Brain Need a Break? Take a Digital Detox

I recently unplugged for a week to give my brain a rest. I put away my laptop, stayed off TV/screens, and I used my phone only for essential tasks—it was on sabbatical for most of the day. I spent my offline time tending to my herb garden and plants, drawing/journaling, doing some creative business planning in a notebook, taking evening forest strolls and visiting with friends in my neighborhood.

Recently, I noticed how busy my mind had become and how often I was “hopping on my laptop for just five minutes.” I was feeling grumpy and irritable towards my family and team, and I had lost a lot of my creative zeal. One day, after viewing the hundreds of emails that awaited my reply, I almost threw my laptop against the wall. Clearly, I was ready for a break.

I’ve taken (and written about) digital detoxes over the years. Sometimes they were for a day, sometimes for a whole summer in order to finish a book. But this time was different. The sense of urgency that preceded this “off the grid” period was palpable. My mind didn’t just need to re-boot—my body and soul did too. This feeling, I believe, is reflective of the times we’re living in: things are simply moving too fast, and we weren’t designed to operate at this pace or be constantly tethered to digital devices.

After the first 48 hours of being off my laptop and email (my nemesis), I:

• became more playful, spontaneous, relaxed and fun to be around (according to my family)
• was reminded how quickly I renew when I spend time in the natural world (I have ant bites on my feet and my skin is glowing from the time I spent outdoors)
• was more attuned, present and plugged into life: everything looked more vibrant and colorful, all my senses were awake (I also cooked some amazing creative, veggie-based meals)
• was flooded with new ideas and ways of seeing and being

Additionally, I slept better, I was more curious and solutions-oriented and I was reminded of all the things that bring me pleasure: dancing, swimming in rivers, eating ripe berries, listening to music, reading great novels and long, lingering nature dates with soulful friends and loved ones. This short digital detox showed me I need to course-correct and can’t continue at the pace I had habituated as normal.

We all need expanses of unscheduled time to dream, process, enjoy “free-range thinking,” integrate and explore what’s next. And this is very difficult to do when you’re constantly tethered to your phone (check out Yondr, an example of how people are innovating to create phone-free spaces).

As a mindfulness evangelist, “light tech” user and late adopter of all things electronic by choice, I’ve got some new ideas for how I want to shift my relationship to technology. But more than anything I want to remember how radically different I felt during my digital detox. It wasn’t just about a mental respite—this unplugged time helped me remember who I really am.

Warmly,

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