Email stress. Social media addiction. Alerts, alarms and reminders to do more and to do it now. In our current state of digital connection and constant online access there is always a temptation, a distraction away from the core values we once driven by. There was a time, quite recently, when we as humans didn't have mobile phones and the quality of life was different because we could not be reached so easily and we could not pry on others in the same way we can now with the phone in our hand. Now that we have the technology that brings such opportunity, it's also worth adopting some new behaviours and approaches to reduce the stress.
How many times this week have you sat with your laptop or device and figured you would go online for ten minutes before getting busy with a an important task? Once you had logged on, how quickly did you move to the main job that needed your attention? You and I both know the answer! Social media is a leech on your productivity unless it is your paid job.
Apparently, we can check our mobile phone as much as 150 times in a day! This week I read an article which claimed we spend an average of two hours and forty minutes scrolling through social media in a day! Are you above average?
If you are struggling with the digital pressure on you, then it's time to take practical steps to simplify your connection to the problem and give you back the control.
In looking at digital clutter and the overload it brings, I want to to take you to your tech equipment and look at the games, software and apps which eat at your available time. How many games have you got on your cell phone that you never play? Remove the apps completely and free up storage. What about financial apps that you used a few times before forgetting or ignoring months ago? Delete them right now.
Here are five simple questions to help yourself:
- How much time with a cell phone or device in your hand is enough?
- How are you suffering or struggling with digital overload?
- What would you rather be doing if you were not constantly online?
- What limits can you place around your online time?
- How can you let others know about the limited you are placing on your online availability?
By treating your online activity and social media in particular in the same way you would any other addiction, you will find that you can increase your mental health, reduce stress, lower your anxiety and take back lost hours for things that you can get a better return from.
So many of the activities we love and enjoy are good and bring us benefits. We just have to be mindful that we don't overdose on them. Social media is no different.
Can you connect with a couple of friends each week with an actual phone call or a cup of coffee by meeting in a real place? What would that take? Some checking of your diary, a call or text and you both turn up.
How about speaking by phone with a few other friends or family members who don't live close by? What actions does that need? You've guessed it, the same ones. You check your diary and you arrange a time to catch up on the phone.
You want to take part in a social club or sport group that you joined areas ago and which you have dropped out of. Maybe you enjoyed swimming, or running or being in a language group or a book club. What actions do you need to take to get back in touch and get involved again? You must know the answer by now? You check your diary and you book yourself in for the activity and pick up where you left off.
Social media addiction is the opposite of this. It is time spent in an unconscious state where you wander from screen to screen, story to story, comment to comment until you wake up to realise that you have lost an hour of your life, or two or three.
If you want to get over your digital addictions then you have to start doing some things which are not about gaining approval, or attracting comments and likes. Instead you need to make time for yourself and commit to those activities and actions which make you who you are. These will be the clubs, hobbies, events, fan groups, learning opportunities and activities that stretch you, reward you, make you feel good because they are a reflection of who you are at your best.
You want to get over your digital addiction? Put down your cell phone. Fall in love with you at your best and give yourself the time you deserve to just be you.