I Did A Digital Detox And Was SHOCKED...

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How often do you glance at your phone and then realize that hours have passed because you were consumed with utter nonsense and distractions?

More importantly, ask yourself: What are the emotions and feelings you are left with when that happens?

According to Julie Li, as discussed in the book "Indistractable," co-authored with Nir Eyal, distraction is defined as an “unhealthy escape from discomfort.”.

It involves diverting attention away from tasks or activities that align with one's goals and values due to internal triggers such as boredom, loneliness, insecurity, fatigue, and uncertainty.

Distractions are essentially actions that move us away from what we really want to achieve, contrasting with traction, which refers to actions that move us towards our goals and desired outcomes​

In my last episode, I shared a personal story about my struggles with depression and feelings of loneliness. As a coping mechanism, I often go out and interact with people to escape perceived isolation.

This approach works well initially, as it genuinely allows for real connections. However, it doesn't address the core issue. Eventually, the mind reverts to its default state.

This is partly why I started my YouTube channel. We all have both darkness and light within us, and we can express these in different ways—some healthy, some not. The first step is recognizing this duality within ourselves. For me, interactions with people and traveling the world are expressions of light, love, and hope.

Then there's the darker side. Many people are afraid to look in the mirror and confront it. Ironically, we grab our phones every day, often first thing in the morning, and consume content that triggers anger, fear, pride, and guilt. This is especially evident during election seasons, where one lie after another is specifically designed to provoke these emotions.

Yet, we continue to feed the monster within us with the same toxic content every day.

To me, one of the biggest revelations about spirituality is the fact that our levels of consciousness are directly linked to the emotional states we find ourselves in most of the time, as described in the book Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins.

Therefore, the question really is not whether you get hooked or not but rather to what degree.

3 Tips For Nomads To Prevent Digital Overload

I started my detox at 10 pm last Saturday, and I only did 24 hours of complete detox, meaning I did not even touch my phone or computer. Saturday evening was the only possible date since all my client calls are from Monday to Saturday and I do have a full schedule.

This is hard to do when all your work is on the computer, even if most of it is related to social media and content creation, but it is doable because, essentially, there are 2 types of usage

a) Creation/Work: meaning when you create something, such as writing, organizing or stategizing. Anything that produces a measurable outcome or product of your attention.

b) Consumption: Consuming content online isn’t a bad thing per se; in fact, consuming the right content is actually very much needed for learning, inspiration and growth.

The problem is that when triggers we don't notice seize our attention, a strong current sweeps us away like leaves, and before we know it, we are hours downstream.

1) Blocking off the first 3 hours of the day:

If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is watch the newest Biden gaffe, Trump tweet, or foolish feminist being destroyed on YouTube before doing the crucial work and writing down your priorities in the morning, you are essentially sending a message to your subconscious mind that your goals and dreams don’t matter that much.

The longer I wait to pick up my phone in the morning, the better and more productive I feel throughout the day. I realized I've long underestimated the impact of setting the tone of the day on how the rest of it unfolds.

A great morning routine is essential to setting you up for a win.

Reminding myself that Instagram and Youtube do not want me to have a great day is one way to become aware.

Not only am I feeling a lot calmer and more relaxed, but I have also been very vigilant to not engage in mindless swiping and it only takes a few moments to put it back on the table.

2) Complete Detox once a week or month

How often do you have a feeling of wonder and appreciation for the things around you? I remember, as a child, having this all the time. A smell, a sound or just the sense of inner peace.

You know, when times stands still and you are just content with your surroundings,

No matter how fleeting these moments may be, they are an expression of joy, and they can only occur when you are present and not distracted by the illusion of time in the past or future or, worse, a distant conflict that is not even yours.

Setting aside a day a week or once a month can help you come back to the present and get rid of this false sense of doom and urgency. Just like on a plane, where you need to secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others, prioritize your mental health first to effectively help those around you.

My personal favorite activity for those “digital-free” days is doing nature photography

3) Indulge Consciously:

Think of social media and content consumption like eating cake. Enjoying a piece here and there is fine, as long as you do it consciously. This means knowing how much cake you're eating and when.

With social media, this translates to scheduling specific times, like 60 minutes a day, and sticking to it.

Just like keeping track of your cake intake, measuring your screen time is a game changer. It brings your habits into your awareness, allowing you to make deliberate choices. By indulging consciously, you protect your mental space, enhance your productivity, and stay focused on your goals.

Thanks for reading, as always!

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Roman

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