Just because the Internet is available 24/7 doesn’t mean we should use it that much. In fact, the trend of unplugging from the digital world is a hot topic on the Internet right now. Ironic, huh?
Mashable recently posted its top seven reasons to unplug this summer. In this article, as well as many others circulating the Web, similar reasons keep surfacing:
- Stress relief
- More time enjoying life
- Fewer problems sleeping
- Increased productivity
In May, US News was promoting the new trend of digital fasting, which is planned unplugging from smartphones, email, and social media. The article touts such unplugging can help you clear your head and ultimately become more productive.
Clearing the mind
Even though the benefits of taking a break from devices once in a while seem obvious, most don’t realize the health benefits that can come from unplugging. According to Fitness Magazine, a large number of eye problems including eyestrain and twitching can come from spending too much time looking at a digital screen.
Forbes goes as far as classifying the Internet as a substance that many people are addicted to, saying the frequency that people check their digital accounts gets the brain’s addiction center engaged.
In 2008, Nicholas Carr wrote an essay titled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” — which later grew into the book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains — that the Internet goes as far as remapping our brains:
My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.
Think about it: A lot of us say we just don’t have time to read books anymore, but how much time do we spend reading blogs just like this one? We are willing to take in small pieces of information a little at a time all the time; however, we won’t sit down and read a book.
WebMD also raises the possibility that the Internet does more than just take our away our ability to focus; it could lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Improve your quality of life
If you’re not willing to disconnect from the digital world for the health benefits, consider doing it for quality of life. If you are always on your tablet or smartphone checking email or social media, chances are you are missing out on what’s happening around you.
One reason many people turn to social media is for engagement and connectivity; however, we’ve forgotten how to engage with humans. According to the Huff Post’s The Third Metric, nearly 40 percent of Americans spend more time socializing online than off.
Now that you’ve read this entire blog post, I recommend turning off your devices and spending some quality time doing something you enjoy — offline.