The past half-century has been all about digital, but nothing catapulted our dependence on
our devices more than sheltering at home these last few months. Now almost everything we
do – from work meetings to happy hours with friends – is online.

Holidays used to be the time to digitally detox; we at Bawah are big proponents of digital detox retreats, which is why we don’t have televisions in our rooms and suggest guests leave their phones in their rooms while they stay with us to fully enjoy the experience.

But you don’t need to wait for a holiday, especially if one isn’t in the cards for the next few months.

Digital Overload

Right now many of us are feeling fatigued, driven into digital overload and addictive technology to stay informed and connected to the outside world while simultaneously wanting space from our phones. And, whilst we are grateful to be able to work, learn and live remotely, it is now more important than ever to give ourselves a good digital detox from our screens.

Smartphone Addiction

According to a recent Deloitte survey, we average three hours and 15 minutes a day on our
phones, and most people check their phones a staggering 58 times a day.
By the way, where is your phone now? Are you reading from it or is it right next to you?
Thought so!

Whilst a handphone is a vital tool in our lives, it doesn’t hurt to ask “why” every time you pick up the phone. Googling one thing may lead to a two-hour screen session that
involves checking social media, news and email. After a while, you can’t even remember
why you picked up the phone in the first place.

Beyond that simple question, here are five tips to help you spend less time on your
phone:

1) Turn your phone over

This simple action means you won’t be distracted by any unnecessary interruptions from notifications.

2) Turn off notifications

Better yet, turn off notifications – most apps allow you to do this. Replace
constant interruptions with half hour sessions at the beginning and end of the day
to catch up on news and messages.

3) No phones in the bedroom

Keep your phone out of your bedroom. Get an alarm clock instead. A good clear
head before bed means a better night’s sleep.

4) Remove unnecessary apps

Social media detoxification - If social media is draining your time, then remove the many social media apps from your phone. This way, you can periodically read updates via the website instead of mindlessly scrolling and checking on notifications.

5) Keep track

Ironically there are some fab apps that can help you reduce your phone time.
Mute is a good one: it motivates you to use your phone less, cut time on social media and be more present by setting digital detox goals and sending you stats on your progress with motivational messages to spur you on.