13 Tips To Celebrate National Day Of Unplugging 2022

On the first Friday of March every year, the National Day of Unplugging is celebrated, and this year it will be observed on the 4th of March. On this day, people unplug themselves from all devices for 24 hours.

Digital platforms sustain 21st-century life, and we are highly dependent on them. From watching the morning news on TV to scrolling social media posts before going to bed, we have become addicted to it. According to Pew Research, an average American family has 5 connected devices.

Today the internet, news, distant family, entertainment, education, work, etc are at our fingertips. No doubt technology is filling the gaps of the present generation.

Why Is Unplugging Essential?

Work is important, but you also need to disconnect, to unplug at times, in order to be even more concentrated when you do work.
– Massimiliano Allegri

Digital platforms have detached us from our surroundings, be it with nature or human connection. Most importantly, it is responsible for our deteriorating mental well-being and health. Also, one of the common problems every other individual is facing today; stress. Technology which is also used as a medium to de-stress is actually the problem in itself.

Modern-day technology has made our lives easier, but it is also responsible for sleep deprivation, distraction, and other health issues. So, getting a digital detox has become as essential as sipping green tea in the morning.

Besides, technology and social media affect human bonds on a personal level. It is also responsible for hampering one's overall health and well-being. According to an APA study, 65% of people somewhat or strongly agree that periodically "unplugging" is important for their mental health. And, 28% of those who agree about the importance of detox report doing so.

Related: 5 Advantages of Digital Wellness For Employees And Workplace Wellness

On this National Day Of Unplugging, connect with loved ones from sunrise to sundown and take a tech-free outlook towards life.

Why Take A Digital Detox?

Exchange your online distractions for real-life devotion.
– Wendy Speake, The 40-Day Social Media Fast: Exchange Your Online Distractions for Real-Life Devotion

Technology has no doubt simplified our lives, and it interrupts our concentration at work. And, depending too much on technology disrupts the body's natural rhythm and patterns like digestion, sleep, and immune health. As a result, it leads to unproductivity, absenteeism, burnout, affecting our engagement at work, and more.

Top family physician Dr. Strohman says, "We have built a dependency on always being connected to our phones because now we can access the internet, our banking, our music and so, so much more. They have become our whole lives and so there is a fear to ever be without them. This fear then leads to stress as we always have a need to feel attached".

Read: Social Media Detox: All You Need To Know

Benefits Of Unplugging

1.Disconnecting from digital mediums will boost mental and cognitive wellness.

2.It will help you engage yourself in more physical exercises like running, swimming, cycling, jogging, and more and less on screen.

3.By unplugging, you will find more time to amplify your intellectual well-being.

4.It will also escalate your spiritual wellness by composing your energy level, spirit, and soul.

5.A digital detox will help your eyes relax and be more mindful of your time.

Read: 71 Spiritual Wellness Quotes To Rekindle Your Employees Absolute Well-being

Some Fun facts

• According to a study by Dscout, smartphone users average tap or swipe their phones about 2,617 times a day.

• A Pew Research Center study found that 70% of adults sleep by their phones. And 77% of people own a smartphone, and they carry them wherever they go.

• Around 3.5 billion people use social media worldwide, averaging 3 hours per day viewing posts and messaging.

• Throughout a lifetime, time spent on social media sites averages about five years and three months for the typical user.

13 Tips To Celebrate National Day Of Unplugging

On this day, people revive their vibrational energy and motivate themselves to stay connected to their spiritual well-being. So, take a break from attention-hogging devices and recharge their mind, body, and soul. Try to heal, understand, connect, and appreciate things, and the people around you.

We get sucked into the Internet and streaming information, and it's time to unplug and look within.
– Jonathan Cain

Here are the best ways to celebrate National Day of Unplugging -

1. Go Offline

Unplug from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., to unwind. Go offline and engage in some real-time activities. Plan for a team lunch at work or a family dinner at home.

Read: 51 Negative Thoughts Quotes: Uplift Your Employees’ Motivational Level At Work

2. Focus On Yourself And Retreat

Try to take up a self-care routine and focus on your health and well-being. Indulge your time in some self-pampering and relax.

Related: 81 Self-Motivation Quotes To Balance A Perfect Professional And Personal Life

3. Exercise

Find some time to exercise not just on this particular day but every day. If you haven't started, make resolutions to dedicate 30-45 minutes in a day to your physical wellness.

4. Meditate

Try 15-20 minutes of mindfulness meditation, be it in the morning, at work, or before you go to bed. Meditation drains depression, anxiety, and stress, and it also helps one relax and stay calm.

Related: 13 Mindfulness Meditation Exercises To Improve Your Employees Well-being

5. Walk Into Nature

Why not visit a garden or park and spend quality time with nature. Develop positive emotions by taking a mindful walk and revive your spiritual energy.

6. Treat Your Eyes With The Blue Sky, Sea, Or Mountains

Fridays are for fun. This coming Friday, make it mindful by taking a short trip to unplug. Spend some quality time with yourself and retreat your eyes, mind, and soul.

7. Drink Plenty Of Water

Staying hydrated all day is crucial. Drinking plenty of water in a day increases energy levels and relieves fatigue. You can also try water challenge to boost your energy.

8. Practice Gratitude

Being grateful directly impacts one's mental and behavioral health, contributing to overall well-being. Practicing gratitude every day will reduce dependence on technology and help us rejoice in life and things around us.

9. Laugh

Laughter is the best medicine to soothe tensions. Therefore, find time to enjoy and share jokes and laugh with your friends and family. It enhances mood and helps build better connections with colleagues, family, and friends.

10. Put On Your Favorite Work Outfit

Elegance is elimination.
– Cristóbal Balenciaga

Put some humor into your style and let the productivity flow. It is not just about the impression you make with your dress but also the personality you carry.

11. Set Your Limits

Setting the boundaries is important. It teaches self-discipline and helps re-establish rules and priorities in life. Set your limits to succeed and achieve your goals with consistency.

12. Read To Relax

Reading has a lot of benefits, and cultivating the habit of reading 2-3 pages a day contributes to one's overall well-being. It improves your skills, intellectual wellness, critical thinking abilities, and vocabulary.

13. Be Mindful And Stay Positive

Negative news and information can impact positive thinking. Unplugging from technology once a week is crucial to avoid digital distractions and remain mindful.

Being tech-savvy has a lot of advantages but also disadvantages too. So, find a balance between enjoying real-time life engaging activities and technology.

Final Words

We’re plugged in 24 hours a day now. We’re all part of one big machine, whether we are conscious of that or not. And if we can’t unplug from that machine, eventually, we’re going to become mindless.
– Alan Lightman

National Day Of Unplugging aims to elevate human bonds with the real world and not the reel life. We often forget to look at what's within, how we feel, or how we link to our inner selves in our day-to-day hustle and bustle.

Although our phones have made it easier to stay in touch with our friends and family, the real fun is always sitting together, sipping some good wine, sharing food, having face-to-face conversations, while rejoicing in the bonds.

Taking a break from technology, including the phone, laptop, video games, TV, etc, is vital. So look within and understand technology's positive and negative impact on our lives. This 4th of March 2022, celebrate this National Day of Unplugging and relive life to the fullest.