How to Break — or at Least Control — Your Technology Addiction

For most of us, technology and screens run our lives. Wake up; check the phone. Turn on the television while getting ready for work. Sit in front of a computer for hours upon hours. Go home where a television is playing in the background. Check phone before turning in for the evening. According to Quartz, an average American spends 7.4 hours of their day in front of a screen.

With our lives so heavily influenced by technology, it’s understandable that habits form…and some even go to rehabilitation centers to combat their technology addictions.

So what is it that allows us to feel like we need our screens 24.7? The power of technology is that we have access to all the information we could possibly want—making for endless learning opportunities.

However, being so engaged with technology can make it difficult for us to think creatively. For example, technology can be used as a crutch, to look up creative ideas (that someone else came up with) rather than thinking of new ideas ourselves. At Philosophy, we believe in the importance of taking the time needed to reconnect with yourself, your job and your creativity.

Here are a few easy things you can do to reconnect with yourself and plug back in to your creativity:

1. Take a walk: Go for a stroll without your phone and without headphones. Let yourself hear the sounds around you and observe the world the way it is. This time spent will let your mind wander and reactivate your creativity.
2. Meditate: Situate yourself in a quite place with no technology distractions. Meditating doesn’t need to take long — 15 minutes will give you enough time to realign with yourself and let your mind slow down.
3. Vacation without your computer: This may be difficult for most, but a great way to unplug to is to go a remote location where technology can’t distract you (g. camping in a place that doesn’t have Internet or cell phone coverage).

As a company, we have noticed that when team members completely unplug for a while and then return to the office, their creativity increases, they have a more “go-getter” attitude, and their productivity flourishes. Several studies have supported this theory stating that when employees take time away from the office, they return more productive.

My advice to you: put down your phones, walk away from your computers, and unplug. Your creativity and sanity will thank you.

If you or someone you know is suffering from technology addiction, please visit the reSTART Center for Technology Sustainability).