We don't know about you, but the thought of a digital detox instantly makes us feel at peace. No endless distractions or messages to keep up with throughout the day…dreamy! In today's digital world, we are constantly bombarded with notifications from social media. If it's not Instagram, it's trying to keep up with the latest WhatsApp group chats or never-ending voice notes. **Screams**  

Living in this world can become extremely overwhelming trying to keep up with everyone & everything. Although technology has so many benefits allowing us to feel so connected with loved ones, it can also make us feel disconnected from them in reality. Often it can feel like a digital nightmare.

It is so important to take time for yourself & completely disconnect from this world to recharge your battery, especially to maintain your mental & emotional well-being. If you take the time to disconnect, it really allows you to reconnect with yourself without the added pressure and distraction from the outside world.

Granted, as much as it sounds like the dream at times to some, completely cutting off all access to everything, it isn't always realistic & you will probably have a search party after being reported as missing. Also with work, family, and anything else important, phones can be a lifeline, so this is only sometimes realistic. Now we aren't saying throw your phone away & disappear to an island for a month (although tempting). We encourage you to start by making subtle changes to your daily routine to reap the mental benefits.

To start making changes, it doesn't need to be anything drastic. For some, this blog may sound like your worst nightmare, as time on your phone may be something you look forward to at the end of each day. Understandable. This is for people who could do with a break.

To start making changes, you could set boundaries one day a week (let's say a Sunday) & informing all work colleagues and anyone who would notice your missing online presence, telling them that you will most likely be offline on Sundays. It won't be a good day to connect with you. Sorry, not sorry. They will understand and probably be inspired by your willpower and willingness to prioritize your well-being.

If you pre-warn people, this will make it a much easier habit to slip into, as you won't be bombarded when switching your phone on to 100's of messages, which automatically increases your stress levels because, as we know, another added pressure of today's society is if you don't reply within a particular timeline, it can be taken the wrong way. Like what? Let us live!

A trick we like to implement into our daily routine is using the 'focus' setting on our phones. You can tailor this to your needs. For example, Monday-Friday, to avoid any distractions during working hours, you put your work focus on allowing only emails & phone calls as a notification. Amend it to your needs so that everything necessary gets noticed; however, anything unimportant will not cause a distraction. Yes, no more getting distracted by gossip, although always juicy, or endless scrolling on social media. Tailor each focus to your preference. We recommend using this feature to allow you to breathe & focus on tasks which are essential to you.

Another way of detoxing, if you feel mentally you could do with the break, is deleting social media apps on your phone that isn't required. For example, Instagram could be a great place to start if you only use it to scroll and see what's the latest. Use your free time to focus on what is important in your life & create daily habits with the extra time usually spent on social media. Doing this every now & then to recharge is so beneficial to your mental health & something we could all do with much more of. 

Why we love a digital detox;

Improved mental health

Constant exposure to technology can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and burnout. By disconnecting and going offline, we can give our brains a much-needed break from the constant stimulation and information overload of being connected 24/7. This break can help recharge, relax, and reset our mental state, improving our mental health and well-being.

Encourages living in the moment 

Have you ever been to a concert and realized you spent the entire time recording it on your phone instead of living in the moment and enjoying the experience? Or have you come across something extraordinary, but instead of fully immersing yourself in the moment, you found yourself reaching for your phone to capture it on camera? Guilty. While capturing memories is something we love to encourage at Nelle, it's equally amazing to appreciate and cherish life. Living in the moment can be magical; excessive phone usage can detract from that. Instead, we encourage experiencing life firsthand, without distractions, so that you can fully savour the moment and create lasting memories without your phone dying or not getting the perfect insta pic ruining the memory. Always heartbreak wearing an outfit and not getting 'the pic'.

Increased productivity

Technology can be a significant distraction, preventing us from focusing on essential tasks. Taking a break from technology can increase productivity by minimizing distractions that prevent us from concentrating on important tasks. Our phones have a sneaky way of diverting our attention and can quickly hinder achieving our goals. By going offline, we can reduce the number of distractions and concentrate on what is truly important, ultimately leading to greater productivity. Amen.

Enhanced relationships

 It is so easy to get lost in our phones whilst spending time with people who mean most of us as it has become our standard pass time. It's become so easy for the hours to pass without looking up from our phones or noticing we haven't. At times we are often distracted mid-conversation by the notification on our phones. This can interfere with our personal relationships by distracting us from meaningful interactions. Our hyper-connected world takes us away from the present moment and the people around us. This, at times, can harm our relationships. We miss important moments or struggle to fully engage with our loved ones.

Taking the time to detox can enhance our relationships and build deeper connections. Giving our undivided attention to our friends and family shows them that we value their time and that they are important to us. This, in turn, can lead to greater trust, understanding, and intimacy, ultimately strengthening our relationships and making them more fulfilling. So, whether it's turning off our phones during meals or setting aside designated phone-free time with our loved ones, disconnecting from our devices can impact the quality of our relationships.

Disappear until you feel like you again. The world will always be there waiting.