The online world brings us all closer. However, we do frequently find ourself reacting to what’s going on around us rather than taking a proactive part in building the life we want
For instance, do you ask yourself if you are doing everything needed to take care of yourself? Physically / Mentally / Emotionally / Spiritually.
In the online world it is easy to get distracted by something another person is doing. it does end up putting a kind of a pressure on you to do things a certain way. React a certain way. Like comparing where you are.
In doing so, we forget one thing: our lives have unique purposes. There is perhaps a unique path for all of us but yet we choose to get distracted or diverted by what other people are doing.
A detox for instance is key when we feel that we aren’t finding time for something we feel we are meant to do , on the other hand we are giving more time to scrolling on instagram or FB.
What is a Detox for Mental Illness?
A mental health detox is when you take a break from an activity that distracts you from your real purpose or from something that keeps you healthy and fit. A mindless activity might be looking at other people’s posts on Instagram..
Like when you are on a vacation, you can completely detox.
While I need to be on Instagram for my business, I’ve made a pledge to myself to go on a digital detox whenever I go on vacation. This not only allows me to enjoy my vacation and stay in the moment, but it also benefits my entire mental health long after I return home.
Detoxification’s Advantages
Any time you feel like a process or a relationship has become unmanageable in some way, it is okay to take a break. You can inform your family or friends and they surely will understand.
A detox might be from your smartphone / your work devices / a person or persons and so forth. It is beneficial for those who have conflicted feelings for someone or who need space to evaluate how a particular connection (person to person or person to object) is affecting their lives. Taking a step back from a connection of this kind can help you obtain a better understanding of what’s going on.
Detoxification’s Difficulties
Taking a step back from something that has taken up a lot of your time and space might be difficult.
For example, you may be aware that idly scrolling on social media is bad for your health, yet it may feel like an acceptable method to detach, zone out, and unwind after a long day. For some people, giving up that can be unsettling, unfamiliar, and terrifying.
What drives mindless behaviour like being on social media
a. FOMO- Fear of missing out on all the information that social has to provide. or a boyfriend who if not there , would apparently make us feel alone and vulnerable
b. Quick dopamine, instant gratification
Similarly, even when I know it’s in my best interests in the long term, it’s been tough for me to cut ties with someone. Removing yourself from a relationship, even if it feels like it’s what you need to do, still signifies change, and change may be uncomfortable for many individuals, according to O’Neill.
How to Detox Effectively
In most cases, detoxing feels like an all-or-nothing proposition. I either have a glass of wine every night for happy hour or I don’t drink at all. I either spend hours scrolling through social media or don’t engage with it at all. Either I’m best friends with someone or I’ve severed connections with them.
Instead of completely withdrawing yourself from social media, you can focus on taking a more thoughtful approach to the activity. Setting aside 10 to 15 minutes per day for social media and then not checking social media for the rest of the day could be one way.
Instead of completely removing someone from your life, simply set limits on how much time you’ll allow that person to occupy in your life.
Getting rid of a bad habit
Self-love and learning to prioritise your own wants and aspirations are two of the first stages in changing an unhealthy habit. Spend more time with yourself: Practice perhaps: reading books, listening to podcasts, or watching Ted Talks instead of mindlessly scrolling around social media.
It’s not always simple to do what’s best for your mental health. It necessitates difficult decisions, honest reflection, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. But if you can trust yourself and feel empowered to get the detoxes you need, you’ll be astonished at what fresh opportunities await you on the other side.