Sick of the screen? Why not try these Six Steps for a Successful Digital Detox

Immediately checking that buzz from our phone that lets us know we have another email, social media alert or message can be extremely tempting. By simply adjusting the setting section on your phone, you can change your notifications and keep only the most important ones turned on. Less notifications mean less distractions.

 

Why not leave some of those WhatsApp groups you aren’t really using, or those Facebook groups you've been added to that you don’t engage with? On Twitter and Instagram, be firm and look at how many people you follow and set yourself a target to reduce that number by 30-50 accounts. You can easily do this in the time it takes to make yourself a cup of coffee.
 

We have all apps that we've downloaded and now never use. Once we've lost interest or the trial period is over, we often don't take the time to delete the apps that haven't quite made the cut. It's as easy as setting a few minutes aside and if you haven’t used the app in the last three months, be ruthless and hit delete. Your home screen will be significantly less cluttered, you'll get your storage space back, your battery life will extend and your phone speed will increase. 
 

Almost all phones have a do-not-disturb mode and a night mode. If you turn it on and activate it from 22:00 to 07:00, this will stop you from getting social media notifications, text alerts and calls late at night. You can still add certain people to your favourite contacts to ensure that if they need to get in touch, their text or call will come through to your phone. Night mode changes the colour of your phone to a warmer yellow tone as opposed to bright white-blue hues, thus aiding a more positive night's sleep. Research has shown that bright screens before bedtime negatively impacts on your sleep quality.

 

Like many of today's modern workforce, you most likely have a smart phone, a tablet and a PC or laptop. Some people also have a separate smart phone for work requirements. Ask yourself, do need all of your apps, messages and emails on all of your devices? Why not consider restricting separate accounts to separate devices in order to separate from work and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

 

For iPhone users, the new iOS update monitors how long you spend on your phone and even further, how long you spend on each app. If you don't have an iPhone, numerous other free apps do something similar to limit your screen time. One of our favourites is the Space app, which helps you set goals to be more mindful of your screen usage. Being aware of just how much time you spend on your phone might shock and encourage you to set yourself a personal challenge to reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone each week. 

At Glandore, our members are encouraged to embrace wellness, which results in productive, healthier and happier workdays, through our very own complimentary workplace wellness programme. If you would like to learn more about Glandore and becoming a member in our Belfast, Dublin or Cork flexible office and coworking spaces, get in touch here.