International Stress Awareness Day takes place this year on the 7th of November. It provides the opportunity to promote the importance of wellbeing and stress reduction. The theme of this year is to examine the impact that technology has on our wellbeing.
This focus comes at a time when our relationship with technology is increasingly coming into question. It could be a challenge to find a way to balance the hugely positive impact that technology has on our lives, with protecting our mental and emotional wellbeing. Our ‘always on’ and connected world means that the lines between work and home life are increasingly blurred, with the result often being minimal downtime.
We are suggesting 4 strategies to use if you find yourself struggling to switch off from technology.
1. Technology replacement
It might sound obvious, but sometimes it might get challenging to stop using technology for a while mindfully. We would encourage to set some “free time” and get involved in activities that allow your mind to wander and think creatively.
2. Don’t walk and text
This is a frustration most people face when they walk down the street and people bump into them because their face was buried in their device. However, at the same time we are all guilty of doing this. You could set this a personal goal, not to use your device while walking and mindfully walk to your destination.
3. Switch off notifications
In the contemporary struggle for concentration, it feels like notifications constantly demand our attention, which could get exhausting. By turning off push notifications, you are in control of your phone versus the other way around which is proved vital to maintain mental health. We are suggesting to go to your settings and manually turn off notification from social media and apps, leaving only DM alerts and texts.
4. Talk to your friends
Have you ever witnessed a group of people sitting together and all being on their phones? A strong network of friends and family members is an enormous buffer against stress. When you have people you can count on, life’s pressures don’t seem as overwhelming. Therefore, set your time with friends and family as a priority and limit the use of any technology devices while being with them.