How to do a Digital Detox: A Practical Guide based on my 6-year Journey

I’m sharing steps which I followed from 2020 in my Digital Detox journey. It helped me reclaim focus and I got time to do what I wanted to do!

You can go through the steps and pick the one which you think is most easiest. And then adopt others one by one. I can promise you it’s a great journey towards mental health and the destination is peace :)

Step 1: Bye bye to Notifications. No sound, no light.

I turned off notifications from all shopping apps.

Then, from social media apps like Instagram and LinkedIn.

Finally, turned off notifications from WhatsApp messages.

Only normal calls, WhatsApp calls, normal SMS will make sound and show alerts.

Step 2:

Bye bye to WhatsApp Group Chats.

At first, I muted most of the groups. Yet, it consumed my time everyday.

I eventually sent a polite message to 37 groups and exited from it. Many of them, both friends and family appreciated my move towards Digital Minimalism :)

Now, I’m only part of two groups which is of my family, to share pictures and updates.

Step 3: Bye bye to Reels & Shorts

I never click on Reels tab on Instagram. It’s too addictive, because it’s too difficult to not watch those entertaining videos. But it’s a time-killer, and most importantly energy-drainer, damages your brain!

Step 4:

Bye bye to Channels.

I’m only part of one WhatsApp channel which I check everyday. It’s from my favourite content creator / climate champ Sailee Rane.

‎Follow the Times of Climate Change channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7eatWLCoWsCuCc8D41

Since I don’t watch news, this is the only content which helps me stay updated about Climate Change, both good stories and bad ones. It also helps me with understand stats which I can share in my public-speaking sessions about sustainability.

Step 5:

Setting Screen-time Limit to Social Media Apps

I was spending 1-2 hours on LinkedIn, thinking it’s a “productive” platform. But 2 hours is too much.

So screen time limit of 30 mins each for LinkedIn & Instagram.

Most important factor — You shouldn’t know the password to bypass the limit. Let your partner or parent set the screen time passcode.

So that you can’t use the app once you cross the time limit for the day.