New Year, New Tech Habits

Every New Year is an opportunity for reflection and self-improvement, often seen by the overflowing number of new people at the gym. The gym is great, don’t get me wrong, but diving into a new environment can be daunting for most. Instead, it’s much more effective to change small parts of your daily routine to help positively impact the quality of your life in the long run. Something that everyone can focus on this coming year is to “digital detox” and reap the benefits that come with it.

I’m not trying to refute that technology has brought us to a new age of connectedness and information. From a touch of our fingertips, we can tap into a sea of knowledge, with worlds of discoveries that can be made each day. We can FaceTime our friends and family around the world at ease, play games that let our minds travel to different dimensions, and watch videos that keep us entertained for hours on end. However, everything must be done in moderation, as excessive use of technology disconnects us from the real world and can have unintended consequences. 

Carol Vidal, MD, Ph.D., MPH, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains that immoderate use of technology can lead to a deprivation of sleep, exercise, and socialization. Moreover, some research has stated that increased use of technology is associated with issues in attention span, emotional intelligence, and brain development. To battle these issues, a study was conducted in 2021 to understand the effects of a social media detox, and the majority of students who participated found positive outcomes in terms of mood and energy levels.

So, in our screen-dominated world, where computers are a central part of our daily lives, how can we commit to a digital detox? Well, the most effective way is to take periodic, scheduled breaks from technology. Having specific times during the day when you are not on your phone can refresh your mind and give you a period of relaxation. Instead of looking at your phone, take the opportunity to stretch, go for a walk, and chat with friends. Think about lunch, where the vast majority of students are watching videos or listening to music instead of talking to their friends right next to them. Do yourself a favor and get to know more about your classmates by putting the phone down, disconnecting your AirPods, and starting a conversation instead. 

But self-control is hard. However, technology is so smart that we can use it to block itself. I’m sure most students are familiar with the Screen Time function but are not using it effectively. Addiction is a real problem, and sometimes setting up your phone to limit certain apps may be the only way to handle it. On your computer, there are Chrome extensions like Forest or StayFocusd, which can help you stay on task, limiting the amount of time you spend looking at a screen.

Start a digital detox this New Year, and see how long you can last. I hope all of you can bear with it and stay happy during this time.

El-Khoury J, Haidar R, Kanj RR, Bou Ali L, Majari G. Characteristics of social media 'detoxification' in university students. Libyan J Med. 2021 Dec;16(1):1846861. doi: 10.1080/19932820.2020.1846861. PMID: 33250011; PMCID: PMC7717533.