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Have you seen the last post- 10 Reasons to Take a Tech Break? You might want to check it out and see why it’s important to take a break from technology now and then. It can help with focus, interpersonal relationships, and lots more- but how do you do it? No one’s saying to get rid of all your devices, just to give it a rest for a little while, and here are a few suggestions on how to do that:

1. Turn off your phone:

No, not forever! Turn it off for one hour every day to give yourself a break. You can start with 20 minutes and keep adding if a whole hour sounds like too much to you.

2. No devices in bed:

This is a good idea for lots of reasons. It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re on social media or playing a game, so avoiding that pitfall by banning devices in bed altogether is a good way to remedy that. It’s also true that the blue light from phones and tablets stimulates your brain, making it difficult to fall into a restful sleep.

3. Take a walk without your phone:

Go for a walk and leave your phone at home. “Walk without music?”, you ask. Yes, try it- try walking and noticing what’s going on around you, without the distraction of music or podcasts. If you just can’t walk or run to quiet, find an mp3 player to do the job.

4. Pause:

Try this: when you feel like picking up your phone, pause for a few seconds first. Count to ten and then pick it up; you’ll be mindful of how much you rely on your phone to fill in the gaps.

5. Create device-free zones:

Designate certain areas or rooms in your home as device-free and be strict!

6. Airplane mode:

Switch your phone to airplane mode every now and then when you want to get things done and eliminate distractions.

7. Make a list of alternatives:

Sit down and make a list of things you could be doing instead of constantly scrolling and tapping. Really think and write them down- you’ll be surprised how tempting some of those things will look to you!

8. Delete apps:

Get rid of the apps that suck you in.

9. Use paper:

I think it’s really convenient that my appointments go into my phone calendar and I even jot down notes on my notebook app, but how good is that, really? I think I’ll try going back to old fashioned paper for a while and see how it feels not to rely on my phone so much.

10. Wait before starting:

Raise your hand if you reach for your phone as soon as you wake up. At the very least, delay the start of your phone usage. You’ll be surprised how much more you can get done and how much more in control you’ll feel.

How do you feel about take a break from your devices? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!