Key Points:
Indian millennials are experiencing stress, anxiety, and poor sleep due to constant connectivity, leading many to explore digital detox practices to regain balance.
Techniques such as mindfulness retreats, social media breaks, and digital-free workspaces help young Indians reconnect with themselves.
Despite challenges like FOMO and job demands, the digital detox movement in India is gaining momentum, making it an essential aspect of mindful living.
We live in a time where phones have become an essential part of our everyday life. We wake up to a series of emails, WhatsApp messages, Instagram notifications and many more. Everything blends into a continuous digital haze, from memes to work meetings and news updates. However, Indian millennials are starting to get exhausted due to this nonstop online existence. Side effects of excessive screen time are anxiety, trouble concentrating and poor sleep patterns which are on a rise these days.
Many young Indians are trying a number of easy yet sustainable techniques to unplug, realizing the impact it has on their life betterment. It is not about cutting off the technology forever but about becoming more mindful of how to use it. It helps us to slow down our pace and re-establish a connection with ourselves. It serves as a liberation from checking the phone every few minutes.
One can also take one step at a time by making smaller changes like ‘social media-free Sundays’ and ‘no-phone evenings’. There are apps available these days like “Forest”, that help people track their screen time and form better digital habits without feeling burdened. Many are even opting for co-working spaces with digital-free zones which increase productivity and creativity dramatically. This helps one focus more, getting work done without constant notifications distracting them.
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Even clinical psychologists believe that it is important for people to go on a digital detox, as it helps enhance their focus, habits and general mental health by resetting their body overall. One can feel a growing sense of disconnection from the present moment and chronic stress if they are constantly connected. She further clarifies that this is not about rejecting technology but about learning to use it purposefully.
Obviously, it is not easy to adopt a digital detox. People worry about missing an important work message or falling behind socially, which is often termed as “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out). It has become essential these days to be available on WhatsApp or email as a part of job requirements. Furthermore, some have even argued digital detox to be a luxury accessible only to those who have the time and resources to take a break. Nevertheless, the movement is gaining momentum despite these obstacles.
According to industry analysts, India’s wellness and digital detox market is expected to grow by 25% over the next three years. It was once thought to be an extreme practice but has, over time, become an important aspect of young people’s self-care. It is not about quitting the use of technology but preventing it from having control over you.
The Younger generation are rediscovering connections with themselves in a more refreshing way, in a world full of instant updates, limitless content and algorithmic cues. The digital detox is a mandatory change towards living intentionally in an era where being connected does not always equate to fulfilment, making it more than just another trend. [Rh/SY]
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