Social (Media) Distancing

In the era of COVID, social distancing has been the buzz word everywhere. In simple terms means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home to prevent the spread of infection. With many of the countries observing lockdown, people stay restricted to their homes; the social (media) distancing has gone for a toss.

With very little to do when the whole country is on lockdown, most of us are seen glued our smartphones, the way we consume social media has become a huge cause of concern. A few years ago social media was a platform to connect and stay in touch with dear ones staying far away. Now it has just become a source of endless scrolling on unwanted irrelevant posts of attention-seeking people. Perhaps it’s because we seek validation, the feel of being wanted and accepted by society. Any social gathering you go, be it a conference or a family event, the first thing they do after knowing your name is to send a friend request.

Perhaps the reason why it shocked many people that I wasn’t on social media.

Yes, I was exposed to an endless stream of selfies, vacations, celebrity gossip, political chaos, random challenges, and advertisements. Moreover, I was finding it difficult to do simple things such as watching full-length movies or even read a book peacefully. It was also exhausting to keep up the social norm returning the favor of liking every post in ‘friend circle’ just because they “like” your pictures.

When I realized that there was no gain personally or professionally from being active on such platforms,I decided to start Digital Detoxing. This was perhaps the best decision I ever made. Overnight deleted all my social media accounts except for LinkedIn (professional of course). It didn't matter to anyone, so realized that nobody really cares as long as you were just let them access your life.

Frankly speaking, I didn’t feel the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) rather enjoyed my privacy. Social (media) Distancing, didn’t make me antisocial; I was a call, an email, a WhatsApp away from those who really want to be in contact. Life seemed much peaceful as screen time had drastically reduced (thanks to Googles Digital well being ), it was time to take the next step i.e reducing the use of screens.

While being stuck at home is now causing people to use phones and TV more than usual for watching the news, movies and gaining other info, it has surely filled our life with more stress and anxiety Not only does it impact our real-world relationships, it also has negative effects on your physical health.

“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.” ― Bill Watterson, Calvin, and Hobbes

In this digital era, going offline is the new luxury, as it gives us time to experience nature, get physical exercise, and practice mindfulness. Hence regular unplugging from technology may be the best way to keep our mind and body healthy.A digital detox doesn’t have to be a full-on retreat. Simple things such as to resist the temptation of checking the notifications at least for a few minutes after the alarm goes off, keeping phones away during meals can prove to be quite effective. Unplugging before bed is also essential, as it gives the body time to relax and unwind.

Personally digital detoxing made me calmer and refreshed. From starting to play old board games such as Monopoly and Backgammon to trying out new recipes! As I fell asleep faster mornings felt refreshed and got my creative juices flowing. It even helped me become more productive as I had no more excuses and distractions for procrastination tasks (Complete my website, write blogs that had been pending since long!!).

Though it might be a little intimidating to go for a complete digital detox, a mini detox throughout the day can prove to be quite effective. Perhaps once when the world starts getting back on track, an unplugged, tech-free vacation would help you stay grounded to the real world.

“You can take all the pictures you want, but you can never relive the moment the same way.”-Audrey Regan

Disconnect to reconnect!

#lockdown #digitaldetox #socialmediadistancing #internetaddiction #covid19