to screen addictions) may cause loneliness, anxiety, depressive mood and other mental health symptoms.
I do regularly a week away from social media every month as I like to focus on my pet projects during this “no social media” week. This time around, in Dec , I tried for 1 month to stay away as much as possible from social media platforms. I also disconnect from the internet over the weekends during this period. Surfing over the net was very limited during the one month (5 mins each day) as I replaced it with other physical activities.
I noticed significant positive changes in my lifestyle, emotional regulations and thoughts -
I no longer prioritised connecting to social media in the morning. Instead, I do more workouts and mindfulness practices. I feel more freedom with the need to connect less online. I meet up with friends in person instead of over Zoom. I select classes that are in person rather than online, and I enjoy those tremendously. What used to be a chore, such as walking in the morning, doing laundry, and doing house chores, became pleasurable as I felt a greater sense of ease. Most of all, the early morning becomes “Me” activities where I regain a sense of freedom and appreciation of life/relationships. I sleep much better, too.
This is not to say that social media technology is harmful — the technology is indispensable. However, an excessive desire to connect can cause maladaptive behaviours. Connecting online with a balanced measure and disconnecting to enjoy other parts of our lives is crucial. Some careers/roles demand us to be connected constantly, so it is essential to practise moderation — Moreover, our digital footprint has formed an important part of our identity.
Suppose you feel anxiety and have intense wanting to keep to your screen (or connect to social media) most of your waking up time. In that case, you may want to reflect if it adversely affects your health, behaviour and relationships.
Will you consider giving a try on digital detox retreat over the weekend?
