Technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, and the ease with which we can use it both exasperates and delights us.
Sending e-mails or chatting with friends on social media while lying on your bed are some of the ‘miracles’ of technology.
But to some people, technology has turned out to be a curse rather than a blessing. Consider a case where someone is so much obsessed about small rewards like being followed on twitter, Facebook, or by someone merely ‘liking’ their post.
It is not surprising that some may spend long hours on social media just waiting to see who ‘likes’ or comments on their posts, and may be respond to these comments. This is what we call digital addiction, and it is just similar to other forms of addiction, with even withdrawal syndromes!
How can you break away from this addiction? Follow the simple steps outlined below;
Be mindful of what you do:
You need to take a break from constant distractions. Set aside some time during the day that you don’t use the gadget(s) that caused the addiction. Practice mindfulness, pick another activity that interests you and stick to it. If possible take a walk or try writing this will help you recover your lost self.
Reset your natural pattern of life:
Biologically, our bodies operate in a particular pattern; there is time to sleep and time to wake up. Probably when you became digitally addicted, this cycle must have been disrupted. You may find that you are now sleeping late in the night and waking up late in the morning feeling exhausted.
Try to impose the original cycle in your life. Force yourself to sleep at the right time and wake up at the right time.
It may be difficult to move away from your laptop or to switch off your phone, but you need to take that ‘sacrifice’ for your own good. Try this for some time and you will find yourself changing over time.
Review your goals
Take time to reflect on your goals/ambitions. Ask yourself whether you are moving towards achieving your goals. If not, it may be because of your addiction; at least it might be playing a role however remote it may be.
Change your lifestyle:
Reducing digital addiction is not a one-off procedure. It requires a complete change of lifestyle. You need to take care of your whole life, including your health and friendships.
Friends can be bad influence, especially if they are idle and want to keep them entertained or to keep them busy on social media.
What about ‘unfriending’, ‘unfollowing’ or even ‘blocking’ some as a starting point? That decision may not be easy but you have to put your life ahead of your friends.
Most friends on social media have nothing much to contribute to your well being, they are just a bunch of busybodies trying to eat into your precious time.
Put your priorities first:
More often than not, technology only helps us to respond to other people’s needs. The texts you get in your in-box are a testimony to this. They can make you forget your own priorities and instead respond to other people’s needs.
You may find yourself taking so much time responding to texts that are not contributing anything positive to your own life.
Breaking away from this addiction requires dedication and commitment to a new lifestyle. It may not be easy when you begin but you have keep on pushing until you drop the habit.
