The Real Urban Detox: How to Disconnect From All the Noise
Pollution; the stuff we see and the stuff we don’t, is impacting every aspect of our lives and harming us in more ways than we know and in ways, we’re just beginning to discover. Are we forced to accept what this means to our body, mind, and soul or do we have options to reduce our exposure?
Digital pollution
Remember those days? Those carefree days of disconnection. Those days before that buzz in your pocket required your immediate attention and caused your chest to tighten, your jaw to clench - all before you even read the message?
Or maybe that buzz gives you the buzz you live for. Another like, comment, or share.
Our perpetual connectivity may be doing more harm than good. Studies show that it’s affecting both our mental and physical health. Why is this?
We’re not being present in our own lives. Wherever you are, make sure you’re actually there. This is the only life we know for sure we’re going to live, so we should live it as we mean it.
We’re not really connecting with other people. Lasting, deep connections are rarely made or are only maintained online. Shared experiences make real connections.
We’re hindering our production and creativity. Digital distractions are a disturbance. We now know that we’re not actually wired to multi-task and our attempts to do so completely shatter our quality of work.
What You Can Do:
The Downside of the Urban Vibe
1. Significantly limit your time on the internet; specifically social media (outside of work and school requirements, that is). One hour a day provides time for two 15 minute social media checks and 30 minutes on the internet, or any other combination thereof. If you’re doing research, planning a trip, or learning online, give yourself up to two additional hours on that day.
2. Turn your phone off when you’re out with friends and family. Give them and the experience your undivided attention. Doing so increases your chances of really connecting with these people and actually enjoying it more.
3. Turn off alerts when you’re at work and check your work emails and messages when you’re on a natural break from your tasks. When you’re away from work, disconnect from work and take note of the creative ideas and inspirations that spontaneously erupt. Keeping your phone in your bag, rather than on your person or at your desk will lessen the distractions and significantly increase your productivity.
The convenience of constant connectivity is undeniable. While it has improved our lives to some degree, it’s also destroying life as we know it. Bad news for all of you city dwellers out there, the “pollution” doesn’t stop with your cellular device.
Research indicates that industrial and vehicle pollution, noise pollution, light pollution, and long commutes each individually impact our mental and physical health. Combined, it’s exponential. It’s called overload.
This is what it does:
1. Causes feelings of overwhelm, isolation, and loneliness
2. Results in poor judgement, poor concentration, and negativity
3. Increases physical pain and exhaustion
Does this sound familiar?
So what can we do?
The Upside of the Rural Vibe
Oh, the stars. When is the last time you stopped to gaze, really gaze at the night sky or looked for the man on the moon? When did you last ponder the questions you used to ask yourself alone, in the quiet? Or immersed yourself in nature while you breathed in the clean, crisp air that nourished your soul and energized your body?
And the rivers, the mountains, the oceans, the trees... you get the picture...
While Digital Detoxes are being recommended to bust stress and help people reconnect with others and have, at least anecdotally, produced positive results, some researchers are suggesting that we take it a step further. The newest trend is a full-on “Urban Detox” where we get out of the city, off the grid, away from the "electro-smog" and show our mind, body, and soul some much-needed love.
Vacations are great, however, 60% of people say that a traditional vacation does not relieve their stress. No surprise there given that being “on” virtually 24/7 has our cortisol levels so high that doing “work lite” while trying to vacation just isn’t giving us the break we need.
So, where can you do such a thing? A real urban detox where you can get far enough away from electricity, wifi, and pollution of all kinds to remember how you feel in a pre-wired-for-every-moment environment? Where you can find your soul, stimulate your mind, and soothe your body?
What To Look For
A rural location, the further from the city the better
A setting right in nature
Wifi and cellular free zones or times
Body and soul care activity options
Freshly prepared, healthy meals
There are urban detox options for every budget. From camping to glamping to B&Bs and country inns to National Geographic’s Unique Lodges, your perfect break awaits.
Click here for Soulaia events. We combine the best of an urban detox with more fun than you can even handle.
