In today’s age of digitally working and living, our online presence has become an integral part of our day-to-day routines. While technology offers many benefits with which we can improve our lives, it’s also well-known and acknowledged that excessive screen time and use of devices can negatively impact our health, both mentally and physically.
This is when we need to bring ourselves back to digital mindfulness.
What is Digital Mindfulness?
Digital mindfulness is a practice used to reduce stress, improve mental health and foster healthy relationships while being present in the use of technology and the internet. This is accomplished by having a more intentionall awareness of our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and reactions to the things we see, read, send or receive online.
3 Key Practices For Having a More Mindful Presence Online
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Setting Boundaries
An easy digital boundary to start with is to intentionally take mindful breaks. Whether spontaneous or scheduled, ensure you are taking regular time away from screens to relax your eyes, mind and nerves.
One step further would be to set time limits. This can be done by choosing specific time slots for being online or offline.
A third boundary that can be beneficial to your physical and mental health is to have device-free zones. By designating areas in your home as internet or device-free zones, you can better disconnect yourself from the FOMO or curiosity of what’s being said or posted online.
Remember the days of having a computer room, and when you left the computer room, you left the internet? You can still do that.
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Curating Your Digital Environment
There’s a lot of negativity on the internet, we all know this. But, the more you view and engage it, the more the technology and algorithms pushing this content decide you need or want to see more of it, continuing the negative pattern and effect on your health.
By being online and engaging with intention, you can reverse this through a decluttering of your digital environment.
First, partake in mindful following (or unfollowing). This is where you unfollow any accounts that you no longer relate to, or feel inspired or uplifted by. Next, you can prioritize the content that does bring you joy and a sense of well-being. The more good you find, and engage, the more that will appear in your digital environment.
Tech Tip: Social networks like Twitter/X come with mute features that allow you to not only mute accounts that you don’t want to see but also keywords as well. This allows you to mute topics, personalities or discussions you may find negative or triggering - or simply don’t want to see on social networks and can be sought elsewhere as desired. Instagram, Threads and other networks offer account muting as well.
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Participating in Authentic Self Expression
Being authentically present on our online accounts is the cornerstone of creating and nurturing genuine, positive online connections. Only by sharing our true selves can we ensure we are not only being mindful online but also being equally mindful of our impact on others online.
Miss the days of “natural” life-filled feeds and photo albums? Just post it. Share your genuine personal experiences, nobody says you can’t. Trends come and go, but your life is always more interesting and alluring than you think.
By creating content that best reflects your values, interests and personality, you’ll not only feel in touch with your authentic self, but it will be easier for like-minded people to connect with you.
This brings us to our next tip, resisting comparison. As you share your true thoughts, feelings and life moments online, avoid comparing yourself and your content to others online.
Remember, chances are you’re just seeing their “highlight reel.” If they’ve accomplished something that’s giving you a bit of envy, or have you wondering why you haven’t reached that goal/destination/milestone yet, remember that posts don’t always show how long it took them to get there, or what it took.
Ready for Better Digital Wellness and Intentional Mindfulness in 2025?
By incorporating these digital mindfulness practices into your daily life, you can reclaim your online presence, improve your overall well-being and foster a healthier relationship with technology.
