It’s unsurprising that many of us experienced digital overload during the epidemic, and that taking care of our “digital health” has become a popular issue. Technology has invaded every area of our life, from social networking to online shopping, making reservations, and even mundane tasks like paying bills.

Our mobile phones have never been far from our side, whether we’re homeschooling or working from home. We’ve even adopted video communication technology to stay in touch with friends and family members who reside thousands of miles away.

To be honest, it’s difficult to understand how we might simply decide to cut it off. And the constant expectation to be available at all times – and to respond quickly – may be exhausting.

In our latest project, we looked into numerous ways to cut down on technology usage while on vacation. Here’s what we found out.

Put it away.

Locking your phone, laptop, and tablets away is by far the most efficient method to get the most out of the experience. Of course, you can use “do not disturb” mode or turn off notifications for certain apps carefully. However, turning off notifications for specific categories of applications is a chore, and there’s always a reason to check Facebook or Instagram, respond to an email, or upload a photo while your phone is still in your pocket. You can still navigate through your phone with this method, and muscle memory allows you to open apps without even noticing it.

You might want to consider setting a time restriction on how much time you spend on your phone. One hour in the morning and one hour in the evening, for example. However, according to our research, you will soon spend considerably more time online without recognizing it and will find more excuses to do so.

So, the best answer is to stop using your phone and put it in a box or hide it somewhere. This eliminates the difficulties of turning off notifications or setting a time limit on how much time you spend on your phone.

It could feel a little overwhelming at first. However, you will begin to feel the effects after a while, and you will hopefully feel more liberated, freer, or as if a weight has been removed. You could even prefer to be unconnected for a longer period.

Don’t forget to plan ahead of time.

In the countryside, it’s tough not to relax. You won’t have to worry about navigating city streets or dealing with cities’ massive digital infrastructure (such as apps for booking restaurants, cinema tickets, and public transport). If you can get away, the detox will feel a lot more natural.

However, forethought is required. Turn on your out-of-office message to notify your coworkers, clients, and supervisor that you will be unavailable. Inform your family and friends so you won’t be worried if they try to contact you.

Print booking confirmations, train, aircraft, and other travel tickets, as well as a paper map, so you can leave your electronic gadgets at home. If the planning and adjustment to a week or two without sensory overload is too much for you, you may book your experience with a digital detox holiday provider who will assist you with the planning and adjustment.

Look for the good

Because technology has become the “default” in our lives, it may be difficult to completely unplug from a world where we are connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

At first, disconnecting may cause significant emotional difficulties, such as worry, anxiety, or frustration.

We recommend that you try to reframe your mental challenges in a positive light by viewing them as rewards rather than punishments. It can be annoying not to be able to use digital applications or websites to travel around and find highly-rated eateries, but it can also be exciting to be able to explore the unknown, have unexpected encounters, or learn new skills like utilizing paper maps and possibly even a compass.

You might come upon some hidden jewels or have more opportunities to converse with locals.

Yes, you won’t be able to share your experience immediately on social media, but instead of monitoring likes and responding to comments on your posts, you’ll be able to spend more quality time with your companions.

The digital detox experience allows you to reconnect with long-forgotten childhood memories and reminisce about occasions you haven’t thought about in a long time. Humming an old melody or even playing some childhood activities might transport you back in time.

Introspection

The most crucial piece of advice is to think back on your digital detox. Everyone has a different connection with technology, and you would benefit enormously from figuring out how to have a better one. Use the experience to reflect on how the digital detox has made you feel and what you’d like to do when you return to the busy connected world to help prevent digital overload from setting in again.