5 Signs You Need to Take a Break from Technology

Technology is redefining all walks of life. Whether it's work or personal life, technology encompasses our daily routine and helps us keep up effortlessly with our to-do list.

However, there's a flip side to everything, and technology is no exception. We've been relying on technology so much that it's hard to imagine doing anything without a little help from the tech.

Plus, excessive use of technology often does more harm than good. It can act as a medium of distraction for you, especially when you work remotely, and may even affect your health adversely.

So, it's important that you consider taking a break from technology from time to time, and here are the five signs that can help you decide when:

1. You Have an Alarming Screen Time

When you spend too much time staring at screens, whether to keep up with your deliverables or to be entertained, it may have a serious impact on your mental and physical health.

For the majority of people today, their smartphone is the last thing they look at before going to bed and the first thing they reach out to upon waking up. And that can have a tremendous impact on their quality of life.

We already spend quite a lot of time staring at our computer screens when we're active at work. Thus, adding smartphones to the equation makes things even more worrisome.

So, it's best that you track the time you spend staring at screens on a daily basis and take measures accordingly.

Keeping your screen time in check will not only improve your health but will also maximize your efficiency as your mind will get the rest that it needs.

2. You Check Every Notification

You need a break from technology if you check your phone or your email every time you hear a notification sound.

You probably keep your smartphone and other essential devices at arm's length, and that can be a productivity killer whether you work in a remote work setting or on-site.

Checking every notification you receive prevents you from tapping into the zone and focusing on the task at hand. As a result, you may take more time than required to complete the work assigned and fail to get more from the day.

So, if you have this habit, consider taking a break from technology to build more restraint. You'd only be able to grow faster if you learned how to manage your time efficiently. And that won't be possible if you're always on the lookout for upcoming notifications.

3. You Are Consistently Missing Your Deadlines

Professionals struggle with meeting their deadlines from time to time, and there may be a number of reasons for it.

Sometimes, the set goals are just not realistic, and you end up grappling with unrealistic expectations. However, that's not always the case.

If you miss your deadlines consistently, there's a fair chance that you easily succumb to distractions around you and end up managing your time poorly.

So, it's best to start from there and identify the sources that have been causing distractions for you.

And in most cases, it's either your habit of constantly checking your smartphone or consuming content through social media, as the average person spends around 2 hours and 29 minutes each day using social media apps.

So, if you want to stand out from the crowd, keep the use of such apps to a bare minimum and focus on what you should be doing instead.

4. You Are Always Working

You may often come across people who are always working. They are so occupied with their work that they barely take out time for other things in their lives, such as spending time with their family or loved ones and their hobbies.

Many of them aren't even workaholics. Yet they find it difficult to take breaks, let alone plan a holiday.

If you are one of these people by any chance, ask yourself this. Are you always busy because of unending work or because you end up wasting time during work hours?

You see, technology can be a great productivity booster if used right, but it can also make you counterproductive if you're not careful.

So, if it's hindering your productivity by any means, it's best to put your tech toys away when you're working, which in turn helps you ensure a healthy work-life balance.

5. You Have a Fear of Missing Out

The fear of missing out is a psychological phenomenon encompassing an individual's strong urge to belong.

It's a feeling of not missing out on experiences you perceive as important or being left out of certain things or events in your life.

Having a moderate level of FOMO may not be such a bad thing, but sometimes things can get out of hand.

It may cause you to check your phone every 5 minutes because you don't want to miss out on notifications you receive through social media or other applications facilitating communication.

And when that starts happening, you might want to consider taking a break to focus on what's important or the tasks at hand.

It's a Wrap

There you have it. The five signs you need to take a break from technology. If you've been facing productivity issues lately or find it difficult to focus on things that require your attention, then the recommendations provided may come in handy.