Have you ever imagined yourself being separated from your smartphone?
No, you don’t need toss it away for good; after all, having mobile devices like a smartphone can be extremely helpful and productive for your studies, work and business.
However, taking a breather from these devices once in a while has its benefits, and the better you are at allocating time for a ‘tech break’, the more enriching and enjoyable your life can eventually become.
Why do we need a tech break?
Being too reliant on our mobile device can impede our mental capability and interpersonal skills, which makes it difficult for us to spell a simple word or ask someone for directions if we are ever without such devices.
Plus, when we consume online content we end up taking more time than necessary as we are distracted by and overly engaged with them.
Therefore, “unplugging” ourselves from technology allows us to appreciate our environment and moments better, absorbing what we witnessed with all of our senses without any disruption.
We’ll also have more time for and focus on ourselves when we put our mobile device aside, be it on leisurely activities, tasks in school and at work, or self-reflection.
And while technology has made us more connected than ever, communicating with people in real life is the best way to develop interpersonal skills and enhance relationships.
Most importantly, the less we spend on our digital devices, the healthier we can become, given that we’ll have more opportunities to do physical, brain-boosting and emotional wellness activities.
A simple yet neglected reason why a technology break matters is safety; we become more aware of our surroundings when we’re not preoccupied with our device, especially when we drive on the road and walk in public.
How can we make time away from our mobile devices?
The idea here is to have discipline, plan strategic breaks, and understand that online information will never disappear, whether you’re on holiday or not.
As such, instead of checking your mobile device every hour, set a few sessions to spend on it.
These sessions shouldn’t affect your school or work obligations, interactions with family, friends or colleagues, and time on yourself.
If you’re having trouble putting aside your mobile device, place it somewhere where you can’t see or feel it, delete apps that are time-consuming, or turn it off when not in use.
And in your daily life, don’t start or end your day with your mobile device for it can affect your routine and biological clock.
There are definitely more tech break options you can explore and clearly taking such breaks won’t be easy but as you begin to “unplug” yourself, the greater your chances of being accustomed to spending less time with your mobile devices.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, published in the print version on Saturday, February 2, 2019.
Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels.
