The Digital Detox

‘Burnout’ is a term that we’ve become all too familiar with in recent times.

With many of us working longer hours and an increasingly fuzzy line between work and home life, it’s hardly surprising. Our seamlessly hyperconnected world makes it harder than ever to truly switch off, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and drained.

But there are some healthy habits we can all adopt to help us gain back some control in our lives. And a good place to start is with a digital detox!

I’m lucky enough to be taking a week off soon and I’m looking forward to spending some time with my loved ones and (hopefully) enjoying some sunshine! I will most definitely be taking a digital detox, as I know that it will benefit me in the long run – I will return to work feeling refreshed and ready for the next challenge!

However, I know for some that’s just not practical. Thankfully, you don’t need to switch off completely to feel the advantage of a digital detox – a good place to start is by turning off push notifications. They’re distracting and can leave you feeling harassed. Many push notifications are insignificant anyway, so start by turning off as many of these as you can.

I’m also a firm believer that phones should be put away during mealtimes. A phone on the dinner table reduces the quality of interaction with those around you – you can’t be fully present if you’re constantly preoccupied with your phone. That email or WhatsApp can wait while you take some time out to enjoy some delicious food and good company!

A digital detox is often associated with improving our mental health, but it can also do wonders for our physical health too. As a VA, I spend much of my time sat staring at a screen. I have suffered with digital eye strain in the past - experiencing dry eyes and headaches. To combat this, I use the 20-20-20 rule - for every 20 minutes I look at a screen, I look up at an object 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds. Oh, and blinking helps too!

I hope that many of you get the opportunity to take a full digital detox this summer. If you’re unable to, I hope that you find some healthy and sustainable habits (like the above) that will help your emotional and physical wellness, which will ultimately help to avoid burnout.