Modern technology is wonderful – right up until the time it overloads you and saps all your energy. Many of us have to work closely with digital devices all day, so it’s very good for us to switch off for a couple of hours in the evening and let our brains rest. Creating a digital detox zone in your home means having a sanctuary where you can relax and let the modern world flow past you for a little while, leaving you feeling refreshed.
Stepping away for your screen regularly, even if only for a short time, has a range of wellbeing benefits. IT can help to lower stress and anxiety levels, which can be exacerbated by constant online activity. It can also help improve sleep quality, particularly if your digital detox is the last thing you do at night before you go to bed. It can also boost creativity, as your brain gets a break from being bombarded with constant stimulation.
Designing Your Detox Zone
Warm apple pie soy candle, £16.50, And Hope Designs. What could be more comforting than the scent of apple pie?
The first step is to make your detox zone as inviting as possible, so that it’s somewhere you really want to be. What you do depends on how much space you have available, but a comfy chair, some blankets and a side table are musts.
Ideally, your quiet zone will be an entire room that you can retreat into and shut the door behind you, but if space is at more of a premium you can just use a corner of a larger room. As far as you can, choose the quietest room you have – setting up a detox zone in the corner of a lively, family sitting room while everyone’s watching TV probably isn’t going to work.
You can position a room divider to physically partition the space. This helps keep your little corner distraction free. If possible, pick an area that has natural light. If there’s still a lot of background noise, then you could consider investing in some noise-cancelling headphones.
Minerva oak veneer divider screen, La Redoute. Perfect for partitioning off a corner, and provides a place for books and plants.
Comfort and Minimalism
Keep your space as minimal as possible. You need to be comfortable, but not distracted. Comfortable seating is a necessity; lots of ornaments are not. Although it’s probably not practical to clear everything away completely, you could try investing in some storage solutions so that all clutter is out of sight. The except is house plants, which aid mental relaxation. Keep the colours in the space muted, and ideally opt for natural materials such as cotton, linen, wool, wood and stone.
Snug humbug beanbag from r u comfy. So comfortable, you’ll never want to leave it!
Get The Lighting Right
Lighting is important too. Harsh, overhead lights won’t foster the right mood of relaxation, so opt for soft lamps or candles. An oil burner with some relaxing essential oil such as lavender is also a good mood setter.
Waves wool throw, from JJ Textiles. Chilly outside? You won’t even notice with this cosy throw keeping out the draughts.
Set yourself a routine for using your detox space, such as 30 minutes morning or evening. Using it in a structured manner will help to build good habits. If you’ve made your space too enticing, you’ll probably find others sneaking into it to share it with you! Make a strict ‘no phones here’ policy, and don’t be afraid to enforce it!
