First 24 Hours of Mind Detox

Mind detox is cleaning ourself from any distractions that would diminish our mental clarity and focus, including thinking and focusing. The distractions can manifest as social media engagement, short-form videos, playing games, listening to music, engaging in unproductive conversations or debates, among other things. It depends on what the person is easily distracted to. Many of us are deprived from solitude.

Starting yesterday, I tried to eliminate all distractions from my life. This meant abstaining from social media, no games, no music, no watching shorts. It sounds extreme especially because we’re living in a busy modern digital world.

Cal Newport, in his book Digital Minimalism, states that being able to disconnect from the digital world is a crucial skill that people overlook. While it is true that social media benefits us with connection with others, this often comes at the cost of fostering addiction. Furthermore, numerous studies suggest that constant connectivity may lead to increased anxiety and stress.

My observations during the initial 24 hours:

• Sharper
• More creative
• Clearer mind

At the cost of:

• Emptiness, no scrolling, no watching
• Lonely, disconnected from the digital networking
• Anxious, leg shaking a lot

I used to quit social media for a whole month and this feedback is normal. Our mind need to be recalibrated to not depends on the phone to seek pleasure. After few days, we typically begin to feel better and gain independence from what previously confined our mind.

In addition, social media is free to use. But nothing is actually free in this world. When something is free, you are the product. They hold your data. You are giving your time.