Life has become much more connected in the last twenty years. With our work and social lives asking for more and more time online through social networks and emails, and screen time having various interesting effects on the human brain, getting away from it all has become essential. Here is why disconnecting is more important than you might think.
Too Much Work
While disconnecting can take a few forms, some consider unplugging from work a great starting point. The effect can be the same whether you work from home or go to the office. Some companies notice that people who work from home log in at strange hours, especially if they have team members in different countries and time zones. Unfortunately, this can lead to calls, texts, and emails that your employer expects you to respond to, even when you should be relaxing.
Disconnecting from work helps. You may benefit from not checking emails and messages right away in the morning and then checking again right before going to sleep. Do something more satisfying and relaxing with that time, like watching YouTube Learning videos and adding to your skill set or playing cash games to win some extra money, since some online casinos offer no wager bonuses.
In addition, consider communicating your intent to not engage with anything work-related after hours. Who knows, you might even start a trend at work about respecting boundaries!
Focus
Being productive at work or home means focusing on the task at hand. A smartphone, computer, or even a TV can produce distractions. Disconnecting from notifications can mean a bump in focus, catching the small details that matter for a project and delivering them on time. Putting your phone on Do Not Disturb makes a big difference. You could also just turn the phone off or put it in a different room if the temptation is too strong.
Social Disconnect
To some, disconnect can also mean disconnecting social networks like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. While many users are aware of this, these websites use complex algorithms to tempt you into staying on the site for longer, where they can serve you relevant ads while making money off your personal data. Unfortunately, these social networks also often show posts in a way that makes you want to keep scrolling, hoping to find something rewarding to read or watch that floods your brain with dopamine. If you feel like you are spending too much time on social media websites, consider a detox. You can turn off your profiles so they can be reloaded when you feel you are over the need to grab your phone constantly.
Social media has another sinister effect. You might log into Instagram and see photos of someone else’s vacation, an influencer’s new car, and someone’s wedding, and come to realize that none of these wonderful things are happening to you. This can lead to negative feelings about your own life. In the meantime, the people making such positive posts only post when good things happen and don’t publicly discuss their major problems. Research studies have shown that while we log into social media for a dopamine boost, we have a better chance of logging off feeling worse about ourselves.
Sleep
Between work and social media, phones and laptops can lead to sleep deprivation. Whether you wake up early to the buzz of notification from someone in a different time zone or you stay up too late trying to find something interesting to watch on YouTube, technology can make real rest elusive. Yellow lights like those from smartphones and laptops trick your brain into thinking you have daylight, keeping you awake later. Turn on a blue light filter, and you’ll start to sleep more easily.
Getting more restful sleep will help in nearly every aspect of your life, including having the energy to be more productive. More sleep may also help improve your overall mood and wellbeing.
Being Present
Have you ever been to a family or friend get-together, and it seemed like people were spending most of their time on their smartphones instead of talking to each other? It’s kind of a strange feeling when everyone in the room would rather spend their time looking at something else. Disconnecting from social media, the Internet, and work helps you focus on the people and priorities right in front of you and can help you develop deeper relationships with your loved ones and people who you want to get to know. Simply not having a phone in your hand or face makes you more approachable.
Short Breaks Are Good
You don’t need to revert to a rotary phone and computer without a data connection to appreciate time without notifications and screens. Instead, try putting electronics away for a few hours, half a day, or a whole day at a time. Go do something else with your time. The anxiety about what’s happening on social networks and messages will go away eventually, though you might occasionally feel phantom buzz in your pocket. Don’t worry though, it’ll all be there when you are ready to come back.
Conclusion
Everyone needs to disconnect from work and even play once in a while. While social media can help lead to a healthy social life by allowing you to communicate with people frequently, spending too much time on social networks can also be detrimental. Take time away from scrolling and notifications to give your brain and eyes a break. Trust us: it’s worth it.
