We’ve all heard of the process of detoxing, whether you’re doing that as part of a diet, or as part of recovery, the benefits of detoxing can be major and life-changing. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling the heavy emotional hangover from the past year, and though it is so important to stay in touch and keep up with everyone’s life and the news, I’ve been wondering if being on social media and in the digital world for this long is good for my mental health and well-being.

Reducing our use of technology can immensely improve our physical, emotions, and spiritual wellbeing. Digital detoxing is the act of halting the use of (or at least limiting) technology: devices like smartphones, computers, and TVs. You may be thinking that this is too drastic for the 21st century, but the change doesn’t have to be intense or immediate. There are ways to ease yourself into digital detoxing, and here they are:

Set time limits and boundaries

Instead of going cold turkey, which may be impossible due to the fact that most of us work on our computers, you can schedule technology-free hours everyday. A small example: staying away from your phone during meal time, and not using technology an hour before bed.

Using technology with purpose

So you notice how you reach for your phone when you are feeling anxious or bored? How about you don’t? Instead of avoiding the feeling, and reaching for the easy solution, maybe you can use that time to wash a dish, take a shower, or go for a walk.

Setting physical boundaries

If you have trouble putting down your phone, you can store it in a different room to make it harder for yourself to access it. Hide it away, and bask in the joy of practicing self control.

Enjoy non-digital activities

And there are many: cooking, cleaning, dancing, jump rope, writing, reading. Let your imagination run wild with what you can do outside of the digital realm. People have done it in the past, and so can we!