a woman wearing a yellow gingham bell sleeve dress looking at her phone
Image via @sandratewfik

Do you check your iPhone every time you get a notification? Are you glued to social media 90 percent of the day? If this sounds like you, trust me, you’re not alone. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Cambridge, nearly one in five people use technology for more than seven hours a day. Three out of five of the study participants admitted that their entire family would benefit from having more tech-free time when devices were turned off each day. 

Yet, the reality is that the COVID-19 pandemic has made us more dependent on technology than ever. With so many people going to school and working remotely, the boundaries between work and home life have completely blurred, leaving little-to-no time to truly unwind. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have also contributed to added stress and anxiety, thanks to carefully-curated posts that sometimes result in FOMO.

a woman in a white pajama set working on her computer in bed, needing a digital detox
Image via @sistersguidetostyle

So what do we do to combat this non-stop barrage of screen time? The hard truth is that we live in an era where technology offers plenty of benefits like easy access to a wealth of information, a timely news cycle, and a free way to connect with faraway family and friends. But there are also plenty of drawbacks. As a working mother of two young kids, I often find myself at the mercy of my smartphone, constantly checking email for messages about incoming assignments or upcoming project deadlines. 

The truth is, it’s all just too much sometimes, which is why I recently decided to do a digital detox. I desperately needed a breather from the flurry of text and email messages that fill my inbox each day. So I decided to ditch all of my devices, including my smartphone, TV, and computer for an entire week. No excuses, no cheating, and no exceptions. 

a woman in a belted blue tiered dress with sunglasses holding a peace sign on a palm tree lined street
Image via @alex.floyd

I could barely contain my excitement at the prospect of having some serious downtime. To prepare, I posted a message on my Facebook wall letting the world know I’d be offline for a week, then hit “send” on a group text to my family and friends telling everyone to call if they needed anything but I wouldn’t be replying to any messages. 

Sounds easy enough, right? Guess again. Although I was thrilled to take a much-needed technology break, I was surprisingly anxious on Day 1 of my digital detox. It felt strange not looking at a screen whenever I was bored.  I was slightly worried that I was missing potential work assignments. Of course, everybody knew I was MIA for the week, but I felt super restless and stressed anyway.

Thankfully, the anxiety subsided by Day 3, when I really started to feel the benefits of going tech-free. Not only was I more present for my kids, but I felt a calmness I literally haven’t felt in years. It was freeing to give up social media, albeit temporarily, to focus on real life instead. The kids and I had a blast playing tag outdoors, doing a science project for homeschool, and reading together. 

a woman on a bicycle wearing a cop top and shorts and sneakers during a digital detox
Image via @hangwithanna

In fact, I was shocked at how much more free time I had than usual. I wanted to make the most of it so I made a conscious effort to read books,  catch up on phone calls, and indulge in longer workouts and nightly meditations. It was incredibly relaxing and really helped me decompress from the non-stop demands of juggling work, family, and kids during a pandemic.

That said, by Day 5 or 6, I was starting to miss “ordinary” life. My husband and I usually watch TV together every night after the kids go to bed. It’s really our only time to hang out alone, so I really wanted to get back to our regular routine. Surprisingly, I also missed the instant gratification of text messages when I just needed to send a quick note without having a 10-minute conversation, as well as the ability to check emails to stay on top of new work.

But, most of all, I missed family movie nights and watching YouTube videos about chubby seals with my kids. So, when Day 7 finally arrived, I was more than ready to jump back online–with a few minor modifications. 

a woman on a bed wearing a bathing suit and towel on her head at her computer with a glass of wine
Image via @anaelhector

These days, I have my phone set to sleep mode so that I won’t be interrupted by incoming text notifications after bedtime. I’ve also stopped checking social media every five minutes, limiting myself to just a few times a day instead. I do the same with email. I’ve realized that the world won’t come to an end if I unplug for a few hours a day. 

Overall, I think my digital detox was a huge game-changer for me. Taking time to disconnect really gave me the ability to really examine the way I use technology, as well as figuring out how to change my habits for the better.

The best part? No more FOMO. I’m already living my best life now.

Have you done the digital detox challenge? Tell us your thoughts in the comments–and score more self-care from our Beauty and Wellness shop!