After the pandemic, many people have become dependent on their devices. This could be because they have become an integral part of many individual’s work life as well as their personal life. It could be how one communicates with one another or how they complete a task using their devices. Various factors have contributed to this happening, but this has led to many having addictions to their devices which is unhealthy. Staying on devices for prolonged periods have serious implications on one’s mental health including having sleep disorders, being more prone to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression and pushing people to be more aggressive than usual.

Does this mean that one should completely stay away from their devices? No, not at all. There are several benefits of being digital a person can stay connected with their distant family through their devices, and learning has become more inclusive due to various applications like Youtube, KhanAcademy, and Bjus etc, people are finding ways to entertain themselves using their devices and many more benefits of staying digital. To maximise the benefits that one gets from being Digital is to follow certain rules so that one avoids getting an addiction as well as help one avoid any repercussions by being digital.

Here are certain things that one must do to have Healthy Digital Habits:

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1} Digital Detox:

Digital Detox refers to when an individual does not use their devices/ technology for a set period. In this the individual goes out to seek physical interactions like talking to a loved one, engaging in a hobby or just spending time in solitude. One should ensure that they set some amount of time regularly in which they stay technology-free. This could help one connect with their life beyond their devices/technology.

2} Reminders on your devices:

Most devices offer features that can help one go technology free as well as help understand their digital habits. These features could be inbuild or could be easily accessed by downloading them or on a website.

Few of the popular features that devices often offer include are:

- “Do No Disturb “Mode:

This is usually an inbuild feature. In this a device mutes all the notifications that a device is getting. This is beneficial as people tend to quickly look at their device when they hear a notification from their devices. This helps in managing how often a person picks up their device.

-Screen Time Tracking:

In this a person can often track how often they spend time on their devices. It also detailed description of how much time have they spent on all the applications on their devices. This can help one understand which application they use often and how they can control it. There also settings where one can set a timer on applications that they seem to spend most of their time.

3} Practising Mindfulness:

Practising Mindfulness in forms of taking breaks while working and using that to practice mindfulness is helpful. Mindfulness helps one relieve the sensory overload that one might experience while staying on devices for too long. Moving away from one’s device and closing eyes and focusing on one’s breath can help one in feeling calmer and help them relieve stress.

4} Setting Boundaries:

Setting boundaries is also important while using technology. One should communicate to their coworker, family and friends that they won’t be responding to any form of messages for certain periods. This helps in not only setting boundaries for digital use but also sets boundaries for one’s workplace as well. If one informs their boss that they won’t be responding to any mails during their vacation, they have effectively communicated with their boss their boundary, and this allows them to present for their break.

Digital wellbeing has become one of a more important concern for overall wellbeing of an individual. Setting boundaries limiting screen time and mindfulness are some of the ways that can help in having a healthy relationship with devices.

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Here is a test that you can use to see if you have an addiction to social media:

Diagnostics

If you want to find ways to improve your relationship with devices, you could also consult a professional:

Mental Health Professional