The most common reaction from companies, like Google’s operating system Android, is to encourage a healthier, happier digital wellbeing. According to a study from the University of Texas, the proximity of a nearby smartphone can interrupt our ability to concentrate. The study, revealing the negative cognitive influence from having a phone within reach, asserts that ‘the mere presence of your smartphone reduces brainpower’. This statement perfectly captures the bubbling anxiety created by the ever-presence of technology in our daily lives.
Yet in a digital world with ever-changing and advancing technologies, it may not be possible or necessary for us to unplug completely. So how can we develop healthy practices with our devices?
Tips for balancing your lifestyle with technology
1. Understand digital wellbeing
There’s been a recent push to rebalance the roles of technology in everyday lives, which is captured in the popular phrase digital wellbeing. This idea describes both experiments and tools that have encouraged users to reinforce boundaries regarding their technology habits.
For Google, digital wellbeing is a practical reality for its mobile users. Those using Google products are given tools to establish healthier limits and restrictions.
2. Go grayscale and wind-down
When striking up a new balance between technology and the daily bustle of your lifestyle, many pieces of modern tech are tooled to help you monitor your phone usage. It’s not uncommon for feature-rich phones to overwhelm users, but with new customizations it’s becoming easier to regain that crucial balance.
Users often need gentle nudging to unplug, but there are nonetheless many ways to actively promote healthier mobile phone habits. A slowly transitioned wind down is often the best way to manage technology usage in your lifestyle. Winding down lets you slowly unplug over time, rather than suddenly switching off.
Grayscale is another helpful mode that will mute the colourful backdrop of your phone and make it appear in monochrome. This will reduce the appeal of certain attention-grabbing apps. Features like these will curb the late-night appeal of technology, encouraging you to wind-down and unplug.
3. Lean into tech when it helps productivity
Another trick to rear healthy habits when it comes to daily technology use is to embrace how it can enhance your routines or business tasks. Technology has emerged as key means of stimulating productivity. This can take on many forms; productivity could mean that your dispersed team can remain connected and collaborative, or on the other hand productivity tools could reinforce how you organize work, schedule tasks and help you monitor your own efficiency.
A sense of productivity can be achieved with the help of technology, but the key is to be intentional about your usage.. In manageable moments, technology is mostly helpful, yet as a constant, distracting glow near your workstation, it’s less helpful and more of a hinderance.
4. Plan tech time
A mindful balance with technology means looking beyond its practical uses in your daily lifestyle. Rather than relying on willpower to unplug, schedule time in your day away from the distraction of technologies; a quiet, meditative period to reset. Technology can stimulate productivity but your focus away from your phone can become more deeply and meaningfully engaged in these moments.
5. Go outside
The best way to disconnect from a busy world is to look outside. Even a brief walk can feel healing and therapeutic. With structured time away from screens, being outdoors can help facilitate a healthier lifestyle and general balance. For a more mindful break away, a camping stay could help you take a longer, meaningful break from technology. A quick, fulfilling excursion would be the ideal inspiration to break up a busy lifestyle.
When it comes to balancing out technology in your everyday lifestyle, shaping up perspective to allow for downtime and quiet moments can seem impossible. Busy lifestyles often beget worse tech-habits. But with new wellbeing features, a schedule and some time outdoors, you could tip the scale in your favour.
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