Digital Wellbeing
“Digital Wellbeing” — let us first understand what this term means.
The COVID Pandemic has incomprehensibly altered our lives and the way we interact with devices, consequently whipping up the need to be well digitally.
Wellbeing refers to “the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy”.
Digital Wellbeing is maintaining a healthy relationship with the devices around us in such a way that supports our mental and physical health.
It is a movement that sets boundaries for us to unplug from the technology around us and focus more on our lifestyle and things that matter. It gives us the full authority of our devices, rather than us being the puppets.
As quoted by Aldous Huxley in ‘A brave new world’, “No social stability without individual stability”.
Above point arises from the need to Detoxify Digitally, and place our mental health first. According to digitaldetox.com, an average person checks their phone 150 times per day!
There are a bunch of apps accessible on AppStore and Play store that help us disconnect. I like to use the built-in Focus feature on Samsung and Google’s Digital Wellbeing app. Other popular apps are, Desert Island, Unlock clock, Paper Phone, and the list goes on.
Here is a list of ways that you can use to hold the reigns of your gadgets :
- Blue Light Filter and Grayscale Mode -
Around this time last year a lot of researchers claimed that using the yellow tint can cause more damage than the usual blue light. To use it correctly, you can set the yellow tint to minimum 10% and define timings to stimulate it, and use grayscale mode just before bedtime. Now I happen to be an early bird, thus my Blue Light filter is set from 10 PM to 5 AM and grayscale to 11.30 PM to 4 AM. This gives me time to browse and give rest to my eyes at the same time.
- Dark Mode -
Dark Mode alters the usual white or light backgrounds to black or darker shades. A lot of people tend to use it all day long or as and when required.
- Controlling notifications -
We tend to check our phones every time a notification pops up or our fitness band vibrates. This is the primary reason that ruptures our focus. This raises the need to check your phone only when it is necessary.
To enable this feature, either you can enable the focus mode that can be customized according to your needs. Even better, you can permanently block notifications from apps that bug you.
- Activity Analysis -
The feature as it states analyses our activity. Now this tool can come very handy as we know where we waste our time the most. For a fact, my Instagram usage in May was approximately 3 hours per day, and Netflix was 8 hours per day, which has changed to 40 minutes and 2 hours respectively currently. Tracking my usage made me focus more on the tasks at hand
- App Timer :
An extension of the above feature is the app timer. This blocks you from using an app after the daily limit for the app is reached. It will not only help you disconnect from the app, but also save your time which you can utilize productively, promoting healthy habits.
- Get Offline :
As discussed earlier, Digital Detoxification is a sine qua non of Digital Wellbeing. One should practice this for at least 6 hours a day, or simply disconnect on weekends. I go for the weekends, it gives me time to focus entirely on extracurriculars and self care.
- Activity Bubbles :
Another one of my favorite picks is Activity Bubbles.
Every app you use will add a bubble on your wallpaper. The more you use it, the bigger the Bubble gets. It serves aesthetics and purpose both.
To summarize, we should work on optimizing our gadget usage and establish a healthy relationship with them by focusing on quality content rather than quantity.
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