"Digital Detox" - It's time to detox from digital technology
When you’re no longer bound by constant screen taps, you’ll find that the empty spaces once filled with social media are now spaces for self-discovery. They’re places where you can cultivate growth, open the door to new passions, or rekindle joy in forgotten ones. Instead of feeling constrained by emptiness, you’ll see it as an opportunity to live a richer, deeper, more meaningful life.
Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. We spend hours – sometimes unconsciously – on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Twitter, getting sucked into the endless stream of online content. But this raises an important question: “Am I losing touch with the real things that made me happy before social media?”
It’s a hard truth to face, but a necessary reminder. We’ve become so consumed by the convenience and allure of the digital world that we sometimes forget the simple joys of real life. If you’ve ever considered taking a complete break from social media—for example, deleting certain apps from your phone for at least a week—you might notice unexpected changes.
The endless void that social media quietly fills
When you delete social media apps from your phone, the first thing you notice is the huge amount of time social media has taken up. What once seemed like an automatic action—picking up your phone to check your messages or scrolling through your timeline—now reminds you that the apps are gone. And then you’re faced with the question: “What do I do now?”
In the early days, you may find yourself checking your phone repeatedly, a deeply ingrained habit. This reflects the powerful impact that screens have had on our lifestyles. According to global statistics in 2023, the average American spends about 7 hours and 3 minutes a day on a screen – not a small number, and certainly not without consequences.
A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction warned of the negative effects associated with excessive smartphone use. The results showed that usage time exceeding two to three hours per day can cause a series of problems such as: Cognitive impairment, slower learning, low self-esteem, increased symptoms of mental disorders,...
Social media distracts you from the things you really enjoy.
When you have a huge amount of free time, your first instinct may be to return to hobbies that were once fun – reading, playing music, painting, or doing crafts. But when you try to indulge in these activities, you suddenly realize that they no longer bring you the same joy or ease as before.
A 2016 study in Computers in Human Behavior shed some light on this phenomenon. It found that internet addiction and excessive screen time are closely linked to anhedonia—the loss of pleasure from activities that we once enjoyed. In other words, social media not only distracts us from the things that really matter, but it can also slowly erode our ability to enjoy them.
Social media and the internet are more than just tools for connection; they have become powerful “dopamine generators,” constantly tapping into the brain’s reward system. But what’s remarkable is how they work—quickly and superficially, delivering short-term pleasure without requiring much effort or engagement.
If you, like many people, spend a lot of time on your phone, a digital detox will make you more aware of how dependent you are on those instant gratifications. Over time, this dependence can overshadow the joy of other activities—especially those that require patience and effort to complete. Try rereading a thick book, playing a piece of music you once knew by heart, or taking on a complex craft project like knitting or woodworking. These activities, once a source of great inspiration, may now leave you feeling tired, bored, or even dissatisfied. And chances are, you’ll instinctively reach for your phone in search of a quicker, easier boost.
Don’t be too quick to blame yourself or think your hobbies have become boring. In fact, the more you rely on online activities to get your dopamine hit, the harder it is to find joy in offline experiences. This is the biggest trap social media sets: it steals our attention from things that are truly meaningful and rewarding in the long run. It’s easy to mindlessly scroll, but it takes a lot more effort to engage both your hands and your mind in a real passion. This says nothing about your personal values or your interests. The problem is that the more we get used to getting instant gratification from online activities, the harder it is to find joy in experiences that take time and patience.
You can totally live without social media.
The first few days of your digital detox journey will be tough. You’ll face boredom, emptiness, and sometimes frustration when the silences drag on. But if you persevere, there will come a moment when everything changes: you finish a book, complete your first scarf, or create a piece of art you’re proud of.
Of course, it’s unrealistic to completely eliminate social media from our modern lives—our jobs, relationships, and the myriad of information we need often revolve around it. But instead of letting social media take up all of our free time, we can proactively choose how to use that time more meaningfully.
As you complete your digital detox, you don’t have to completely deny yourself the pleasures of scrolling through social media, watching funny videos, or connecting with friends online. But realizing that you can live well without spending seven hours a day in front of a screen will change your perspective. It reminds you that the world out there, even on the most ordinary day, is full of worthwhile experiences.
Photo: Vogue, for_everyoung10
