Simple Living: Five Zen Ways of Digital Detoxing

“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” — Shunryu Suzuki

Every one of us wants to live a peaceful life. We need not be a Zen monk to adopt their simple but productive lifestyle. One cannot explain what zen means, and even that unexplainable thing could be zen. A Zen monk does not lead a lazy life; they live every single moment; they live a complete life with lots of patience.

We could learn a lot from their simple living. Whatever task they do, their focus is 100% on that, and the dedication level is incredible. They don’t multitask, that is why their attention on one task at a time brings precise outcome.

In this article, we will learn a few of the ways to detach ourselves from the digital world.

Digital Fasting

Fasting is one of the ways to break our regular food intake routine. It has many health benefits. Same way, we can have fasting to take a break from digital devices like a mobile, laptop, or any gadget.

Our days are attached to a digital device all the time. We use the computer for our job, mobile for our communication, social media, entertainment and more.

Weekly once, try not to touch any of the digital devices and live a simple living. You will be amazed to see how much time you will spend with yourself, and you could read a physical book, you would observe what is happening around you, you will spend lots of valuable time with your family, kids or friends. You can fix it on a Saturday or Sunday and make the most out of it. You will thank yourself after the digital fasting and feel a real human.

Zen Mode

I use an android phone, which has a feature named Zen Mode. If I select it, the next 20 minutes phone will be in a sleep mode, and you can only make emergency calls during these 20 minutes. It is has helped me a lot when I feel I overuse the mobile. As the name suggests, we will be in Zen mode and do something useful.

If you do not have this feature, switch off the phone for 20 mins and dwell in your me-time. It is tough in the beginning, but if you practice it daily 20 mins, you will feel refreshed, and you will have a meaningful time.

Distancing Method

Ifwe have potato chips near to our couch while watching the television or reading a book, knowingly or unknowingly, we reach out to the chips and have that junk food happily. If the same chips are in the next room, the chance of reaching it will reduce drastically.

Same way, instead of having the mobile/laptop near to us, every day once you back home, keep it in the next room and try to distance yourself from it. It reduces the urge to reach out, and eventually, we will do something productive.

Declutter the unused apps

“Wherever you are, it’s the place you need to be” -Maxime Lagacé

Decluttering unused things gives you mental peace. If you carefully observe where most of the time gone for nothing, it could be the time you’ve jumped from one app to another app. It could be from Instagram to Facebook to Gmail to Weather app to Stocks to News app; it is just an example.

Rewind to ten years, did we have this issue? Hell No. When I wanted to know the news, I would have reached a newspaper or listening to the radio. To check the email, I would have checked it on my desktop or laptop.

Mobile apps are making life easier for many, no doubts on that. But slowly, we are being dragged into an invisible addiction.

Have essential apps, and you will love the simplicity behind it.

No Phone Hour

Itis one of my favorite practice. Before you go to bed, avoid using your smartphone. It improves your sleep. It helps you to do the prayer or gratitude affirmation or planning for the next day. If you want to “do something,” take a book and keep it near your bed. Reading before sleep is good for you, good for your subconscious mind and help you to sleep better.

I have been practicing this for over four years now, and the quality of sleep is improved a lot. Also, if you do not have a mobile during your sleeping time, you will sleep on time every day. Sleeping on time and wake up on time gives you discipline in life.

Zen monks are known for their sleeping routine; they go to bed at a particular time and have a sound sleep for a specific time. Good sleep brings more energy that will keep you energized all day. You will be able to think clearly.

Final Thoughts

“If we don’t occupy ourself with everything, then peaceful mind will have nowhere to abide.” — Shenhui

We live in a rat race world, we run all the time, sometimes we run without realizing the direction, however, if we pause for a minute and be in the present moment we realize the meaning of life, and we will travel towards that. We need not be a monk to live their zen lifestyle. At the same time, we can detach ourselves from the machines and make our life a meaningful and productive one.

I hope these practices will bring a change in your life and make you more productive and bring your best.

I wish you a happy life ahead.