Let’s squatter it most of us are fond to technology and know we are, but these tools are moreover integral to trendy life. That’s why it’s important to manage our relationship with glowing screens in healthy ways.

The good news is that you can reuse your power over your electronic devices by taking a few simple steps. Below are my top tips for a digital detox.

Don’t Watch TV on Your Phone

I’m not going to tell you to stop watching television, but I am going to tell you to transpiration how you watch it. Constantly looking lanugo at your phone places tremendous stress on the body.

According to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, “The typical sultana throne weighs 10-12 pounds, but limp it forward at a 45-degree wile — not unusual when looking at a cellphone — increases the value of gravity on the neck to nearly 50 pounds.” There’s plane a special name for the aches and pains that can develop as a result: Tech Neck.

In addition, a recent meta-analysis suggests these musculoskeletal problems can have a negative impact on mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and mood disturbances, among other things. That’s why, when you want to watch a movie or TV show, it’s weightier to use an very TV. This setup will enable you to sit when and relax in a well-appointed chair or couch, ensuring that you aren’t straining your neck.

Be Intentional Well-Nigh Your Screentime

Have you overly reached for your phone with a specific question or task in mind only to discover that you’re still scrolling 10 minutes later? Many people wind up spending increasingly time on their phones than they intended.

That’s why it’s helpful to set limits on how long you want to be on a given electronic device. By setting starting and ending points, you can be intentional well-nigh your usage of technology, which will reduce passive engagement.

In particular, I recommend staying yonder from screens while eating. While distracted, you can miss your body’s signal that you’re full and overeat. You moreover won’t taste what you’re eating, which diminishes pleasure. Watching television at mealtimes has been associated with greater weight, and studies plane show your metabolism slows lanugo while watching it.

Walk Yonder From Online Conflict

We’ve all gotten into arguments on social media, so by now, we all understand why they’re a bad idea. If you’re overly tempted to engage, remember it’s weightier to steer well-spoken of these fights for your own peace of mind.

To do this, wilt enlightened of your triggers. When you find your temperature rising in response to a post, take a second squint at the subject matter. Note why it upset you and alimony that in mind for the future.

Moreover, if you find yourself getting triggered on social media, it’s largest to log off than to take the bait. Call upon your favorite self-care practices to wifely down.

Take a Breather

People love their electronic devices and often turn to them to relax, yet studies show they unquestionably make us finger overwhelmed, stressed and anxious. Constant exposure to screens has plane been linked to peepers and suicidal tendencies. We do not often symbol these mental health issues to our usage of technology, however.

Even when engaging in tech activities that make you happy, therefore, it’s important to take breaks. Get up and go for a walk. Plane just going outside for as little as five minutes can help reset your brainwaves and recover.

Be Present

Going to dinner with a stage or friends? Take your pictures and selfies, and then put your phone away. The point of socializing in person is to interact with your company, not the virtual audience.

In addition, by focusing on the people in front of you, you can connect with them largest and improve your relationships.

Turn Cameras off

While video conferencing platforms like Zoom and FaceTime seem to unshut magic portals to afar places, they can moreover be nonflexible on our eyes due to exposure to undecorous light.

These interactions moreover phlebotomize the brain. According to an vendible in Psychology Today, “Our brains do not perceive video conversations as normal. And the mental energy it takes to pretend we’re having a normal conversation exhausts our brains and negatively impacts our mental health.”

That’s why it’s a good idea to consider turning the cameras off and only using audio on these calls.

Protect Your Wellbeing

Your wellbeing is your most valuable possession, so don’t let technology dethrone it. By unescapable your phone and other electronic devices with intention and setting towardly boundaries, you can stop pixels from hijacking your smart-ass and with it, your future.