DIGITAL DETOXX

As I saw my fellow students trying a digital detox, and reading about their experiences it was time for me to do one on my one. In today’s digital world, our digital devices have become part of our lives (maybe even our lives), and they consume more energy than we realize. Here’s how I decided to tackle this day.

In my first exercise, I recognized the energy drain caused by my various gadgets, from smartphones to laptops. To cut down on their energy consumption, I started turning off devices fully when not in use. For instance, instead of leaving my laptop on standby beeping now and then, I powered it down completely.

Another part of the digital detox involved cutting down on the hours spent scrolling through social media (Instagram), the news and streaming content (YouTube & Netflix). Not only did this reduce screen time and eye strain, but it also significantly decreased the energy consumed by my devices, as screen brightness and Wi-Fi connectivity were two major factors in decreasing your battery life. I decided to set specific, limited times for checking social media and the news. Instead, I grabbed a book about Elon Musk I am currently reading, a.k.a. one of the accelerators of sustainable energy.

With more time freed from screen-based activities, I spent more time outdoors. Although it was quite cold already, I enjoyed the fresh air and a warm cup of coffee. Eventually, in the afternoon I decided to take a run and return to take a cold shower (which was quite refreshing actually).

In the end, embracing a digital detox was not just about saving energy, but about allowing boredom to push you into doing things I would normally maybe would not have done. It allowed me to be more present and focus on the tasks I was doing without getting distracted. This journey showed that digital detox not only has a positive influence on my well-being but also the environment.