DIGITAL DETOX

The topic “how to find peace of mind and happiness” is very offbeat with the theme of this site but I found it very relevant in current scenario and I hope you will also find this useful and will be able to relate yourself.

How to find peace of mind and happiness, the easiest way to find the peace and energy- DIGITAL DETOXIFICATION.
Toxic, the term refers to something causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious, in simpler terms a poison. So how does the topic digital detoxification justify itself? I request you to read till the end to derive a better conclusion.

The poor section are still in the survival struggle, which is very sad. But as you go just above that tier we are the most comfortable generation in terms of the amenities we have. We miss someone just a call apart, want to eat something just a click away. But are we the most joyful or satisfied generation yet. Or in other words, we are the most stressed generation. The stress is not coming from the reason that we have everything but from the fact that our expectation from life has changed. Our perspective about life has changed.

Yes!!! The Internet is a reason for it.

I refrained from using the word “Culprit” because of the negative sense it imparts. It is not the mistake of internet technology, it is meant for knowledge and information but at times we overload ourselves with unnecessary information we are even not able to comprehend. Humans were always social animals but social media has changed the equation. Now we are social media animals. The social association is somehow missing now.

Our activities are drawn not by our ends but trends. We click images to keep the memories intact but how many times we see that pics again. The worst scenario is when people are sitting together but are engaged in phones, they are the same people who feel lonely and later blamed that society has changed. Funnier fact is people click and share their daily routines, regular food following celebrity trends. The harmful effect of all this comes when people start comparing.

The”Comparison” is the prime reason….

“Too many people are hungry not because there is dearth of food. It is because there is dearth of love and care in human hearts.”
― Sadhguru

The major reason for most of the stress, jealousy and all the negatives vibes generating in today’s time is comparing. The lifestyle we see over the internet we believe it to be true but you never know what the reality is! People traveling to exotic locations regularly, eating out, having parties. Many people were earlier too, but no doubt not in comparison to present times. Not necessarily seeing all this you wish for the same but unknowingly we generate a scenario in our minds that we could lead a better life. Consciously we are smart enough not to compare our lives with others but our subconscious doesn’t understand the realities of the modern world. It slowly keeps on building its likes and dislikes. This is the long term creates that restlessness.

“If you want to change the way you feel, change the way you live.” – Gaur Gopal Das

In some time we also develop a habit of checking our phones, media accounts or just read some news. Some people derive a feeling that reading news is enhancing knowledge but ask yourself again. Does it? Or the news we are reading are lots of events having no direct impact on our lives but just making us more arguing, scary of the society itself. As a new parent reading so much news about child abuse I am worried about my child as soon she is out of sight. Well, society everywhere is not rotten but the news we see leaves us worried and stressed, also unnecessarily suspicious. And there is a difference between being alert, conscious and being suspicious. It is the same as being a positive and negative approach. The overflow of news is making people politically oriented.

The bluelight from our devices hinders our sleep pattern. It is recommended for a good sleep to not use digital devices 2 hours before sleep. Read more

Story continues…..

The worst usage of cell phones new generation has derived is to keep the kids engaged. The justification for this is given as videos being the learning tool. As per WHO the screen time, such as watching TV or videos, playing computer games is not recommended at all for kids less than 2 years. For full report read  . In the long term, it kills a kid’s creativity and is a major reason for psychological difficulties irrespective of how active children are. 

People try to create an outwardly perfect life, but the quality of life is based on the inward.-Sadhguru

So where is this Blog heading?

Am I suggesting stop using social media or the internet? No!
Before writing this article, how to find peace and happiness, I practiced a week of total Digital Detoxification. To see that even is it feasible to live in today’s time without the “internet” and what are the difficulties, what is the level of difficulty. Let me give a brief about how my lifestyle is, so you can relate to it and don’t feel that I am going all impractical.

Brief intro….

I am a regular employee of a respectable company, deal with payments so I get regular calls from various vendors and concerned people. I have this site to manage, and for its social media, I manage two Instagram accounts and a Facebook page. As a new mom I keep checking the net for advice on my baby health and day to day activities.

It was Diwali week and no I was not busy with household activities to make it a reason for not using my phone. I was not stressed but not peaceful either with my daily routine. I was not looking for a sense of peace like a Monk (though I do now). So I decided to give the routine a break. We went to my In-laws place that happens to be a small village, thanks to perfect competition between telecom operators network is everywhere now. Because if I am doing something compulsorily that won’t is having the same effect as an act done willingly. It was a seven-day trip, and for all those 7 days I didn’t connect the internet.

“Self-discipline is about taking charge of your mind and directing it to act in the best interest of yourself.” – Gaur Gopal Das

After the first two days, I didn’t feel like checking my phone now and then. For calls, I activate only for 9 to 6 that’s my office time, as we can’t avoid official responsibility. fortunately, I didn’t receive any calls as I told my parents about my experiment and most of working people were on leave. My parents and close friends could have contacted me at my husband’s cell when necessary.

So what I was doing to spare my time?

I spent most of the time playing with my baby girl as during office we have limited time together. It was a great time together to be cherished for lifelong. That was also my family time. When she was asleep I was free. I did home chores more efficiently and happily. The time saved from unnecessary scrolling was far more than I estimated it to be. Using that time I completed two books. Life’s Amazing Secrets by Gaur Gopal Das and Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy by Sadhguru. I feel that I was able to connect more to the words of the book more and understand the teachings deeply. I felt that peace I was looking for a long time.

We had a short family trip to a nearby tourist spot Nalanda. And as part of total digital detoxification I have no pictures of the trip but we made lots of memories. Not to lie I missed taking pics. But we explored the place to the very last spot, not just the picturesque places.

“Awareness is life. Life is awareness. There is no other way to be.” — Sadhguru

My personal results…

This exercise spread over a week just helped me to get rid of the habit of continuous unnecessary scrolling, the inflow of undesired information and above all saving of money in tempt shopping. The best part was just sitting and chilling with not knowing what’s happening out there, because mostly that doesn’t affect me.

So what I am trying to communicate via this blog??

“You’re just an imitation of what is around you, it’s just that you don’t imitate one person; you take bits and pieces of hundred people and make yourself.” – Sadhguru

Don’t use the internet? Don’t use the cell? OR Don’t take pics?

Please NO. I am not saying any of this I wanted to give some practical insights via this piece of article. After a week of this detoxification which was primarily meant to change my habits and insights from the wonderful books. Yes, mobile and the internet are practically a necessity in today’s world. Its the use that should be judicial.

Watsapp a prime source of communication today is also a dump of viral, fake videos and news. Do we need that? Do we need to see where others are traveling or what your NRI friend is eating? Until unless the moment or achievement is very special does the world needs to know what’s happening in your world? Does anyone care what your views are, or how do you feel or think? How many of the tips or recipes you see online you use regularly, or you are stuck with mom’s recipe?

By judicial use, I was simply referring to judge our acts before doing.

• Have you uploaded some useful or appreciable stuff or just did to match social media goals.
• The news you are reading will effect knowledge, acts or decision, if yes go on reading.
• Have I spent some quality time with friends and family or at that time also I was scrolling through feed and pages.
• While reading my digital book or useful blog are you getting distracted and jump to another unuseful piece. If yes shift to a paperback.
• The screen time you are having is affecting your sleep routine.

If you simply ask these questions to yourself and make a schedule for the internet whether it is using your social media accounts, reading and replying to messages, exploring the net for something new you will see that you are saving so much of time and gain a peace which can only be experienced not be described. If you are feeling you are going to miss an important message, the answer is NO! The one who has work from you and who cares will call definitely. Rest stuff is waiting for you to check them up, they are not going anywhere. Go on with your scheduled time.

“The most beautiful moments in life are moments when you are expressing your joy, not when you are seeking it.”
― Sadhguru

The title of this blog “How to find peace and happiness” gets its answer here,

• Discipline, which initially toughest thing to do but after a time you even don’t need to do anything. It comes in your system like respiration this brings peace.
• Learning, if you follow your discipline you will be left with so much time for learning which generates energy in your life. It brings you happiness nothing material can ever provide.

Since I was practically able to apply these two mantras I find it much useful for everyone to experience and apply, though I have a long way to go. Reading gave me the necessary insights I was looking for for a very long time. I made my sleep routines, health routine, and the most important screen time check.

After I was back in my normal routine first thing I did was to make a routine. For everything, with the practical scope of flexibility. Being disciplined is just about time its also about manner of dealing with the situation, which is of utmost importance in current time. I allocated time for all the activities practically necessary for survival in the current time and optimized the same.

For maintaining my energy I embraced meditation, Surya Namaskar in my morning routine. And a weekly internal body cleansing schedule (as for me sticking to daily diet was impossible).

Last few words…..

To conclude this I would strongly recommend practicing total digital detoxification for just 3 days minimum. Also, I would suggest reading Life’s Amazing Secrets by Gaur Gopal Das as it is very relatable in the current scenario. Also Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy by Sadhguru a book for a further deep outlook of life. I continued my reading habit with The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (yes! have not read yet). Make a routine that best suits you and you will be able to carry on in the future.

Spend a week, day or afternoon, whatever you can handle without any technology and live in the real world. Listen to the chirping of birds instead streaming. See the open sky and trees swaddling instead of scrolling, go to meet a friend or family instead of liking their pics. When you get back to your phone and PC world you will notice that world didn’t stopped or changed because you turned it off for a while. There is probably nothing to stress about.

Be peaceful, be happy.

“If all your energies are focused in one direction, enlightenment is not far away. After all, what you are seeking is already within you.” — Sadhguru