Welcome to week 1 of the Digital Detox Challenge!
Let’s dive into this weeks daily challenges….
Day 1 – Stop Using All Digital Devices At Least 30 Minutes Before Bed
Our cell phones, tablets, computers and other electronic gadgets have become such a huge part of our daily lives that it’s often hard to put them down— particularly at bedtime.
Taking your phone or tablet to bed may not seem like a big deal, but these digital devices do affect your sleep in more ways than you realize. Whether you’re scrolling through Facebook or watching YouTube videos going to bed with your devices is impacting the quality of your sleep.
To make sure technology isn’t harming your sleep, today’s challenge is to stop using all devices at least 30 minutes prior to sleep, and instead choose an activity or a series of activities that will calm your mind and your body.
Here are my top 6 activities that I enjoy doing 30 minutes before bed.
1. Journal. Do a quick audit of the day. Write down 3 things that went well today and what could have been better. Acknowledging what went well each day keeps you from dwelling on what went wrong. Taking a moment to see the good in each day also helps you appreciate the progress you are making. This takes five minutes, max.
2. Write down your to do’s for tomorrow. There is huge value in getting a clear sense of what tomorrow looks like before the day ends. A clear and concise to-do list for the next day ensures you wake up with a purpose, and sets your mind at ease — you won’t toss and turn, worrying about what you need to do the next day. You wrote it all down, so you can relax. Your list will be waiting for you in the morning.
3. Take a hot shower or soak in a warm bath. The purpose of bedtime routines is to relax and de-stress. On nights when you need extra help relaxing and calming down, a hot shower or bath can work wonders.
4. Spend time with someone close to you. Taking the time at the end of you day to talk with someone who matters to you
is great way to de-stress, reflect, and recharge.
Talking about what’s going on in your life is a key part of developing deep and lasting relationships. Find time to connect with your partner, children or pets. Knowing that we are loved and cared for calms us.
5. Meditate. Meditation allows our minds to find peace amid our chaotic day. Meditation gives space and perspective to calm those racing thoughts that rob you of a good night’s sleep.
6. Use essential oils. Research shows that essential oils can provide relief for disrupted sleep and can improve sleep quality in both adults and children. Lavender and Frankincense oil are my personal go to’s for sleep and relaxation. You can add oil to your bath, use a diffuser, make your own mist and spray around your bedroom, or on your pillow and bed sheets. Yes can also apply to the body directly.
Tonight, put down your devices, choose a relaxing activity and enjoy a goodnight sleep.
Let me know in the comments below what non-digital bedtime activity you enjoyed tonight. I look forward to reading your comments.
Remember, our devices are a gift that connect us to so many people and so much information, but they do not have to harm our all-important sleep. We need to control our devices, rather than letting them control us.
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Day 2 – Download a “STOP LOOKING” Wallpaper For Your Phone
Such a simple solution to help you stop obsessively using your phone to fill any unoccupied moments throughout your day.
Do you find yourself checking your phone whenever you have a few idle seconds?
For most of us our cell phones have become a strong magnet for our attention. It’s an amazing tool, and I love being able to easily look up information, share pictures, and stay connected.
But this habit of grabbing for my phone during those spare moments throughout my day is a habit I want to break. How about you?
If so, download one of these images and save it as your phone wallpaper.
I’ve already noticed a big difference since using them.
Which image will you download? Let me know in the comments. Include a screen shot of your new phone wallpaper and earn double points.
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Day 3 – Make it a Tech Free Toilet Day
There’s a good chance you’re reading this post on the toilet. A recent study recorded that 90% of people bring their phones into the bathroom. Are you one of them?
If so, today’s digital detox challenge is to stop taking your phone into the bathroom.
Whether you’re sneaking to the bathroom for a moment to yourself at work, when you’re home with your kids… or when you’ve really got to go, you need to give yourself a second to actually relax. You’ll notice a difference in how you feel when you head back to what you were doing (and it’ll be easier to go…lol).
Your brain desperately needs a break.
And if that’s not reason enough to stop browsing through your phone while sitting on the toilet, do it for hygienic reasons. There’s more growing on your mobile phone then you think…eeekk!
Instead of scrolling Facebook or catching up on emails, close your eyes, take a deep breath in for a count of 4. Hold for a count of 7, then exhale for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle 3 times.
This 4-7-8 breathing technique was developed by Dr. Andrew Weil. It’s based on an ancient yogic technique called pranayama, which when practiced regularly can help soothe a racing heart, busy mind or calm frazzled nerves.
Reconnect with your body and your breathe on the toilet today, instead of your inbox, and let me know in the comments how this goes for you and tag a friend to have a laugh with…lol
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Day 4 – Don’t Scroll Through Your Phone for the First 15 Minutes of Your Day
Do you find yourself waking up stressed out or tense before your feet even hit the floor?
Just like checking your phone before bed didn’t seem like a big deal, checking it when you wake up is a small habit that will also take a toll.
As a busy woman or Mama you’re always doing for other people and constantly being pulled in a million directions. And that can start as soon as you open your inbox or read your first notification.
Giving yourself time in the morning to check in and see what you need and want from the day is a powerful way to OWN YOUR DAY, instead of the day owning you!
Today’s challenge is to create and enjoy a 15-minute morning routine that nourishes you, BEFORE you pick up your phone.
Here’s what mine 15 minute morning routine includes…
- Warm lemon water
- Tarot card reading
- Meditation
- The 5-Minute Journal, which includes gratitude writing, intention setting and affirming my daily affirmations
- Scripting out my daily to do’s in time blocks
Visit today’s Facebook and Instagram stories to see how I incorporate these (plus, a few others), to create a beautiful morning routine that kick-starts my day from a place of peace, productivity and happiness.
Then as part of my 30- minutes of non-tech time before bed I use my 5-Minute Journal again and review what went well that day and what could have gone better.
I LOVE how these AM and PM practices support my personal goal of living an intentional life.
Do you already have a morning routine? If so let me know in the comments what it looks like…bonus points for sharing a picture!
Or, if your goal is to start incorporating a 15-minute morning, let me know what your plans are in the comments. I can’t wait to read all about it.
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Day 5 – Keep Your Phone Out of Hands Reach in the Car
Are you reading this at a red light? It may be hard to admit, but a lot of us do check our phones while in the car. If that sounds like you, today’s detox challenge is for you.
Let’s replace this dangerously distracted driving habit with a safer and healthier one.
Our time in the car is usually a transition. Going from home to work, or from work to getting your kids then home again.
Instead of allowing yourself to get caught up in emails, notifications, and worrying about your to-do list, give yourself time to regroup.
Use the time alone in the car to think about what you need to do for yourself, what you need from the rest of your day, and check in with your intentions for how you’re showing up.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
How do I want to feel when I arrive at work?
What kind of mom or partner do I want to be when I arrive home?
What am I grateful for today?
How am I feeling right now? What do I need?
What have I agreed to do, that I don’t want to do? Who can I ask for help?
What caused me the most inner conflict and stress today? What can I do differently tomorrow?
What gave me the most joy today?
What do I need to let go of?
Is my smartphone / social media usage serving my highest values today?
Taking what I like to call “power-pauses” throughout your day to check-in with yourself can play a key role in your personal growth and well-being.
The unique value in questions is that your brain has to answer; it can’t leave shit hanging. It could be a day, two days, a week; a response is going to come. Consequently, they can inspire you to take action to address the unhealthy habits in your life.
One main intention behind this 30 Day Digital Detox Challenge is to help you disconnect and reconnect with more of what you need to be healthy and happy.
If you’ve been enjoying reconnecting with yourself more over the past few days of the challenge, keep an eye for a special announcement next week. Your self care routine will thank you! xo
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Day 6 – Make A Summer Bucket List
A Summer bucket list is a fun way to create more meaningful connections and memories.
One of the main reasons why I created this 30-Day Digital Detox challenge was to help you disconnect from technology and to reconnect with the things that are most important to you.
Becoming more intentional about how you spend your time and how you connect with others will help you foster greater feelings of love, joy and fulfillment.
For today’s challenge, I want you to create a summer bucket list. Instead of checking your phone while waiting at your kids activities today, create your Summer wish list!
How many Summers have come and gone where you wished you had been more active, had more fun, and done more things with the kids?
It would be easy to let the next couple of months roll by without fanfare, but I’ve found that taking the time to create a Summer Bucket List has helped me and the kids really enjoy the Summer.
Not only do we accomplish more because we’ve written down our Summer To Do’s on a list and actually took the time to schedule them into our calendar, but creating a Summer bucket list has really helped us to pay more attention to the fun we are having, resulting in deeper connections and lasting memories.
Having a Summer Bucket List really does make Summer feel more like Summer.
Remember, next Summer is promised to no one , so make this Summer GREAT by committing to creating a Sumner Bucket List.
Start by asking yourself what are the things that you’ve wanted to do but just haven’t made time for? A road trip, weekend camping, taking up a new hobby?
Write down your Summer wishes so you can start planning. Once completed come back here and let me know in the comments what’s on your summer bucket list.
The kids and I started working on our Summer bucket list last month and one of the items on Mackenzie’s list was to create a Summer Camp for kids. The intention behind this Summer wish list item was so that she had friends to play with when she wasn’t attending her regular Summer camp sessions.
So we sat down and pulled together a few more items from our collective Summer Bucket List and our Starseed Kids Camp was born – a growth mindset nature camp for children ages 5-8yrs.
Included on my personal Summer Bucket List was spending time on activities that teach my kids growth mindset skills and how to deepen their connection with nature and each other.
In designing Starseed Kids Camp Mackenzie and I were very intentional about making sure these ‘wish-list’ times where built into our vision for our camp.
If this sounds like something that you also desire for your kids this Summer, then we invite you to checkout www.starseedkidscamp.
We’d love to have your little Starseeds join us this Summer.
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Day 7 – Scroll Free Sunday
Sundays are for family time, but how much of your time with family is spent scrolling through your phone? By putting down our phones during this time, we get quality time to connect with our kids, husbands or partners, and also ourselves.
Today’s challenge is to put down your phone today. Stop the scrolling to reconnect, and enjoy being fully present with those around you. Plus, make sure to also enjoy some guilt-free YOU time.
Instead of scrolling, take some time for yourself to meal prep, plan your workouts for the week, plan your schedule, and take time to pamper you.
Let me know in the comments tomorrow morning what you did instead of scrolling.
Are you ready for Week 2 of our 30-Day Digital Detox? If so CLICK HERE.