Self-Care Monday: A Guide to Going Off-Grid

Learn to unplug

The internet is amazing. It really is. But it overwhelms us. How many times have you almost hit a car because you were checking your Instagram feed? Not to mention – we still don’t know how our internet behaviour is going to affect us long-term…

 

So just to be on the safe side, it’s important to take a step back every once in a while, mentally check out, and do something new. Because our mind needs it, because we are a generation that created self-induced stress and invented a new disease: the infamous FOMO. Time to get your digital detox on.

 

For this Self-Care Monday, why don’t you just disconnect? Really, just turn everything off. Read a book, apply a mask, take a bath, go for a walk, meditate, write a letter, build or create something? Try it and send us a thank you email tomorrow morning!

 

As for the rest of the week, Mille gives you 5 (very easy) things you can do to minimise your all-consuming data addiction.

 

1. If you don’t have the luxury of being able to turn off your phone and go completely off-grid, you can still do what I call a ‘light detox’. Simply turn off push notifications for all your social media applications. You’ll be surprised how little you go on your phone when you can’t tell who liked your most recent photo.

 

2. Meditate, even for just 15 minutes—it’s actually very easy. Lay in bed, put your headphones on, go to YouTube, and type in ‘guided meditation’. Everyone is different when it comes to the type of meditation they enjoy, and the good thing is that there are so many you can choose from online.

 

3. We don’t like to admit it, but we all like to sleep with our phones within arm’s reach (if not right under our pillows). But here’s a wild idea that will help you unplug: buy an actual alarm clock. This way you can keep your bedroom tech-free, and you won’t have any excuse not to leave your phone charging in a different room.

 

4. Sign up for a class. Take a cooking lesson, paint, or learn a new language. Immerse yourself in something new that doesn’t require you going on the internet.

 

5. Don’t use your calendar just for important events or appointments. Schedule work and leisure time in there too, and treat those time blocks the same way you would any other scheduled event. This way you can complete all your tasks without distractions and have time for guilt-free relaxation.

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