Disconnect — /ˌdɪskəˈnɛkt/ — verb — break the connection of or between.
Ironically, to read this message about disconnecting from technology, you will need some sort of electronic device, showing how intertwined our lives have become with our tech gadgets. The average person spends about 7 hours on a screen daily. I personally fall on the higher end of this, as most of my activities require some sort of device. Complete avoidance of tech is nearly impossible to achieve since it has become part of us.
If we look through our day, we can count hundreds of times our devices have been useful or helpful to us. They keep us updated with what goes on in the lives of friends and family, and those around the world. They keep us updated with our schedules, whether they be personal to-do lists, deadlines to meet, or all sorts of tasks. However, among these hundreds of times we use our devices, the majority tends to be not very useful or important to us. We spend hours on various social media platforms, games, movies, series, and more. This time spent is justifiable to an extent, but for the majority of people, myself included, it goes way beyond the reasonable limit and we end up being absorbed by all this dopamine-inducing content.
How to Disconnect and Reconnect
Disconnecting isn’t a one-day thing; it’s a slow process, and even slower the more attached you are, but with consistency and a willing mindset, progress is inevitable. Below are very simple beginner ways to reduce your device use:
A good way to start is by avoiding checking your phone first thing in the morning. The way you start your day determines your mindset throughout your day. Beginning your day with your phone clenched in your hand and your barely open eyes locked on your screen is not a good way to start your day. I advise waiting at least an hour after waking up before you even consider checking your phone. This allows you to start your day without reliance on your device. From this, you can replace the time you spend on your device each morning with a new and productive activity; I leave this to you to decide.
The next step is dulling it down. There are multiple apps or themes that help dull your devices, especially your phone. Bright vibrant colors lure your brain to these apps, so dulling these reduces the urge to use your device. This sounds very simple but works well psychologically.
Limit yourself. You can either set timers or use in-device settings to limit your use of various apps. This will keep the time you spend on them short and persuade you to focus on priority tasks when you open any of these apps, reducing any blank-scrolling.
The Real Issue to Overcome
With all this said, it comes down to your mindset. (As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.) If you have a mindset that firstly believes and wants to cut down, you will surely succeed.
