The relationship between technology use and mental health is multifaceted. Advocates of technology tout its benefits, like how its presence has impacted the counselling industry and given patients greater access to mental health professionals. Critics worry about the anxiety and depression that are often linked to excessive technology use and even screen addiction.
Whether you’re for or against increased technology use in today’s world, unplugging, at least every now and then, is good for your mental health. Here are five reasons why you should consider slowing down and taking a break from technology:
1. It’ll Help You Focus on You
When is the last time you sat with yourself, even for a few minutes, and took an honest look at how you’re doing? Taking a few minutes to check in with yourself every day without the presence of a screen or device of any kind is a key element in mental health.
Today’s world has so many distractions, many of which come from technology, that it can be difficult to be in tune with ourselves and with what’s going on around us.
Teenagers especially, who have grown up with technology in their lives from day one, often need some help appreciating the details in life. What is it like to really taste our food? What is it like to listen to the sounds around us? How would we feel if we made an effort to talk to the people in line at the post office instead of mindlessly busying ourselves with our smartphones?
The next time you feel like you need some “me time,” consider leaving the phone at home and opt for a tech-free check-in with yourself.
2. You’ll Talk More to Real People
Human interaction is essential to both our mental and physical well-being. But the rise of technology has caused us, in many cases, to replace face-to-face human interaction with text messages, tweets, emails, and Instagram posts. In some ways, technology has made us more isolated from each other than ever before.
Chances are, you’ll notice this when you unplug. You might see a group of friends out to lunch and notice that they’re not talking to each other but instead are engrossed in whatever’s happening on their phones.
Unplugging gives you a chance to really be present with the people around you and to put effort into creating opportunities for face-to-face connection. Give it a try — your mental health will thank you.
3. Maybe You’ll Go Outside
Spending time in nature is a great antidote to too much screen time. And since sitting is the new smoking, it’s more important than ever to ditch the screens and get moving outside.
The physical problems associated with excessive technology use and endless hours spent sitting in front of a screen, like vision problems, lower back pain, and weight gain, can easily morph into mental health issues, so a healthy body is essential for a healthy mind.
Simply being outside has been shown to have a slew of mental health benefits, so make sure your unplugged time includes being outdoors. It can be something as small as a 10-minute walk around the perimeter of your office building or as big as a multi-day backpacking trip. It’s likely that the more time you spend outside, the better your mental health will be.
4. There Will Be Less to Compare Yourself To
Social media gives us a rush when we get a like or a comment on something we post, but it also gives us a very comparative mindset.
It’s pretty close to impossible to not compare yourself to other people when you’re looking at their posts online, even if somewhere deep down you know that social media usually only represents the best, most glamorous parts of people’s lives — not their authentic lives.
Your friend’s posts from the beach in Bali that show how amazing her life is might make you feel bad about your life in comparison, for example. When you take a break from technology and social media specifically, you give yourself a chance to focus on the good things in your life that you’re grateful for and not dwell on the things you don’t have (like a beach life in Bali).
5. You Might Be Less Anxious
Ever-present technology can allow us to avoid human interaction and retreat when we’re feeling upset or anxious, which is a problem in and of itself. But for heavy technology users, anxiety often presents itself when technology is out of reach. Fear of boredom creeps in, and the anxiety gets worse.
As a society, we’ve lost the ability to just be. We don’t know how to be idle, even for a few minutes. It’s important to unplug to try to regain a sense of independence from technology and the anxiety often associated with it.
So the next time we feel ourselves chasing the dopamine hit that comes from a notification on our phones, we should ask ourselves one simple question: Does technology serve us or rule us?
When you decide to unplug, it’s important to start with whatever chunk of time feels manageable to you. Maybe it’s a day. Maybe it’s an hour. Whatever the length of time, you’ll surely find some sense of mental clarity after unplugging.