I have been thinking a lot about the time that I spend with my mobile, laptop, iPad, PC and any other digital device!! We are in an era where everybody communicates with each other at any time through these devices! Even when you go out for dinner with family or friends, you are probably half the time looking at emails, checking the latest stories on Facebook, what is the latest great photo in Instagram, what is trending on Twitter or chatting in WhatsApp. Of course, we just want to share what we are doing, and show what a cool fun time we are having instead of just enjoying the moment with our family or friends.
This is probably something very ironic coming from me because I need to have a balance in order to survive as a blogger. The reality is that from time to time we really need to stop and perhaps think about what are we doing. Sometimes I feel like my life has become totally dependent on technology!! I honestly think that I need to take my mobile everywhere and I need to check my mobile everywhere too!!
There have been times where I thought I lost my mobile because I couldn’t find it and I was feeling like my life was destroyed. Yes, I felt broken! How sad is that? I’m sure this is not just my feeling. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there feeling the same way as me!! Being a blogger is a passion for me, it’s something that makes me happy gives me a lot of motivation, I want more every day and I want to reach new goals every day too. However, this feeling sometimes is a little bit too much. I think I need to rest from time to time, give my body some fresh air and try to be surrounded by nature.
What am I talking about? I’m talking about having a digital detox. So, what is this? According to Wikipedia, this “refers to a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic connecting devices such as smartphones and computers. It is regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.” So YES, this is what I need!! 😉
For the first time after 6 intense months of blogging, I have decided to disconnect from my blog. I will have a break for 2 weeks which is the perfect time to enjoy my family during the festive holidays. I really want to have fun with my girls and get the most of the time that we are all together as a family.
I found some interesting facts about our technology habits. Did you know that:
- UK adults spend an average of 8 hours 41 minutes a day on screens (more time than they are asleep).
- UK children spend 6 1/2 hours a day on screens.
- The average user logs 1.72 hours a day on social media alone.
- And checks their smartphone 150 times a day.
- Half of all UK adults admit to being ‘completely hooked‘ on their smartphones, emphasising the need for a regular digital detox.
- 80% of smartphone users say checking their phone is the first thing they do in the morning.
- 66% of UK smartphone owners in a study self-reported suffering from ‘nomophobia’, the fear of losing or being without their phones at any given time – obsessively checking to make sure they have their phone with them, and constantly worrying about losing it somewhere.
- The first inpatient facility for treating internet addiction in the US opened in 2013. China has opened 300 teenage bootcamps imposing a strict digital detox to deal with increasing problems of teen internet addiction.
These figures are incredible right? I was amazed when I read this information! I also googled about digital detox and I found that there are places where you can go, to basically forget about everything and just relax! As soon as you arrive you start this process of handing-in’ your phone, tablet, laptop, Fitbit’s, kindles, game consoles and any digital device with a screen. They keep all your digital gadgets safe for you until it’s time to leave. These places are retreats that are normally located in areas of outstanding natural beauty like in Hawaii for example. Who wouldn’t like to go there? I certainly would love to go there and disconnect completely from the real word and reconnect with myself and nature again. All of that for one week!! How wonderful would that be?
One way of getting into that zone is by doing yoga. I have actually never done Yoga before but it is something that I’m willing to try. If you’re looking for yoga retreats in Hawaii for example, could be the perfect destination. With white sandy beaches to mountain terrain with 2,700 acres of open green space scattered with coconut trees, monkey pods and rare plant species, it’s a place where you can enjoy yoga, surfing and hiking while experiencing the local culture and history on this digital detox, surfing and yoga holiday, an altogether truly special place. How amazing is that? I love the sound of that, it sounds like heaven!! 😉
From now I will be enjoying my 2-week break. I plan to try to disconnect as much as I can. I don’t know if I will stop dealing with my social media 100% but I certainly would like to get some time off!
Have you ever done a Digital Detox? Would you go to a yoga retreat or a natural retreat and hand over all of your devices?
*Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
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I know how you feel Franca! I am always on my phone or infront of the laptop! Now is probably the perfect time to disconnect and recharge the batteries ready for the New Year! I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas xxxxx
Wow those are some interesting facts! I hope your enjoying your well deserved 2 weeks off from social media xx
Ha-ha When computers first started being used at work in the design office, we were only allowed to use them for 3 hours per day, and only 2 hours in one session before a 1 hour break away from the screen!
These thoughts that you have written down are very true, I to spend far to much time on my Kindle and have to get out more and lead a more active life, as I have piled on the pounds, due to an excessive amount of time using technology sitting on the sofa.
This has to be my New Years Resolution!
Thank you for your thoughts.
Those facts are crazy, and I think you have done a fab job so far ‘cutting off’ I miss you though! Enjoy the next few days of your break, but can’t wait to have you back properly 🙂 xx
Oh I am totally a technology addict! I’d hate to add up the amount of time I spend on social media everyday, I think I’d be close to some of these stats. I have a few rules – no checking my smart phone in bed (I do break this a bit though). If I’m out with my kids I switch off the internet on my phone completely. When I’m at home with the kids though it’s a totally different story I check everything, all the time!
Guilty! I too, spend too much time on social media everyday, One of my new year’s resolutions is to spend less time online. It’s amazing how much housework you can do when you are offline!
I’ve never heard of a digital detox, but man have I enjoyed switching off this Christmas and just having time with my family. Today I was busy and I had realised it had been 4 hours since I checked my phone, and it was kind of freeing. So I totally get where you’re coming from. Great post Franca x
I’ve never heard of a digital detox it after reading those statistic I’m going to start doing it. I announced to Alex last night that one night a week I intend to have a pamper evening which will include face masks, a bath, etc. I also said that on this weekly pamper session I will not use my phone or MacBook and they’ll be put away for the night until the morning. I can’t wait!!!
Laura x
Guilty as charged! i am totally addicted! Unfortunately so is Olivia despite mot having her own mobile yet how bad is that. I do limit her time on digital platforms but I think it should be my own. I hope you enjoyed your break #anythinggoes
I’m trying to disconnect regularly this year. It’s so easy to spend most of the day staring at a screen. Hope you enjoyed your two weeks off and all the best for 2016
Yes I really enjoyed it!! I needed it! But now I’m back and ready to carry on!! Thanks for commenting lovely, 🙂 xx
You could always try here for a digital detox as there is no mobile signal! However our wi fi is excellent. #KCACOLS
I will go to Coombe Mill this year. I have it in my to do list!! So I will let you know when I have it organised!! xx
I want my husband to do this but I don’t think he will lmao!!
lol maybe you could both have a week of digital detox together!! 😉
I had my break and it was wonderful to be able to focus your energy on yourself and your family without digital interruptions from both sides! I did not have a complete disconnect but it was very limited. But it was so so so good not only for your own soul but also as a family. Those places sound like a fab idea but will I have the courage to try and really disconnect? I don’t know. #KCACOLS
Yes I also think the same. I would love a semi disconnection, exactly the same of what you had!! I’m still dreaming of the holiday you just had!! lol xx
I really should do a digital detox, I can’t go more than half an hour without checking my phone! Good luck, I hope it isn’t too hard! Becky x #KCACOLS
I did disconnet around Xmas time but it wasn’t a complete detox as you I’m attached to my phone 24/7 but I wouldn’t going to any of this retreats for 1 week!! 😉 xx
I’m totally guilty of this too but I do try to keep it at bay when I’m with the kids. I think I’m going to start making a concious effort to put it in a drawer or somewhere out of reach and have a timeslot where I can have ‘social media time’, perhaps when the kids have gone to bed and the hubby’s working late. Social media has brought a lot of great things into our lives but it’s also pulled us away from reality. Quick book me a trip to Hawaii that’ll fix it x
I know I’ve already commented on this but just popping back for #KCACOLS xx
I hope your digital detox went really well and you found a bit of peace and quiet without technology distracting you. My phone has been broken for over a week. At first it was very frustrating (especially since I love Instagram!) but as the time has gone on, I’ve missed it less and less. I still have internet of course, so it’s not completely a digital detox but it’s opened my eyes to how frequently I’d be checking my phone previously. #kcacols
The facts on here scared me but I can see how it is true. Since I started blogging, the time spent on devices has increased dramatically. It is hard to remove ourselves from the internet but something we have to do as parents! #KCACOLS
Yikes – the average smartphone user checks their phone 150 times a day!! I can imagine that! I bet it’ll be so tough to do a detox but I bet it’d be so good for the soul. I have to admit I’d be lost without my phone especially in the night when I’m feeding. But we do get too reliant on these things! I can’t wait to hear how you get on xx #KCACOLS
I am definitely guilty of this – it is difficult at the moment as my blog is new and I feel like I need to work a lot to get it seen. Having said this, my husband and I have teachnology free sat and sun evenings and I try to make sure I spend my whole day off with the kids internet free – though I sometimes cave on that one if there’s an important post I need to get seen! I think it’s really important to be aware of it #KCACOLS
Hope it went well. I love digital detoxing but it is hard to manage and technology creeps in – checking iPad and phone becomes a habit very quickly. I’ve been leaving my phone downstairs in the evening so when I go up to my bedroom I am completely disconnected until I go downstairs for breakfast…I know it doesn’t sound very much, but it’s been really good actually. All to often I’d have a last look before bed and something would come up that would get my brain whirring! #KCACOLS
It really does make a huge difference – when we moved into our current house we had no internet for three weeks, and we had no TV either. I was on maternity leave waiting for Marianna to arrive so all I could do was read, craft and keep house. It did feel like I was missing a limb, but I did feel healthier and was sleeping better, etc. x #KCACOLS
I’m definitely addicted to my phone & love the Internet. I do sometimes worry I use my phone too much but try to balance it out with outdoor activities when the weather is nice. #kcacols lifeinthemumslane
Yes I think we are all addictive to our phones. And as soon as we can’t get on our social media we feel lost lol! I’m on my phone even when we are out and about doing outdoor activities!! Terrible right? Need to change that. Thanks for commenting, 🙂 xx
It is super addictive eh?! I try to be quite strict with myself. I check social media with a cuppa in the morning and then nothing until my little man naps. That’s when I try to blog. It’s why I’m not a very consistent blogger. If I have other jobs that need doing they get done before blogging. I don’t have a laptop just a computer in the office so it’s tough to blog whilst he’s awake. He wrecks the office!
I hate it when my husband is on his phone instead of talking to me. It especially drives me nuts when we’re out and about. So I try really hard not to do the same to my son. Technology is an amazing resource for so many reasons but it’s downside is that it does disconnect us from the people immediately around us. So hard to find the right balance. There is always something/someone that misses out. A great post! #KCACALS
I too am slightly addicted. Although I’m still pretty new to blogging I am also ‘hungry’ and have realised that my children are seeing too much of the back of my laptop! Good luck and let us know how it goes xx #KCACOLS
Aw I know how you feel Franca. I am always on my phone and on my laptop and probably could do with a few weeks off from technology and social media. I do love a scroll through Twitter, Facebook and Bloglovin’ though and probably would find it hard. Lol. Great post #KCACOLS
I love these type of posts from you, always so informative and full of things I didn’t know. Thank you. And thank you for hosting the ever fab #KCACOLS
Nadia – ScandiMummy xx
Good idea – hope you enjoy the break! I wasn’t too worried about it before blogging, as rarely on computer & fb was only social media I used, & only for odd status update, hardly used emails. Now I’m on everything all the time! #KCACOLS
For a whle I did this every Sunday and I found it very helpful to have a break. It was a long day though 😉 #KCACOLS
The numbers seem crazy but true! I’ve been thinking about my own use of the laptop & phone. It’d be hard to blog without those things but they can take up a big part of my day. A digital detox sounds like a really good idea. We should all take them from time to time. I had a week without internet for a cruise & I felt like I was in withdrawal for the first couple days but then settled into it& really enjoyed the time off! #KCACOLS x
Love this! I SO need a digital detox, I spend far too much time on my phone especially! I’m always reading something on there or playing a game or nosying on FB, Twitter or Instagram. I’m going to make a conscious effort to spend less time doing those things, it’s just habit more than anything! Thanks for hosting!
Totally agree Franca. It is particularly difficult when blogging to be without the phone or PC. Also, never wanting to miss a call from the school ensures our eye is constantly on the phone. Like you, I have been trying very hard to give the gadgets a rest. It is hard because most of our lives rely on email communication, texts and doing things online. I’m particularly strict about this when it’s family and social time and I do also find that I really need a break from it. I get very heavy headed at times and for this reason alone I like to have a break from it. I also panic if I’m without the phone. Crazy really but true for most of us #KCACOLS
Hope you enjoyed your digital detox! I admit I’m slightly addicted, but also quite limited in my “screen time” since I currently don’t have a smart phone, the only device I have is my iPad (I would be a bit lost without it, though!). Also, since I work in kindergarten, most of the day at work I don’t have the time or opportunity to do anything digital! What I do need to do is make better, more productive use of the time I do spend online! #KCACOLS
This is such an important topic and I really need to take this advice myself! I do feel completely addicted to my phone and it IS the first thing I do in the morning a lot of the time. I often think this can’t be good for us. Those figures are incredible!
I love blogging too and I’m spending a great deal of time at the moment actively building and growing my blog but I think I will definitely need a detox soon.
Thanks for sharing x #kcacols
I had about five weeks off blogging last year – three in the summer and two at Christmas. I knew I wouldn’t have time or the internet connection to blog so I didn’t. I was refreshing. However, I did look at my social media and emails A LOT when I had a phone signal, so I was cheating a bit! 🙂 #KCACOLS
Franca, im so glad you wrote this post about your experience. Its so true about achieving a balance when you blog and have a family. It is all too easy, with such easy and constant access to everything to get completely sucked in and distracted by the digital world. I hate myself when I sometimes become obsessed with blogging rather than enjoying time with my family, becuase I find it so ironic – I blog about family life, yet dont always make the most of the time I have with them. This is such a great post to share to remind us all not to get too distracted and obsessed with it all, all of the time :-). Emily #KCACOLS
Hope you enjoyed your detox! You deserve it – you work so hard at making this blog fantastic! I’m not sure I could cope without Twitter haha! #KCACOLS
Wow a digital detox sounds like heaven! I’m always getting told off by the other half for spending way too much time on my phone! Blogging is great because it’s not 9-5, but also that can have drawbacks as is encroaches on family time. Those retrests in hawaii look incredible, would love to go there xx #KCACOLS
Hey Franca. This post is so relevant for me this week. I definitely have a social media addiction of some kind and this weekend I deactivated my facebook and deleted all my social media apps off my phone. I lasted 3 days. I feel so much pressure to stay on them all in case I miss anything. Suffering with anxiety doesn’t make life away from social media any easier. And also starting the blog adds a whole other level of pressure into the mix.. I hope the two week break helped you, and thanks for highlighting the post again. I am going to seriously consider trying a detox xxx Kathy #KCACOLS
I’m sure I commented on this before, I remember reading it. I hope you’re still reaping the benefits of your break and it’s given you the perspective you needed. I can’t believe how immersive social media can be.
Oooh, I’d join you on a digital detox in Hawaii, definitely! 😀
I spend far too much time on devices, I know I do. But I try to put them away when I can so that I can interact with “real” people and the family.
#KCACOLS
These are indeed shocking stats, but I honestly can’t say I’m surprised. I have seen all to easily, how easy it is to spend far to much time enthralled in technology. This is why I try to cut back on our time in front of tablets, mobiles, laptops and TV. Friday night I make sure I turn my mobile off and spend time snuggled up on the sofa with John. However I would still love to got to one of those resorts you have mentioned and as for yoga I’ve always wanted to give it a go too. xx #KCACOLS
I have commented on this before but just wanted to give you a little wave 🙂 #KCACOLS xx
Interesting post. You probably notice I’ve been commenting non stop on your few post. Still awake at this time being glued on my phone which is not healthy anymore. I think I need a detox as well as this is getting addictive lol I have enjoyed reading lots of your blog post 🙂 Goodnight and god bless xx