Unplug From The Matrix...I Dare You!

Did you know that according to a 2019 digital survey almost 60% of the global population spent almost a staggering 7 hours online EVERYDAY! If we allow roughly 8 hours a day for sleep, that means we currently spend more than 40 percent of our waking lives using the internet.

In our never ending quest for automation and information we can end up living our lives being constantly switched on. Our brains become so wired and active that we can sometimes loose our ability to decipher what the world was like before the immediacy of almost everything that is now available online.

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The majority of life online is not the real world and the more you consume it, like any addiction you will loose the ability to get back to your normal peace of mind. I am not saying social media and the online world is bad but like all things you need a healthy balance and also time away. If you eat junk food everyday with no exercise you are going to get fat, if you work 60 hours a week every week of the year with no rest you are going to burn out.

After having suffered from major bouts of mental ill health over the last couple of years I have had to take time out, unwillingly at certain times but I felt that it was really important to force myself to unplug from the matrix in order to check back in with reality and give myself time away from connecting, communicating and collaborating with no real human connection.

What this gave me was the ability to recalibrate my mind, body and soul so that I could think and see my life with more clarity. You see I believe that if you don’t give yourself time to stop and take a technology detox it becomes an addiction.

Ask yourself a question when was the last time you switched your phone off and went off the grid for a day? What do you think would happen if you decided to switch it all off for a little while so that you could connect with just you!

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With all this in mind here are some simple yet highly effective ways in which you can take time out from technology and prioritise time for yourself.

1. Technology Amnesty - Find some time everyday or once a week to turn off your devices so that you can spend time doing something that you enjoy. It’s sounds simple because it is all it needs is your commitment. Tell your family and friends what you plan on doing so that you don’t get interruptions or people freaking out because you have gone of the grid. Maybe it’s something the whole family can do together, imagine if once a week you all switched off and went for a walk, or had dinner and talked or even played a board game, what have you got to loose.

2. Social Media Hiatus - Every three months or so I say goodbye to my online community and let them know in am taking time out. I delete all my social media apps and detox from that world. It’s a great opportunity to explore other passions and actually I find that after a couple of days I don’t miss it at all but I am glad to use the free time to explore other passions. I know this sounds radical but honestly it so good for my soul and it creates space in my life for new ideas, thoughts and innovations.

3. Do Not Disturb - So most smartphones now have the ability to set times on them when you don’t receive calls or notifications. I try and stick to a set routine that my phone goes on DND at 9pm. I also make sure I use this time as my time to relax, journal my thoughts, watch a movie but basically unwind in preparation for bed. Every morning I get up and do my daily devotional, spend time with God, try and exercise and not look at messages or social media until after 8:30am. The ability to switch off gives me a better nights sleep a focussed start to the day and most importantly also allows me time for myself.

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7 Day Challenge

Doing something new will of course take commitment but for those that know me well, know that I get my source of strength from God who has transformed my life in so many ways .There is a beautiful piece of scripture in Romans 12:2 which is based on the renewing of our minds so that we can be transformed by God.

Are you trying to make a change in your life but feel constantly distracted by outside and online influences if so then I want to challenge you to read this scripture passage everyday for the next 7 days and do one of my top tips above. In your pursuit to be your whole self, unplug from the matrix and prioritise yourself so that you can be your best self.

Stay Blessed

Ax