Four Ways to Refocus Your Life in The Digital Age
There’s no better time than the present to refocus your life in the digital age. Olympic Medalist and Ranch presenter, Bonnie St. John, believes you can refocus your energy by closely managing the way you spend time with technology. She suggests that high-tech lifestyles filter into our daily lives outside of work, especially via our phones, which leaves us virtually having no “time off.” While it’s wonderful to be in touch with friends and loved ones, it can also reach the point of being overwhelming.
In our careers, answering emails can get in the way of actual work. Yet when the day ends at work, does it really end? When we put our phones down, how long will it be before we pick it back up again? It’s up to us to create boundaries with the technology that sometimes seem to take over our lives. Technology isn’t going away, so we need to draw the line on what we consider a healthy intake of media. Here are some tips to help you set boundaries around technology:
- Create set times to check your email.
Bonnie suggests focusing on one thing at a time. Whether you check email once in the morning and once in the afternoon, or during last ten minutes of every hour, stick to set times to check your inbox.
- Stop multi-tasking.
This tip from Bonnie inspired me. I used to frequently to multi-task in order to get things done in a timely matter, and as a result I felt exhausted and foggy. Recently I changed my habits. Now I finish one task before moving on to the next, and I have found that I don’t feel as anxious or tired at the end of my day.
- Have a bedtime for your electronics.
A couple of hours before you go to bed, say goodnight to your email, Facebook, and Instagram, and instead read a book or listen to music. Constantly flipping through emails or checking social media can leave you feeling anxious before bedtime, can interrupt sleep, and may leave you tired in the next day. In the morning when you wake up, give yourself an hour before reaching for your phone. Let your mind and body awaken naturally.
- Take frequent breaks.
Though it may make us “hard workers” to work on something until our eyes hurt, it’s not beneficial for our health or well-being. Is it really worth it in the long run? Taking a couple minutes to get up and walk around is not only beneficial for our physical and mental health, but it helps us focus more intensely and longer.
These simple tips can help us attain better focus while living a balanced life. It may take some adjustment to implement these new habits into our lives, but in the end, they will leave us feeling more energized and clear-minded.
