Digital Fasting (2-min. read)
By Michael Franks, Vantage Senior Wealth Advisor
Unplugging to regain self-control.
Welcome to the cyborg age! I was waiting in the doctor’s office the other day and everyone, including myself, had their nose buried in a smartphone. We are constantly bombarded by information, most of which is not pertinent to our lives and out of our control. You probably have heard of intermittent fasting as it is all the rage, but what about digital fasting?
Unplugging from all connected devices for a day or even a weekend has many benefits. Primarily, it allows us to regain control of our digital use. How many times have you gone to check an email on your phone and then find yourself “death scrolling” through social media for 20 min to an hour?
So, how do we digitally fast?
- First, set a goal of how long you are going to unplug. Try stepping away from electronics for a whole weekend or between 6pm and 8am during weeknights for a week.
- Next, make a physical list of the digital media you are going to avoid (email, Instagram, Facebook, texts, etc.). Writing specifics down has been shown to be helpful when trying to maintain goals.
- Finally, write down detailed alternative activities you will substitute for digital devices and complete them.
I would never suggest something that I am not willing to do myself, so here is my goal written out.
No electronics from 7pm-8am from July 31st through August 6th.
I will be fasting from:
- My computer
- My iPad
- My iPhone
- The TV
Instead of electronics, I will:
- Go for a 30-minute walk after dinner with my kids and dog.
- Play a board game with my family.
- Read 10+ pages of “The Walking Drum” by Louis L’Amour (if you have not read this, you are missing out!).
The adage “Time is Money” should not be taken literally. There is no denying that “Time is a Precious Commodity,” but being more deliberate with our time to pursue things that truly add more value to our lives rather than “death scrolling” might be the key to increasing quality of life.
Sources:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/digital-detox/