We need to be in the know five minutes ago. That’s a good thing; it’s why (and how) we’re good at what we do.
All that constant refreshing is not without its toll, especially as newsfeeds have become vitriolic battlegrounds. All that snark can take a significant emotional toll.
Not long ago, I decided I needed a digital detox—to realign and be present in my life instead of constantly and mindlessly scrolling. I didn’t do anything drastic, such as abstaining from social media or deleting my accounts, but I did take steps to refocus my sanity. Perhaps one or two of these ideas will help:
1. Get serious with yourself. The average internet user spends 118 minutes on social media channels per day. That’s nearly 14 hours a week. Without a doubt, social media check-ins are essential to our jobs. What’s not essential, however, is climbing into bed for the night, deciding to check your phone “real quick” only to then realize it’s an hour and a half later and you’ve scrolled to 2012 on a stranger’s feed. Take a hard look at (and maybe even keep a log of) how much time you spend on social media. You’d be surprised how many minutes you’re losing to those “real quick” check-ins.
2. Know the difference between being “immersed vs. informed. ” It’s our job (as PR pros) and responsibility (as citizens) to stay current, but that doesn’t mean staying plugged in all day every day, because doing so isn’t healthy. Take a break. When you do tune in, balance your news and your news sources. Also, read happy news from time to time; it’s still out there.
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3. Turn off notifications. Most days, I check my social media feeds and news apps before I’m even out of bed. I listen to NPR on my way to work, read news updates in my inbox the second I get to my desk, Snapchat my way through the afternoon and so on. Plus, my kids are adorable, so Facebook and Instagram need posts from me regularly. But it’s a spiral. Seeing those little red iPhone badge alerts is too much for my type-A personality, and I find myself compulsively checking them. For me, turning off the notifications was instantly relieving. I still access my feeds regularly, but not in the middle of meetings or lunches or during family time.
4. Go hardcore old school (for a day or a few hours). A few months ago, my husband and I declared our home to be a “tech free” zone on Sundays. We clued in family and friends that we’d be incommunicado for the day, and we locked up our phones and hid the TV remotes. It started off as a measure intended to benefit our kids, but I feel spectacular come Monday mornings. I play with my kids more and read actual books before bed. Maybe a whole day won’t work for you; try it for a few hours in the evening, or even during your lunch break.
According to which article you read or which expert you ask on any particular day, tech may or may not be ruining our lives. Safe to say, though, it’s running them. Take a beat, and step back. You’ll be happy with the decision.
Lindsay Horan is marketing manager at Vehr Communications. A version of this article originally appeared on the agency’s blog.
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