I worked for a multinational company and for me the time of break used to be when I use to check my personal emails and Facebook updates instead of checking the mails on my Outlook email box, which were the work emails. I thought that it was the best way to take a break from work and stay connected with my friends find out what was going on in their lives and also keep them updated about mine.
But very soon I started realising that this habit was more an addiction than a break option. I realised it when I found myself checking the Facebook updates or texting on Watsapp even when I was sitting to for a cup of tea with my mother. Before you start understanding and try to find out about the ways to kick your 24/7 tech addiction, you need to realise that you are actually addicted to it. Hence for a change try to count the number of times you get glued to your cell phone or are sitting in front of your system. Now these should be the times when logging into the system was not really required or you opened Facebook without even getting any notification. Thus, you will understand actually how addicted you are to technology, and only then will you start finding out ways of getting rid of them.
Here are some very simple measures which will help you to get de-addicted of technology:
Give A Personal Touch To Your Bedroom
This is probably one of the most important steps that you could take towards kicking the addiction off of your life. Go the traditional way, get alarm clocks or watches to wake yourself up rather than setting an alarm on your smart phone.
The Updates Can Wait Till The Next Morning
There is no emergency that is discussed on Facebook or any other social media website, if people need your help they will call you, so there is no need for you to keep your data plan on, which means that even when your phone is on a silent mode it will disturb you each time there is an update.
Develop Hobbies
I am sure each one of us must have had a hobby which was our favourite pass time before we took a liking for technology and it took the place of all our hobbies, so get back to the old habit of writing or painting, or anything weird, whichever way makes you feel happy and keep you away from the technical applications.
Exercising Can Help You Kick Tech Addiction
Doctors always prescribe exercising as one of the best ways to detoxify yourself and get help yourself get de-addicted of any kind of bad habit be it drinking, smoking or drugs, the same thing can be used as one of the ways to kick your 24/7 tech addiction, as if you get into a habit of physically slogging yourself, by the time you hit the bed, you will only think about getting a good night’s sleep and not checking for the latest news on your phone.
Funny you mention these addiction prevention tips. When my brother arrives from work, he goes straight to the computer. When he finally gets off the monitor, he immediately grabs his smart phone — which is basically a smaller version of the same exact thing.
I also blame tech addiction on our shortening attention span, thanks to all the things to look at these days. I seriously dont remember having my head “all over the place” back in 2,000, for example.
Anyway, thanks for an awesome article.