For my digital detox, I focused on one simple change: managing notifications. It might not seem like much, but it made a huge difference. Over Thanksgiving break, I spent less than five hours on social media—a big improvement for me. What really helped was keeping myself busy with other activities, so I didn’t have much free time to get distracted or mindlessly scroll through social media.

In the future, I plan to Declutter my Digital Space from unnecessary emails and notifications. As for “Do Not Disturb” mode, I’ve decided not to use it after once missing an important meeting while it was on. Instead, I’ll try to find a balance between staying accessible and staying focused. This detox showed me how small changes can make a big difference.

I decided to manage my notifications and use an app to limit my screen time. I blocked notifications for TikTok and Instagram because I often receive unimportant or distracting messages rather than useful ones. I realized I would click on these notifications almost automatically and end up spending hours on the apps. I also downloaded an app called StayFree, which provides a detailed breakdown of my screen time and alerts me whenever I spend more than 30 minutes on an app. These notifications usually make me leave the apps without needing to impose strict limits. The app also motivates me by showing statistics that track my daily progress.

I chose these methods because I often lose track of time while using social media. Overall, my experience has been positive, and I plan to continue. I didn’t experience withdrawal symptoms, instead, I felt fulfilled and encouraged to use my time more productively.

For my Digital Detox i used option 4 which is using “Do not disturb” at first I was ver hesitant on using Din not disturb as I had this thought that people who’s phone are on do not disturb are trying to be “cool”. I felt that Do not disturb was just for people who get alot of text messages but I was wrong. Over thanksgiving break I decided to put my phone on do not disturb and i realized it was very impactful on my daily activities, For example I would be walking somewhere and I hear my phone buzz then immediately use my phone for the remainder of the walk. But when I used do not disturb I started walking faster and arriving to places quicker than I used to.Now when I am doing something that requires me to focus I put my phone on do not disturb to prevent the buzz sound from notifications which was the main reason I opened my phone.

For my digital detox I chose to do 1. ‘Manage notifications’ and 2. ‘ Use Do Not Disturb mode” I felt like doing these two was a really good idea and something that I should do more often. I’ve found myself being on my devices too much lately and, with finals coming up, I thought I should practice being focused and having no distractions around me. While doing my digital detox, I did notice that I spent more time focusing on one idea instead of thinking of one thing, getting distracted by a notification, and then thinking of another thing. Also, I find myself being a bit more patient with my surroundings. I don’t know how that’s related, but I do think it’s an improvement. Last but not least, I spent a lot of time with people that mean a lot to me and got to cherish the time without many distractions.

While trying to decide on which detox I should use, I decided to go with option #4, “Use Do not Disturb Mode”. During my Thanksgiving Break, I wanted to spend time with family and friends and eat good food that day. I usually put my phone on DND every once in a while due to the not wanting to be bothered by anyone or to try and stay away from my phone. I knew that I wasn’t going to be home for long, so the idea of silencing my phone helped me a lot during that time. I was able to get plenty of things done and create some memorable memories with my family and friends that I’ll forever hold on with me. If I didn’t put my phone on “do not disturb.” then I don’t think I would’ve been able to spend quality time with the people that wanted to see me. This also helped me catch up on my sleep. Putting my phone on dnd, I was able to go to sleep early and wake up early. This made my day very productive and I was grateful that I got to go Black Friday shopping with my mom and brother. In order for me to maintain a healthy life by staying away from a bright screen and being able to enjoy the moment by spending time with those I truly love and care about, then I would need to continue to sacrifice that amount of hours that I spent on my phone everyday by simply putting my phone on do not disturb and sitting my phone down somewhere that is not near me.

I chose options 2 and 4 for my digital detox. For option 2, I avoided using my phone for the first few hours after waking up each day, and this made my mornings more productive. For option 4, I put my phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode to focus on final projects for most of my classes. My friends always said I couldn’t live without my phone, but I proved them wrong—at least I got off to a good start this Thanksgiving. This detox helped me improve my attention span and made me realize I could enjoy activities like nature walks instead of constantly swiping on my phone. I plan to continue this detox for the long term.