#digital-detox

#digital-detox

Digital interfaces, as convenient as they are, bypass many of the sensory pathways that help us process and retain information. Think about it this way: when you write something by hand, your brain engages multiple systems simultaneously. You're planning the movement, feeling the texture of paper, hearing the scratch of pen on page, and seeing the words form. This multi-sensory engagement creates what psychologists call "embodied cognition"-the idea that our physical actions directly influence our thinking patterns.

I am a professor of public health who studies health behaviors and the gap between intentions and outcomes. I became interested in this self-care paradox recently, after I suffered from a concussion. I was prescribed two months of strictly screen-free cognitive rest-no television, email, Zooming, social media, streaming, or texting. The benefits were almost immediate, and they surprised me. I slept better, had a longer attention span, and had a newfound sense of mental quiet.

Still, even in the early days of social media, there was a lot of talk about what a mind-mess these platforms could create, including research that tracked declines in mental health. I deliberated cutting ties with Instagram because I noticed myself falling into the classic trap: looking at what my friends were posting and wondering, "Why aren't I doing what they're doing?" and "Should I be doing that?"

Your phone already has built-in features that can help you stop getting distracted.To temporarily silence all those attention-seeking notifications, use the Focus setting on your iPhone or Android device. This mode is designed to stop interruptions when you want to concentrate. You can customize it by blocking specific apps or muting only when you're doing certain things, like sleeping or reading.

As an advisor to many CEOs of Fortune 500 companies over the years, I've found a common thread that might surprise you: CEOs work hard but they also know how to recharge faster and better. Just like in fitness, recovery is a key part of exertion. At work, learning to micro-relax better can increase energy, productivity and, quite frankly, joy.

Last Friday night, close to a hundred of us gathered around candle-lit picnic blankets with a makeshift stage at the head of the grass. We know, that's probably not your idea of a typical night at Tompkins Square Park in downtown Manhattan - but it's safe to say we did something a bit ... different. We got off together. Off the apps, that is; after a big countdown, we deleted our accounts to digital platforms that we've simply had enough of.

"I think I'm going to get into beading," I said to my husband as we sat on the couch together in the post-bedtime slump. After we get our 4-year-old to bed, sometimes with a fight, we crash in the living room together and just enjoy the sound of silence. In telling him, I was mostly preparing him for the number of packages that were about to arrive in the mail bearing beads, tiny pliers, and little gold doodads.

The HMD Touch 4G offers a thoughtful middle ground by reimagining what a phone can be when stripped of unnecessary complexity. This compact, Nokia-inspired feature phone provides essential modern connectivity through 4G data, video calling, and cloud apps, while maintaining the focused simplicity that made classic phones so appealing for actual communication rather than endless scrolling. Designer: HMD The design immediately evokes nostalgia with its candybar form factor and minimalist curves that feel borrowed from Nokia's golden era of feature phones.

"Even if it gives us rabies, we will free the iPad babies!" the crowdofmostly young people chanted. They donned colored folders fashioned into pointy hats inspired by gnomes, a symbol for the rally due to the mythical creatures' earthy, non-digital aesthetic. Each hat contained a printed note taped inside criticizing things like AI data centers and inviting people to join "the Luddite Renaissance."

Creating physical boundaries between devices and personal space is the first step towards better work-life balance. Designating the bedroom as a device-free zone helps recharge the mind.

This wasn't born from some dramatic rock-bottom moment with technology. I wasn't doom-scrolling myself into despair.

Deleting TikTok has improved my attention span by encouraging me to engage with long-form media. I now read more and watch movies without distractions.

AI-induced anxiety among students manifests as overload, burnout, and diminished motivation, complicating their academic experience and overall mental well-being.

I have a box at the front door they put their phones and iPads in the box and it stays in my bedroom.

The cabin's serene location amidst the pine forest and near the beach has greatly enhanced my creative process during this digital detox, allowing for focused solitude.

Pinterest users are embracing the 'Martha Stewart aesthetic', focusing on garden-to-table cooking, flower gardens, and fresh summer recipes, channeling an iconic lifestyle.

As I stood at a Himalayan crossroads clutching a paper map, I could feel my fingers twitching for a phone I'd vowed not to use.

"Screen time was just crowding out other things... I prefer to do that kind of stuff in the analog world."

This product is designed to facilitate a gentle disengagement from devices, making the process feel like a welcome respite rather than a forced separation.

Escaping the screen isn't easy. When I tested the Light Phone III in March-a phone designed to strip away apps and focus on the basics-I quickly found how many little things I needed my smartphone for, from accessing my home's security cameras to authentication apps so I could sign in to web services on my laptop.

At one point, Rylan and Emma were joined by broadcaster Gyles Brandreth for a discussion about digital detoxing... This is called barebacking for Gen-Z.

Simply look out the window! Our visual attention is easily grabbed by our devices; even if you can't get outside, spend five minutes observing the scenery outside.