Regardless of the emails answered, or tasks completed, they will persist and continue to flood. Such is the very essence of life online. Advancements in technology allow for mundane tasks to be done swiftly, and communication with loved ones to be more accessible.The constant pinging of notifications can distract us from the present moment, interrupting activities we find joy in or those of utmost importance (but it’s ok– it’s all for family). We feel compelled to check, for fear of missing something significant. The only downside: if it consumes our existence, escape will be unattainable. To alleviate this anxiety, one must purify. A cleansing, if you will.

Only through detachment from technology can one find liberation and retain the wellness brought by it. Being beholden to technology necessitates the setting of boundaries. Despite my heady complaints on app privacy settings: The true responsibility to establish these boundaries lies with you and me, not within an app’s settings.

In a state of overwhelm, it never does feel like the appropriate time to determine what should stay and what should go in terms of technology. By following these steps, we can free ourselves from the technological tether and find peace, balance, and control in our lives. The power to reclaim our sanity is within our grasp!

1. Recognize the issues: How much do you rely on anxiety to survive in your day-to-day? What causes stress? Observe when you reach for your phone after receiving a text, email, or social media notification. Take note of the frequency of use and how it affects your emotions before and after.
2. Make a list of all technology tools in your possession, including watches and phone apps.
3. Highlight those tools that are indispensable.
4. Eliminate the non-essential tools.
5. Repeat this process for the apps that remain.
6. Purge connections: Disconnect from individuals on social media who bring stress.
7. Purge subscriptions: Review all web services to which you are subscribed.
8. Discard any saved or bookmarked items no longer requiring attention, knowing they can always be revisited.
9. Focus on the essential tools and devices you need to get your daily requirements met.
10. Create a plan for those essential tools and devices, specifying their purpose and intended outcomes.
11. Set reasonable expectations: If you are prone to obsessive message checking, it is likely that habit will persist (it could be just who you are). If you frequently miss notifications, embrace it and inform others of your changes, effectively communicating your boundaries.
12. Determine a designated time for returning calls and messages, rather than being at the mercy of incoming calls and messages.

    A life without technology is now attainable.