The 4 Main Health Benefits Of A Digital Detox
The 4 Health Benefits of a Digital Detox
The digital detox is becoming more and more popular for people who spend so much of their time on devices. It can be hard to realize just how much time we spend with digital objects. When they aren’t the center of attention, like a TV or our cell phones, they provide background music, instructions while driving, directions when trying a new task, etc. Digital devices are quite integral in our lives and some people are starting to feel their negative effects. Dr. Phillips chiropractor explains how a digital detox could be the next best thing for your health.
We can all feel a bit overwhelmed at times by the seemingly nonstop notifications, emails, texts, buzzes, and rings coming from our phone that we keep with us at all times. Unlike past generations, people expect to be able to get a hold of their friend or colleague at any time without any or much delay. This can be quite fatiguing and can wear on our mental health.
What is a Digital Detox?
A digital detox is taking an extended period away from all digital devices. That doesn’t mean just not looking at your phone while you have it on the table at dinner. It means completely turning off and putting away any digital tools. A true digital detox means turning off any and all phones, tablets, computers, and televisions for at least 24 hours. This may seem impossible, but it can become accomplished if you take baby steps. Smartphone withdrawal has been shown to be an actual condition with real side effects for some people. Turning our phones on airplane mode and sitting where there isn’t any TV during dinner is a great first step.
Benefits of a Digital Detox
It may be hard to step away from your favorite show, stop checking email, and seemingly ignore your friends for a while, but there are true health effects to increasing your time away from digital objects a Dr. Phillips chiropractor can attest to.
Improve Spinal Health
Spending time at our computers and our phones puts us in a stationary position, typically with poor posture. Looking down at our phones puts our neck in an unnatural position, and sitting at a computer typically results in extended periods of slouching. These poor postures can have a significant impact on your spinal health. Over time, it can become more and more difficult to use proper posture because you have made lasting damage to your spine and the surrounding tissues. This damage can result in pain and discomfort that may require physical therapy or chiropractic adjustments by a Dr. Phillips chiropractor to remedy. Taking a digital detox will dramatically decrease the time you spend extending your neck to look down. While it’s possible to hunch while reading or completing another task in a sitting position, not being so distracted by the television or cellphone can help make you more aware of the discomfort of improper posture.
Increase Exercise
Not only do electronic devices damage our posture, but it keeps us sedentary. A decrease in physical activity in a world where it already takes effort to do anything physical is not helpful. It’s recommended to get 20 minutes of physical exertion a day on average. When the most exercise you get is walking to and from the car and the couch, adding in sedentary distractions such as a cell phone and television can take over the little spare time you do have that could be spent exercising. This has especially impacted children, as they increase their time on video games and television and spend less and less time on physical play. A great way to increase physical activity for both children and adults is to place a limit on how much down time can be spent with digital devices. Only allow yourself 15 minutes of mindless scrolling on Instagram each day and instead take a walk. Pry your kids away from the game console and get them playing with the poor under-exercised dog. If your children see you constantly on a digital device, they are very likely to mimic that behavior. A Dr. Phillips chiropractor recommends leading by example and going on a digital detox.
Sleep Better
It’s recommended to give yourself at least two hours of technology-free time before going to sleep as the screens can interfere with your brain’s ability to rest. Most of us keep our cellphones in bed with us and are the last thing we look at before closing our eyes and the first thing we go to when we wake. Using technology in bed, especially right before going to sleep can disturb your sleep quality and result in needing longer shut eye to get the same amount of rest. Sleep is extremely important to your overall health and a lack of quality sleep correlates with all sorts of physical maladies, such as heart disease, dementia, depression, and diabetes. We’re all as busy as can be – wouldn’t it be great if we could shave off some of the time we need to spend sleeping?
Decrease Stress
By taking a digital detox, you are telling yourself that you don’t need to be on call for your friends and work at all times. It’s important to remind yourself of this when we are all so connected digitally. Coworkers may be able to see when you’re online, and you may be conscious of the perception they have of when you are doing work. Friends may be able to see your location at any given moment and may expect to hear back from you within a moment of contact. It’s important to spend time away from your digital devices and take a moment for yourself. You aren’t required to be available for work and friends at every moment. Be a little selfish and let yourself just exist in the moment. Additionally, looking at the way other people present themselves online can lead to unhealthy comparisons that can lead to feelings of depression and lower self-esteem. Take some time to realize that what people put online is extremely contrived. From the advice of Dr. Phillips chiropractor, doing a digital detox can help put some perspective on what’s reasonable and real.
Speak to a Dr. Phillips Chiropractor to Learn About the Various Chiropractic Treatments You Have
There are many daily habits and behavior that affects our well being in negative ways. Taking a digital detox can benefit your health in many profound ways but if the damage has already been done and you’ve suffered spinal and back pain as a result, it’s time to speak to a Dr. Phillips chiropractor to learn what you can do.
Chiropractic Care Near You
Mauricio Chiropractic have been providing expert chiropractic care in the Orlando area for decades. We serve in nine different locations including; East Colonial, Winter Park, Pine Hills, Downtown Orlando, Conway, South Orange Blossom Trail, Poinciana, Dr. Phillips & Melbourne. If you’re in need of chiropractic treatment, or want to unlock your body’s true potential, make an appointment with one of our esteemed doctors now. You can also enter your email below to receive more information.
We provide advanced spinal correction utilizing “state of the art” chiropractic techniques. Never in the history of chiropractic have we been able to provide the level of help and expertise that now exists. These newer correction methods are even safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before. As Doctors of Chiropractic,Our Team has years of training and experience in spinal adjustment.