Neuro Exploration: Delving Deeper into Self-Awareness
Day Twenty: Digital Detox
Let’s consider why we need to digital detox:
Dopamine and Screens:
Every notification, like, and message triggers a release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.
This constant reinforcement makes it challenging to tear ourselves away from screens, as we become hooked on the dopamine rush.
Resetting Our Reward System:
Practicing minimalism with technology use can help reset our dopamine reward system.
By consciously reducing screen time, we allow our brains to recalibrate and find balance.
Remember, a digital detox allows you to destress, rejuvenate, and reestablish real-world connections. It’s about reclaiming time, redefining priorities, and resetting digital boundaries.
Exercise
Unplug from screens, unplug from everything. For a while.
Question
What neural correlates are involved in mindfulness? Reflect on brain regions activated during meditation.
Spend some time disconnected from technology and reconnected with the world around you. It’s worth it.
This was a great short post, Rachel. I think it comes down to ACTUALLY doing the act of unplugging. To sit away from devices even if it is for an hour a day. This post acts as a motivator. I might go away, on a walk, or to do the dishes, or to simply meditate perhaps. Thank you for this. My question to you is this: is there anyway to do this for a prolonged period of time without any relapses or without it being SUPER hard? I write about a similar topic and hope to gain some knowledge from an actual doctor. I'm wondering if it's at all possible to switch back to an older way of functioning, using phones only to connect to real life friends, to build community. How do we use the internet in a more healthy manner? Any habits or practices you suggest? I think one practice may be to begin your day AWAY from ANY device. Read, meditate, make coffee, make breakfast, all away from devices for the first couple of hours. This sets context for the rest of the day, and has proved (at least in my case) to be very valuable in reducing cravings and relapses of going back on Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube and losing hours and hours of my time in addition to my mental health.
Once again, great post! Looking forward to more content!