Why Do We Need To Unplug This New Year?

We are just a few days away from the new year. Whether it's a two-week vacation or a weekend getaway, this is the time to reset our minds and bodies for the new year. The end of the year is a time for "giving." And as women, we are inherently more giving to others than ourselves. That is why, this new year, we need to give ourselves the gift of unplugging.

The holidays are the only times we get in this fast-paced world to dedicate undivided time and attention to ourselves and our loved ones. We will have dozens of dreams, plans, and visions set for the upcoming year, and to achieve them, we need to be the best version of ourselves. And unplugging for a day or two before the new year can work miracles.

Why do we need to unplug this new year?

Unplugging is an opportunity to disconnect not just from digital devices but from the outside world. We completely go off the grid, disconnect from work, social commitments, de-stress, and recharge ourselves for the new year. So, women, let’s take a day or two around this new year and unplug!

Being present in the moment

When we are away from all the devices and don’t have any forms of distraction, we truly "live the moment," which we usually don’t. With our ever-increasing dependence on mobile phones, we fail to experience life. For example, when we go on vacation, we are more obsessed with clicking photos and posting them on social media or sharing them with loved ones than being in that moment. However, when we unplug, our mind and body are truly in the moment. Even though we might not photograph the happy moments when we unplug, our bodies will remember.

Spend quality time with loved ones

Remember how many of us got closer during the lockdown? Unplugging can do the same. The only difference is that this will be a self-imposed lockdown. Without external factors like gadgets, work, and social commitments to distract us, we can spend quality time with our loved ones. And nothing can be more therapeutic than spending time with our tribe.

A journey of self-discovery

When we unplug, we have all the time and energy to connect with ourselves. This helps us understand ourselves better. Usually, when we are disturbed or upset by something, we try to distract ourselves by calling a friend, scrolling through reels, or watching a movie. By distracting ourselves from the issue, we are failing to analyse and understand it. But we get to do just that because we are in unplugging mode. Understanding ourselves is essential for becoming a better version of ourselves.

Familiarise with our body

Unplugging completely means no clock. Usually, we have a schedule, and amidst being engrossed with commitments, we are reminded to eat and sleep because we have clocks. We learn to listen to our bodies by identifying cues when we unplug and have no clocks to remind us. We eat when we are hungry, we sleep when we are tired, and we wake up only when we really feel well-rested. Good eating and sleeping habits will make us feel energised, positive, and refreshed.

De-stressing

When we are away from all the external factors that stress us, whether it’s work, commitments, or social media, we tend to feel less anxious and stressed. We will be more peaceful without social media, which may give us a sense of "missing out." It can be beneficial to be alone or surrounded only by loved ones without distractions.

How to unplug?

If it is possible to completely disconnect from the outside world, we could probably go on a staycation all by ourselves or with family or friends. Unplugged events are a good option if we wish to go alone or as a group to a new place and meet new people.

Going off the grid completely, which might not be possible for everyone, So, in that case, we could just go on a digital detox and disconnect from the outside world, either alone or as a group. It’s completely fine to do it at home, but we need to ensure that there won’t be any external disturbances. That needs a lot of pre-planning, but it’s worth the extra work.

All the rest, de-stressing, good food, a change from the regular monotonous routine, and adequate sleep will make us more creative, efficient, productive, and resourceful. We make sure all our gadgets are charged and updated to function well. Shouldn’t we give our body and mind the time to recharge and reboot as well?

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