{"id":5789,"date":"2017-04-11T14:12:38","date_gmt":"2017-04-11T14:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/igotoffer.com\/blog\/?p=5789"},"modified":"2019-01-30T17:01:12","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T17:01:12","slug":"digital-detox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/igotoffer.com\/blog\/digital-detox","title":{"rendered":"Digital Detox"},"content":{"rendered":"

Digital Detox<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Summer\u2019s around the corner and gyms and healthy food FB groups are bursting with newbies. If you\u2019re familiar with our blog, you probably expect to read the review of fitness and coaching software, but this time, you\u2019re wrong.<\/p>\n

They say, the modern culture is all about consuming and taking. We think that\u2019s a blatant lie! Today\u2019s pop-culture is all about quitting something. You should quit smoking, quit wearing real furs, or eating carbs and non-organic food altogether. Here\u2019s another thing you should ditch: your smartphones, laptops, tablets, EVERYTHING. Just when we bought what they\u2019d cajoled us into buying, you have to completely get rid of it.<\/p>\n

This phenomenon is called digital detox, hinting at the fact that Internet and all smart gadgets are kind of toxic to our personality and behavior. Ironically, they launched the site about it, digitaldetox.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There\u2019re a lot of DD groups on Facebook, mind you. \u201cDisconnect to reconnect\u201d is the slogan. They announce DD drink parties, jams and even fundraising events. You wouldn\u2019t miss it on Twitter with the hashtag #TGIDitalDetox either. It a bit like advertising vegetarians in butchers \u2018shops to me.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s so dreadful about gadgets anyway? The DD fans get it straight: \u201c61% admit to being addicted to the internet and their devices. The average American dedicates 30% of leisure time to perusing the web. 50% of people prefer to communicate digitally than in person. 67% of cellphone owners find themselves checking their device, even when it\u2019s not ringing or vibrating\u201d. End of quote. Oh, wait, this one I liked greatly: 1\/3 of people, according to the site, would rather clean their toilets than their inbox. Seriously?! I\u2019d love to have a look at those nerds, I really would. On the other hand, do you hate clean toilets, dudes?<\/p>\n

I mean, it is really annoying when someone\u2019s constantly checking one\u2019s phone in caf\u00e9, or at the party or at the breakfast table, but this habit is nothing new under the sun. Some thirty years ago, it was the daily\u2019s sport section, for example. Were there paper detoxing programs back then, I wonder? Like, \u201c10 tips how to dis-read the papers and start talking with people\u201d. Or were they frowned upon only in the 18th century, when they were first invented?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know. What I do know is, we\u2019re a very social species. Information is what we appreciate most, and modern social networks and Wi-Fi internet just give it to us. Let\u2019s see it the other way about: 50% of Americans can get in contact with each other any minute of the day and they don\u2019t depend on landlines or post service. Even if you\u2019re in San-Francisco and your pal is in Calgary, you\u2019re just one tap away from each other. And still it is not enough, because 67% of cellphone owners keep on checking their phone even when it\u2019s not ringing or vibrating. And I don\u2019t need to clean my inbox, because I\u2019ve set the spam filter and all I have to clean is the spam folder. It\u2019s a great thing, the toilet cleaners should try it.<\/p>\n

And what puzzles me even more, is that they suggest disconnecting and going camping. I mean, disconnect and go into the wilderness! Or going to a Digital Detox<\/em> party. It looks like people with gadgets don\u2019t party at all. Hey, we do! And we share the party vibes with the world. Last month I\u2019ve got a reunion party with my ex co-eds from college. Some of us didn\u2019t make it to the event and we put the tablet on the table and Skyped. The Wi-Fi connection was a bit poor, but it didn\u2019t spoil the experience at all.<\/p>\n

So, all above said, it seems funny to me to detox from the most useful things of the past fifty years. It\u2019s like detoxing from the electric light or water supply. But there\u2019re people who have to do digital detoxing; or at least they think that they have to. But it\u2019s a different story.<\/p>\n

If you feel you spend too much time with your devices, here are some DD tips for you. Happy detoxing!<\/p>\n

Charge your handheld away from your bed. Hopes are high that your laziness will win over your addiction.<\/p>\n

Find if some FB groups copy each other. E.g., you don\u2019t need to be subscribed to a dozen of cross-stitching communities. You can painlessly unsubscribe from half of them. Ok, one third. Make it one third.<\/p>\n

Find some outdoor hobby. Like gardening or jogging or just going for a walk. Or sitting with a cup of coffee on a park bench and watching people. You can watch birds, but I personally think humans are more entertaining.<\/p>\n

Play some table games. There are loads of great strategy games, like Dungeons and Dragons<\/em>.<\/p>\n