How To Go On A Semi-Digital Detox

Don’t panic, we’re not asking you to ditch your phone altogether...just take a break from it. Here’s your guide to semi-digital detoxing.

- Joshua Joynes

When your mobile phone makes an appearance everywhere, from your desk to the dinner table, and you feel twitchy without it, that’s a pretty big red flag that you have a problem. But you’re not alone. A third of us admit to feeling stressed without our mobiles, which we apparently now check, on average, once every 12 minutes. Gulp. That level of plugging in can be physically taxing too, with medical experts now recognising ‘tech neck’ as a bona-fide condition. But the biggest impact is definitely still on our mental well-being, with social media overuse linked to ever-rising levels of loneliness. Our gadgets can add a lot to our lives though (helping us not get lost for one thing), which is why a short break can do wonders for your health, happiness and efficiency levels. Here’s how to switch off...

GET FIT GADGET-FREE

Keeping tabs on your steps or heart rate can help boost your performance, but the strategies below can allow you to home in on how you’re moving, what muscles you’re using, and how you actually feel—which can ensure proper form and reduce the risk of injury, says Joel Martin, an assistant professor of body movement at George Mason University in the US.

TAKE THE TALK TEST

Throughout the warmup, you should be able to speak in full sentences. When you ratchet your workout up to medium, talking will be difficult. During hard intervals, you should be able to say a word or two (or a few ‘erghs’), says Janet Hamilton, Founder of Running Strong. No heart rate monitors necessary.

WEAN YOURSELF OFF THE WATCH