Do you know how much time you spend each day staring at a screen? If not, perhaps it could be worth it to go ahead and check. Earlier this year, I did just that and was shocked to learn I spent an average of 8 hours per day looking at a screen! 

Before this discovery, I had always thought of myself as a moderate user. Well, it turns out I am! On average, college students spend 8-10 hours per day on their smartphones. Each year, that adds up to a whopping 3,024 hours, which is equivalent to 126 days of non-stop phone use. 

By limiting my screen time using apps like Opal, which block certain apps at specified hours, I have taken note of many benefits. In no particular order, here are five reasons I plan a regular digital detox:

Improved Mental Health

Studies have shown a correlation between heavy social media use and anxiety, depression, loneliness and suicidal ideation. Taking a step away has allowed me to take control over my life and be mindful, intentional, and disciplined. Consequently, I feel a new sense of autonomy, gratitude and fulfillment. In practice, this has come in measures simple as getting out of bed sooner than I would scrolling through a news feed. It means redirecting my boredom towards projects, chores and activities that bring me fulfillment.

Higher Levels of Focus and Productivity 

Not only do phones pose a distraction when trying to work, but high intake of social media and other digital outlets can even lead to the development of a shorter attention span. Since beginning my digital detoxes, I’ve found that I get bored less easily and feel less inclined to reach into my pocket each day. I can now fully acknowledge the beautiful outdoor/palette coloring my walk to each class; from the bright green trees, to the cyan blue skies, to the red telephone booth outside of Brown Hall! 

Better Sleep and Physical Health

While many of us might think of late night phone use as a way to fall asleep to mindless content, phone use can actually interfere with our natural circadian rhythms by exposing us to bright lights prior to sleep. This can lead to a deficiency in melatonin and even cases of insomnia at bed time. In pursuit of a healthier sleep schedule, my digital detox involved disabling my “wind-down apps” like YouTube and TikTok near my bedtime. In doing so, I discovered that I am often much more tired by the end of the day than I ever would’ve realized. My long-time habit of phone time as a means of tuning out my thoughts before sleep was quite likely contributing to my overstimulation and lack of rest. 

Reconnection with Hobbies

Have you ever wanted to learn a new skill, or perhaps dust off an instrument you haven’t played since grade school? Just think about what skills you could develop each day with an extra 8-10 hours! As college students, we often feel pressed for time; yet we waste so much of it. While much of our time spent scrolling is likely in passing, cutting from my daily routine the hour or so I’d spend on TikTok each night has allowed me more time to play my guitar and get lost in Carcassi.

Focus on Real Life Connection 

When you’re focused on staying digitally connected, it’s easy to lose the feeling of genuine connection. Placing a barrier between myself and Facebook messenger, Instagram DMs and Snapchat has encouraged me to get more involved with my own community and feel more immersed. The time I spend with my family, friends and loved ones feels much more enriching when I can fully dedicate my time, energy, and attention. 

Conclusion

Life is too short to waste away the present by living it halfheartedly. I hope this article encourages you to live in the moment and practice mindfulness by limiting what distracts you from it! A digital detox might just be the perfect place to start. 

Apple released the iOS 14 software Sept. 16. iOS 14 marks a new shift in Apple’s interface and has been anticipated by users since its announcement in June. The software update includes improvements to iPhone features and added security protections.

When you update your iPhone, most users will immediately notice that their home screen looks very different. iOS 14 introduces users to widgets which can be small, medium or large, along with display information from different apps such as weather and news. There are also smart stacks, which rotate different widgets to give additional customization.  

Many users have complained that it is difficult to resize and edit widgets on their home screen. Several users have gotten creative with the new update by customizing widgets and app icons with third-party apps. Users also now have access to an app library which creates categories for apps on the last page of their home screen. However, there is no way to edit the categories.

Apple Messenger has also been updated to include new features that give users more options to communicate. You can now pin conversations with contacts so that you can see their actions more clearly such as when they are typing or send a message. Within group chats you can now respond to a specific message so your response doesn’t get lost in the group. This is a convenient feature in big group chats and makes communication easier. iOS 14 also now includes an emoji search bar so you can find the perfect emoji without having to scroll through all the options. 

iOS 14 includes a new notification bar for phone and FaceTime calls. Instead of an incoming call taking up the entire screen of your phone, it now only appears as a banner at the top of the phone so you can continue to use your phone while ignoring calls. Many users have expressed gratitude for this feature and it’s a favorite from iOS 14. Siri also now only takes up a small portion of the screen when activated, compared to previously taking up the entire screen. There is also a new picture-in-picture mode so users can multitask while simultaneously watching videos or taking FaceTime calls.

Apple Maps has new features in iOS 14, such as including cycling instructions in big cities – a convenience for bikers and commuters. Maps also now includes routes for electric cars, showing charging stations. Users can now be alerted for speed and red-light cameras, which is a helpful feature to many drivers.

iPhone users will find the new privacy updates comforting as it allows more autonomy than previous updates. Users now can see a green dot when their camera is activated and a yellow dot when their microphone is activated. There are new app permissions, such as the new approximate location feature in which an app will ask for access to an approximate location rather than a specific pinpoint. This allows users more control when allowing apps to access their location. iOS 14 also now allows you to grant an app access to only specific photos or albums rather than your entire photo album. 

The new iOS 14 update offers Apple users new and exciting features that improve user experience by providing more opportunities for personalization and ease of access. The new notification banners, Message features and multitasking allow for a more seamless and efficient experience. Additional privacy protections give Apple users peace of mind that their data is protected. Overall, the iOS 14 upgrades user experience and provides a breath of change.