Digital Detox Strategies

The beginning of a calendar year is always a great time to reexamine lifestyle choices and make intentional decisions that enhance personal wellbeing and support relational and career goals to create an all-round wholesome experience as a launchpad into the year.
This journal is an exploration of some strategies that can be easily applied to get away from the noise and distraction of our digital-led lifestyle and embrace more balanced and sustainable practices.

Nature Getaways

Nature getaways are a fabulous way of balancing body and mind while still enjoying the comforts of contemporary luxuries. Pack your suitcases, ditch the devices and head to one of the several pavilions of nature spread over the world, from Mallorca to Aruba. Enjoy nature retreats with guided meditation sessions, spa treatments, sound baths, nature treks, and many more equalising effects of being in unspoiled nature.

A Different Way to Listen

Music is a unique medium in that it affects mind-body-spirit, creating a 3-dimensional experience that not too many others can mimic. The notes that reverberate the most with our inner selves are, sadly, eclipsed by an attention span that is incapable of savouring the magic that our souls so desperately long for. This is why vinyl players were created. Let loose to the sacred (or cheeky) rhythms of your tunes without the distractions and responsibilities of an inter-connected tether. Simply choose your record, set the pin, and sway your way into wellness.

Let Nature In

There's no arguing the overwhelming rewards to a life lived in proximity to nature. Research has shown that even short exposure to nature has significant positive effects on mood regulation, boosting cognitive abilities, reducing stress and anxiety, and aiding physical wellbeing. With this stack of benefits it is a fantastic idea to spend time in nature whenever possible, especially at the start of a new year, whether that be through a brisk walk through the city, visiting a botanical garden, or setting up your own terrarium. Embrace the new year with the deliberate rhythms of a nature-connection, and your mind and body will thank you for it.

Scentual Therapy

Try a low-pressure approach to self-therapy through an olfactory curation of your favourite scents. This simple aromatherapy practice can work through flowers and herbs, diffusers, room sprays, candles, essential oils or any other scent sources that you love. Simply put down the phone, turn away from digital devices and expose yourself to the scents of your choosing for an uninterrupted period of time, taking care to be really conscious of what you're smelling and the effects it is having on you. This is a grounding technique, and one whose effects outlast the moment of practice. It's an interesting way to practice intentional consciousness.

Planned Recreation and Relaxation

No longer shall recreation be an afterthought. As you go into the year, ask yourself: What activities do I really enjoy? What could I do for hours without interruption? This will provide you with a good starting point for your planned recreational activities. In a world that urges us to live a life of performance, planned recreation and relaxation are soul-affirming activities which, when worked into our routine, will make our life moments that much weightier and memorable. Plan an exciting sequence of exciting activities that bring you joy, and let them crescendo into your favourite things at the end of the day/week. For example, you could choose to visit an aquarium, then read in a cozy little cafe for an hour, and wrap it all up with a visit to that spa you've had your sights set on.

Move your Body

The human body is at its best when it is in motion. Hiking, dancing, playing sports and swimming are all activities that have been proven to have a balancing effect on mood, digestion, respiration, agility, strength, and so much more; not to mention the meditative effect of engaging in a dedicated physical activity. Appreciating that the weather in most places still has some bite to it, and not everyone has the same levels of physical activity, this journal is to warmly encourage you to get in your most suitable clothes and get your body moving. Even a 5-minute walk has vast benefits over sedentariness. Intentional moments of body movement is a sure way to begin the new year with healthy habits.