Turning Your Down Into Up: Tech Detox [BOOK EXCERPT]

No thorough examination of whole-person living would be complete without attention to one of today’s biggest threats to balanced living – our tech-intensive lifestyle. Almost every waking moment, we are either in front of or within arms’ length of one of possibly numerous tech devices. From smartphones, to laptops, to iPads, our attention is chronically drawn somewhere else, perpetuating a way of living that is difficult and dangerous to sustain.

Physically, our frequency of use of all these tech devices takes a toll. Your neck, back, and wrists suffer from working on a computer all day. Your physical activity is naturally limited when the focus of most waking hours is in sedentary positions in which the predominant motion involves your fingers. And your overall health is proven to be at risk from exposure to cell phones which have been proven to be carcinogenic.

Mentally, our tech-intensive lifestyles promote increased levels of multi-tasking. After all, the more devices you have to connect with, and at increasing speeds and improved functions, the more you can accomplish. Of course, that is the irony of it all. The same devices intended to simplify our lives only serve to make room for us to squeeze more to-do’s onto the list. 

Relationally, all the connecting we’re doing online is only further disconnecting us from the people who matter most – our family and friends. Physically, we may be present – at meals, in the car, or just hanging out at home – but most of the time, you or someone with you is on a tech device. Chances are the goal is to strengthen an online relationship – on Facebook, text, or email. Meanwhile, we’re actively ignoring the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with loved ones right in front of our faces. 

If any of this rings true for you, it’s time to take action. You need not disconnect completely, but merely be mindful of your actions, experimental with changing them, and flexible with how you envision your tech-time in the future.

The above is excerpted from Turning Your Down Into Up: A Realistic Plan For Healing From Depression by Dr. Gregory Jantz.