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I didn’t realize how overstimulated I was until I turned everything off.
No pings. No feeds. No background videos running while I “relaxed.”
Just… silence. And it felt weird — then surprisingly good.
What I Changed (The Reset Moment)
I decided to try a 24-hour digital fast. No social media, no news, no YouTube, no notifications. I didn’t delete anything — I just powered down. My phone stayed on airplane mode, and I kept my laptop closed unless absolutely necessary.
I made one rule: if it had a feed or pinged for attention, I wasn’t opening it.
Instead, I let myself be bored. I made food without watching anything. I went on a walk with no podcast. I sat. I stared out the window.
Why Digital Pause Helped Me
Before that digital pause, my mind felt like a browser with 40 tabs open — and none of them loading properly.
After just half a day, I felt my thoughts slow down. I noticed small things again, like birdsong and the feeling of hunger. My stress dropped, and I could actually focus on one thing at a time without that itch to check something.
The biggest surprise? I didn’t miss anything urgent. The world moved on. And I felt more in control of my brain than I had in months.
How You Can Try Digital Pause Today
If a full 24-hour detox feels like too much, start small:
- Try a 4-hour block this weekend with no screens at all. Pick a start time and go.
- Put your phone in a drawer and set a physical timer — out of sight really is out of mind.
- Tell a friend you’re going offline for a bit. That accountability helps.
Bonus tip: prepare some low-tech activities ahead of time (a walk, journal, physical book, or puzzle) to avoid the “what now?” slump.
“You won’t miss it until you stop needing it.”
— Daily Mind Boost
Conclusion
You don’t need to quit the internet.
You just need to take a step back now and then.
Try a short digital pause this week — even an afternoon off can reset your mental energy and remind you what it’s like to be fully present.
Want more micro-boosts like this? Subscribe to Daily Mind Boost.
Want a full dopamine detox plan? Read this next: Dopamine Detox 101: How to Reset Your Brain and Reclaim Focus
