A lot of people are out here doing juice cleanses and detoxes to get their health back in order. I’m not really looking to go on a liquid diet or give up donuts; so I’m doing a metox. I’d like to focus on my health too, but I’m generally a pretty healthy person physically. Mentally, I need a metox. Here me out.
A lot of our lives revolve around technology. At work we are on computers, phones, video conferences. In all other aspects we’ve got social media, cell phones, tablets, television, the list goes on. It’s really easy to get caught up in the digital world and find yourself pulling away from your own identity.
Social media alone can create intense anxiety for a lot of people. The culture of comparison was literally created because of social media. Between your social media persona and constantly seeing other people setting ridiculous (and often fake) standards - it’s easy to lose sight of yourself.
So a metox is the idea that you spend time existing in the real world, focusing on things that make you happy and that remind you of who you are in the physical world.
For example, I love fitness. It’s the best way for me to center myself. When I log off entirely from social media and sometimes even forego music, I connect with the root of what makes me happy. I associate fitness with my drive, passion for movement, and competitive nature. I enjoy pushing my limits and reminding myself of all the things I achieved as an athlete and how much I fought to get there. It’s a next level high that immediately resets my reality. It’s humbling. And it invigorates me, elevated my confidence, it reminds me who I am and what I’m made of.
if you’re not sure who you are or what you’re this passionate about, figure it out. Try a workout. Journal. Read a book. Do a puzzle. Cook a meal. Play an instrument. Do all the things until you can figure out what your thing is.
Healthy mind and healthy body are linked. Science people. You gotta work on the mind if you expect to have strong overall wellness. A really good place to start is a metox. Log off, sign out - walk away from the gadgets.
Realistically we are all guilty of being too connected and forget how to spend time off the grid. It may not be an easy thing for you to do. Start small. If you’re scrolling the socials 24/7, set your phone down for 10 minutes. The next time, try 15. The point is to try.
Recently, the more time I build on the metox, the better I feel and the less I think about my overall reliance on everything technology. I’ve gained perspective. I enjoy posting. I enjoy being on the grid, but I very much value the time offline. It’s a practice though. And it’s repetition that gets you there.
Forget the detox, get you a metox.