Self-Care Tips for Better Mental Health in a Technological Age

Within this article, we have various tips on how to improve your quality of life by focusing on self-care. In today’s world, self-care is more important now than ever because technology is so ingrained in every aspect of our lives.

Technology connects us with others, keeps us entertained, and offers a vast base of knowledge like never before in history.

With so much information at our fingertips, it’s easy to find ourselves comparing our lives to others, feeling overwhelmed, and oftentimes feeling socially disconnected even though we’re more connected than ever. For this reason, the connection to technology has left us now, more than ever, in need of self-care!

Our phones may be charged, but our mental batteries are drained. 

For most of us, technology is ingrained in every aspect of our lives, making it nearly impossible to fully disconnect from technology. The inability to disconnect from technology may stem from being on call 24/7, selling online, or working at a desk job.

The inability to disconnect from technology can lead to burnout, social disconnection, and increased stress. Therefore, we must learn to practice self-care to maintain our mental well-being.

Below, we provide various tips to enhance your quality of life by prioritizing self-care.

1.  Limit Screen Time 

The first tip in our article, Self-Care Tips for Better Mental Health in a Technological Age, is to limit screen time.

If you find yourself binge-watching TV shows or getting lost in doomsday scrolling for hours on end, then you may want to practice limiting screen time.

I am as guilty as the rest, and somehow, technology is like a time warp where hours can pass without even realizing it. It is for this reason I added limiting screen time to our list.

Below are a few ways to limit screen time.

• One way to limit screen time is by installing a timer. If you know that you have a habit of binge-watching TV or spending hours on the internet. You can set a timer to remind yourself to get off the device.
• Create screen-free routines. If you find that you wake up, the first thing you do is check social media, where you find yourself scrolling for an hour. Then, get a digital alarm clock and keep your phone out of the bedroom. If you are the complete opposite and find that you like to doomsday, scroll before bed. Then, place your phone on a charger in another room. By analyzing your screen time habits, you can identify areas where you can make adjustments to reduce your online time.
• Turn off notifications. If you have notifications that are constantly going off and causing you to check your phone frequently, it may be beneficial to turn them off.
• Use Apps to set limits. You can utilize time management apps to help you limit your screen time.

2. Digital Detox Night 

Another self-care tip that made it on our list for better mental health in a technological age is to have a digital detox night.

If you feel like you spend too much time watching a screen, then you are not alone. According to the states presented by Fabio Duarte, “The average American spends 7 hours and 3 minutes looking at a screen each day.”

However, some may not be able to completely unplug due to being on call for work. However, if you have the ability to step away from technology for an evening, then avoid the computer, tablet, and Television. I would go so far as to say that, if possible, remove the smartwatch so that any incoming text will not be a distraction.

Create an evening where you are fully disconnected and use the time to either relax alone or spend time with the family. You can have a family game night, read a book by the fire, or play cards on the deck.

Having a weekly digital detox night is a great way to bond with your family and friends or unwind alone while taking a break from technology.

3. Get Outdoors

Getting outdoors is a great way to disconnect from technology, spend time in nature, connect with others, and escape daily stress.

Whether you opt for a stroll in a nearby park, a challenging hike on local trails, or a serene visit to a botanical garden, being outdoors provides a natural setting to unwind and recharge.

Nature has a remarkable ability to soothe the mind and promote a sense of calm, encouraging you to leave behind the distractions of digital devices.

Furthermore, spending time outdoors with friends and family can further enhance the experience. Plan an outdoor picnic, BBQ, or walk in the park to connect with others while spending time outside.

Spending time outside with others allows you to strengthen relationships and create memories while getting fresh air and stepping away from technology.

Lastly, getting outside and physically moving around helps release endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. These natural mood boosters can help increase energy levels and reduce stress.

Therefore, make an effort to step outside regularly, disconnect from your screen, and spend time in nature, allowing you to enhance your overall mental health.

5. Make Plans with Friends and Family

Thanks to social media, we’re more connected than we’ve ever been before. We can see our friends and family’s day-to-day lives even if we don’t keep in touch with them daily. 

Even though we can glimpse into the daily lives of many friends and family through social media, it can sometimes leave us feeling more disconnected than ever.

Social media can make you feel disconnected because it lacks the one thing we need: a direct connection. Social media posts are like a Billboard, where you post a highlight reel of your life for your friends, family, and, in some cases, the entire world to see.

What we need is to see the person face-to-face, hug them, and fully engage with them.

It is the ability to spend hours discussing what’s going on in life and being completely genuine and authentic. No highlight reel is needed because the time you spend together in person is personal and private, not meant for the world to see.

That time spent together feels good because we need those personal connections that we oftentimes can’t get by seeing the day-to-day posts on Social Media. It is for this reason that making plans with friends and family made our list.

6. Get a Good Night’s Rest

With technology so ingrained in every aspect of our lives and widely used as a form of entertainment, you must get a good night’s rest.

When you get a good night’s sleep, you’re more likely to fight the urge to get on some technological platform, whether it is binge-watching TV, reading news articles, or doomsday scrolling on social media.

Getting a good night’s sleep gives you the Mental strength to choose to do something that would benefit you in the long run but may not be easy.

For example, being well-rested may help you go to the gym and cook a healthy meal rather than being exhausted and opting for pizza and watching Netflix for four hours. 

Sometimes, making the right choice is a hard choice. Therefore, getting a good night’s rest gives you the strength to do what you need to do rather than what you want to do.

7. Mindful Consumption

So, I’ll be the first to admit that technology is so addictive, and it is in every aspect of our lives and so easy to access. When I’m bored, I may watch TV, read news articles, or scroll through social media, engaging in what’s known as doomscrolling. 

And these things usually do not serve me, and they’re likely not serving you either. The news is super negative and profits from fear-mongering, which can instill anxiety in you when constantly reading about the negativity going on in the world. 

Television is another one that doesn’t serve me, although I enjoy having movie nights and watching a few of my favorite series. It’s easy to spend too much time in front of the Television on the couch, relaxing.

The problem with Television is that it often portrays unrealistic expectations. You have the perfect family, relationships, homes, and usually ideal societies that don’t exist in real life. Constantly watching an unrealistic narrative can leave you feeling like you’re missing out on something more.

Then you have social media, where everyone presents their best image, hiding the parts they don’t want anyone to see. Only seeing the best parts of everyone’s lives can cause you to feel inadequate in your daily life despite your achievements, when, in reality, you are doing amazing things. 

When you find yourself interacting with any form of technology, whether it’s television, radio, blogs, shopping, or even social media, take a moment to analyze how it makes you feel and if it’s positively impacting your life. 

If you find that you are anxious after reading a news article, feel that you are lacking in life after being on Social Media, or are unhappy after watching a show, then start limiting or stop engaging in these activities altogether.

8. Find a New Hobby or Pick Up an Old Hobby

Finding a hobby that allows you to disconnect from technology can be incredibly beneficial for self-care and mental wellness. Engaging in hands-on activities not only provides a creative outlet but also allows you to fully immerse yourself in the present moment, thereby reducing stress and anxiety.

Consider exploring hobbies that ignite your passion and creativity. Below is a list of Hobbies you can pursue:

• Sewing & Knitting
• Painting
• Gardening
• Woodwork
• Dance
• Sports
• Working Out
• Bike Riding
• Embroidery

Engaging in these hobbies allows you to step away from screens while enjoying the process of creating, nurturing, and expressing yourself. By integrating these activities into your routine, you’ll not only enhance your self-care practices but also support your mental health in a balanced and fulfilling way.

9. Read Or Write

In our increasingly technology-driven world, reading and writing are great ways to relax while practicing self-care. 

Writing forces you to slow down as it requires a relaxing environment. An environment without noise that’s peaceful and relaxing so you can put your thoughts on paper.

To write, you must concentrate, forcing you to be in the moment. It is often difficult, if not impossible, to write when multiple distractions are going on around you while you are trying to focus.

Therefore, writing is a great way to practice self-care through mindfulness of being in the moment and creating a peaceful and relaxing area in which you’re able to put your thoughts to paper. 

Another form of mindfulness is reading. Similar to writing, reading requires a peaceful environment so you can focus on the story and not be distracted by the things happening around you.

Reading is also a great way to lose yourself in the pages and the story you are reading. The stress of the world melts away with each turning page as you get deeper into the storyline!

10. Find Other Ways to Entertain Yourself

One of the primary uses of technology is to entertain you. Ask yourself, “Am I getting on social media, reading articles, or watching TV because I am bored?”

If you’re looking to reduce your reliance on technology, one way to do so is to identify your primary use of technology. Is it for work, to seek information, or to fill the void of boredom?

If you’re using social media to fill the void of boredom, you may want to consider finding another activity to engage in. Consider checking an item off your task list, such as cleaning the house or car, going to the gym, or running the errands you’ve been avoiding.

Perhaps you want to entertain yourself by going outside, gardening, or riding bikes. As stated above, spending time in nature is a great way to relieve stress and connect with others while enjoying fresh air.

Perhaps you will find that you enjoy a nice, calm, relaxing evening at home, putting a puzzle together, reading books by candlelight, or journaling.

Finding alternative ways to entertain yourself will allow you to limit screen time while exploring other activities to fill the void of boredom.

Although I am not entirely against technology, I do feel that it is ingrained in every aspect of our lives, causing us to experience disconnect, burnout, and anxiety. Therefore, we must focus on self-care now more than ever so we can be a mentally healthy version of ourselves. 

Therefore, prioritizing self-care in our technologically driven world is essential for maintaining mental health and overall well-being.

By implementing strategies such as limiting screen time, enjoying digital detox nights, and spending quality time outdoors with loved ones, you can create a healthier balance between being online and engaging in real life.

These practices not only help alleviate feelings of anxiety and social disconnection but also foster deeper, more meaningful relationships and promote a sense of fulfillment.

Taking the time to care for yourself is not a luxury but a necessity in our digital-driven era.