By Emily Christ
Health and Human Sciences Extension Educator
Purdue Extension Elkhart County

GOSHEN — Being plugged into everything at all times is a normal way of life now. You have your smartphone set as your alarm. You look at the weather on your smartphone. You even check the news.

Not to mention we are constantly communicating back and forth with people throughout the day through text message, social media, etc. In some cases, individuals will use their phones as background noise at night when they are sleeping to provide comfort.

The average amount of time Americans spend on their digital devices is half of the day. For some, that may mean a digital detox is needed. A digital detox can be a solution for those who may feel pressure from the need to be constantly connected.

At this time of year, we already feel intense pressure from other social responsibilities that there is no need to put extra pressure on ourselves. A digital detox can help improve sleep, mood, relationships, energy, and more. While the detox will look different for everyone, common detox options are checking email/texts less, not scrolling through social media, not playing video games, or limiting tv time.

By implementing a social media detox, you may reap the benefits of increased self-esteem, less anxiety, and less depression. Another benefit is that you can save money due to less online shopping.

The first step is to decide what particular behavior you want to change. Is it social media you want to get rid of? No more Amazon? You are in control of what to eliminate. Create a goal of what you would like to achieve by doing a digital detox. This could be to save money, gain more confidence, or be more present with the people around you.

After you have established that goal, gather people around you who will support you and this behavior change. A digital detox may take time and effort but can be very beneficial for your health.