Would you like boundless energy and vitality in life?
Do you feel tired and exhausted, most of the times?
Low and anxious, many times?
Are you constantly thinking of something or another?
Never fully at rest.
Not even while sleeping, because your mind is still active.
You wish to have more energy and strength somehow.
But you don’t know HOW?
Do you know that something has overpowered your mind, and your life, Yes it is “your phone”.
The truth is that your phone is not ruining your life.
It’s YOU!!
You are doing it yourself, due to the overuse of the phone.
If you want to energise your mind and body, you need to give back to your body what it does for you day and night.
Give yourself a gift of relaxation – by Digital Fasting!
I will tell you WHY??
It has been proven by numerous researches that the Social media and online world are as addictive as Cocaine and Heroin (drugs) and the impact on your emotional and mental well-being is also similar.
People who stay online all the time, are at higher risk of anxiety, depression, panic attacks, burn out, even cardiovascular and other physical problems.
A Simple SOLUTION to this invisible, harmful drug is DIGITAL FASTING!!!
I know you have work to do. Emails to answer, branding and marketing campaigns for your products and services.
All this can be done if you know the right way to use technology which is productive, effective and not harmful for your physical, mental health and for your relationship well-being too.
Are you wondering what are the benefits of Digital fasting (also known as digital detox and sabbath)?
I’ve experimented with digital detox in many ways in the last 3 years and the results are epic. Some of the simple results are these –
- Decreased levels of stress
- Decreased anxiety
- Improved physical health and energy
- Experience of presence and relaxation
- Overall more peace and happiness throughout the day
You’ll be surprised by what’s in store for you when you do digital fasting.
So how do you observe digital fast and what challenges you might face?
Here are a few simple ways to do it, tried and tested by many, including me.
1. Conscious Restricted Consumption throughout the day:
Just like fasting with fruits and liquids, you can restrict your consumption of the digital content you want to take in – Be discerning.
Consume only the content that inspires you, uplifts you and supports your highest goals, and that too in your pre-determined time, which can be an hour twice or thrice a day.
As you are an aware consumer during fasting, you do not eat in between junk snacks,
similarly, you do not waste time in online surfing without a purpose.
You keep your Facebook or Instagram feed clean, by unfollowing all negative contacts that drain your energy or make you feel small or never enough.
Tip: Use App Block, Screen Timer or any other App, to restrict the time period for which any app can open on your phone.
2. Intermittent digitafasting:
You can fix a time period where you’ll not touch your phone or laptop for any social media, emails or net surfing.
The easiest way to do it is from 8 pm to 8 am next morning. That’s twelve hours of fasting every day and is totally manageable.
Tip: Keep your phone away from your sight.
You can even give it to a family member who can reach out to you in case you have an urgent/important call from a family member.
3. Complete Detox:
A complete detox is when you block any kind of digital consumption for a certain period of time.
It can be one day, a weekend, 5 – 7 days or even 2 weeks.
You choose the time period and you tell your main clients, contacts, and your tribe that you’re going off social media or WhatsApp for this time period.
Then you switch off your mobile data, and use your phone as a Non-smart phone, also called as Light phone, the old-style Nokia phone.
And you are set for your enlightening detox journey 🙂
Tip: Take the support of an accountability partner.
It can be your spouse, child or a friend, someone who is your cheerleader and encourages you.
Feel proud of your decision and action. Journal about your experience.
Challenges you might face during Digital Fasting:
Fighting with the compulsion of checking your messages and messenger – Don’t beat yourself if you give in to the temptation once, be kind. And tell yourself, I can do it.
Winning will certainly help you become strong mentally and relieve you of any anxiety soon.
Dealing with FOMO (Fear of Missing out)
The truth is, if you miss a picture of your friend or a party or event, it’ll not make any difference to your life. Though connecting with yourself, relaxing in nature will improve your quality of life tremendously.
Accept the fact that life can go on smoothly (actually, even better) if you’re disconnected from the digital world for a while.
Don’t believe me, check for yourself!
Much love.