Isn’t it time we took a step back to re-evaluate our relationship with our devices?
World Mental Health Day is celebrated on 10 October and is an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organisation with members in more than 150 countries.
Since the pandemic, the average person is now spending a quarter of their waking life online with most young adults looking at their smart phone every 15 minutes on average. With the proportion of people reporting anxiety and psychological distress more than doubling since the start of the year, the importance of switching OFF from our devices has never been greater.
Here are some benefits of a digital detox:
- More time – being offline gives you a chance to refresh your brain for mental clarity.
- Mental focus – A detox will allow you to slow down, unwind and fully switch off. You can’t give your brain a reboot when you are constantly distracted by email overload. Neither can you recharge yourself when you feel you have to stay ‘in the loop’ all the time.
- Reduce depression and anxiety – heavy usage of social media platforms has been linked to people who suffer from depression and anxiety. Having time away will give you the opportunity to refresh and recharge.
- Reduce stress – being online can increase stress levels and notifications can be triggering and distracting. Embrace a digital detox in the evening or on your weekends to help you feel more calm and content.
- Better physical health – We usually talk about the effects of mobile phone usage on our mental health. But what about our physical wellbeing? Hunching forward and leaning over your desk, looking down on your phone and too much screen time will have its repercussions. Nobody wants a text neck, a bad back or eye strain. A tech-free period will give your body a well-deserved break.
There is also some amazing websites online with free resources which are there to help and support mental health:
