Embrace the Transition of the Seasons with a Digital Detox

As summer comes to a close, vacations end and cooler temperatures creep in; it is easy to feel those post-summer blues. Long summer days are known for disrupting routines and the inevitable reality that follows can be challenging to settle into. However, the change of seasons can be a wonderful opportunity to reflect on your intentions of creating joy and balance in your life and fall is the ideal time for a fresh start!

Embrace the transition of the seasons by taking notice of the natural beauty as summer fades into fall. Get outside and enjoy the crisp morning air and take advantage of shorter days by getting more sleep. The fall is also a great time to pare down your belongings and focus on what brings happiness into your life. These last few weeks of summer, focus on family, fun and play as the transition to new routines can be disappointing.

One of our favorite ways to be intentional about our time is by going device-free. Spending time away from technology allows for more time engaged in physical activity, relationships and teaches us how to live without constant stimulation. Taking a break from technology can also help lower your stress and anxiety levels and quiet mental chaos.

Here are just a few reasons to dive head first into a digital detox:

• The constant buzz of your devices can lead to increased tension and overstimulation. Freeing yourself from the continuous stimulation of text messages, emails, music and social media will allow your mind to wander freely and you can begin to truly experience the world as it is happening around you, not through the screen of your devices.

• Set personal boundaries. Being available to everyone at all times forces you to live according to other people’s agenda. Not answering those late-night texts or emails shows that you are not available at certain hours.

• Increasing productivity. Studies show that employees that rely on technology to do their job actually waste about a third of their day on technology. Disconnecting from the bombardment of words, ideas and activities may increase your own creative thinking and bursts of productivity.

Does just the idea of unplugging give you anxiety? Start slow with a disconnecting routine. Set the goal to disconnect from your devices for one to two hours per day or at least one hour before bed. Use this time to read a book, catch up with a friend or prepare for the next day.

Whatever you have planned for the last weeks of summer, remember to take time to set new intentions, practice gratitude, and surround yourself with people and things that bring you joy.