For smart de-addiction

With digital devices such as smartphones, i-pads and laptops becoming an addiction, digital detox is becoming relevant day by day.

Abstaining from using digital devices or completely shutting them down is being seen as an important aspect to understand the real world from the virtual one. Digital detox is found to rejuvenate the body and mind and gives one a chance to fully live in a world rather than make make friends over the Internet.

Addiction to digital devices

Dr Hari K. Boorugu

Like drugs and alcohol, digital devices too are an addiction. An average person spends more than half of their waking hours on digital devices.

Since people multitask on mobiles, concentration span is reduced. It’s a big distraction at work place and may result in poor productivity. It also affects social life as many are on their mobiles checking messages and updates as soon as they reach home and tend to spend less time with family.

Digital device addiction is becoming a major problem and a lot of offices and work place have turned off the social media “button” to avoid distraction.

Dr Hari Kishan Boorugu, consultant physician at Apollo Hospitals, explains, “Digital device addiction leads to stress, eye-strain, pain in the neck, shoulder muscles and fingers. In severe cases, people are found to suffer from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. Once the person is put on detoxification drive, restlessness, irritation and boredom is bound to happen. But once they are out of this phase, they are found to relax as the mind is on the path of rejuvenation.”

38% addicted to mobile phones

Dr K. Srinivas

A recent survey shows that more than 38 per cent of Indian population are using digital devices highly — with the largest traffic on mobile phones and tablets.

People are hooked to these devices for an average of eight hours per day. This kind of addiction leads to insomnia, irritation, anxiety and mood swings.

Dr K. Srinivas, consultant neuro and addiction psychiatrist at Maxcure Hospitals, explains, “Spending too much of time on social media is found to promote narcissistic behavior. Children who are exposed to too much of social media are found to be less empathetic.”

For children and teenagers, parents must have a rule of two hours of study and 20 minutes of social media.

Working adults too must switch off their mobile phones for 24 hours once in a week. It has been found that weekends and holidays are the best time for digital detox and friends and family can be informed that you will be away from email and smart phones on these days, which will ensure complete relaxation.

De-link and De-stress

Dr K. Shiva Raju

Digital detox is required to improve concentration, memory, productivity and to reduce stress. There is a lot of stress building up due to excessive use of digital devices where the people are reacting too fast or rather too quickly at both social and personal levels. Given these kind of ‘knee-jerk reactions’ it is becoming important to de-link.

Dr K. Shiva Raju, senior consultant physician at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, explains, “It is important for parents to spend more time with their children; this can be done at one of the digital detox sessions. It helps to improve human relations. At the same time, many religious places do not allow digital gadgets and that is also  a good way to keep away from them for a few hours in a day.”