How to Fix Your Bad Digital Habits (and Why You Should)

Do you often find yourself scrolling mindlessly through your phone and watching endless hours of YouTube videos instead of completing work or doing something useful for yourself?

We’ve all been there – procrastinating can be a real problem. But here’s the thing: conquering your bad digital habits doesn’t have to mean sacrificing leisure time. In fact, it means gaining 10x more productivity and getting more time for self-care and all the things you love!

In this blog post, we’ll give you actionable advice on how to break free from unproductive habits and an introduction to powerful tools that will help you stay on track. So, let’s get started on the way to building healthier digital habits and becoming a better version of yourself! 🦸

What Are Digital Habits?

Digital habits are those funky little quirks we all have when it comes to our screens and devices. They define how, where, and when we consume information on the internet or communicate with others online.

Basically, our digital habits manifest themselves as the relationships we have with our phones, tablets, and computers. And like any other type of relationship, they can either serve to help us become better and improve our well-being or do us harm by taking away our time, free will, and energy without giving anything truly good and meaningful in return.

And what kind of relationships do you prefer?

Examples of Digital Habits: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

👍 Good digital habits:

• Regularly updating your online passwords
• Having enough high-quality time without any devices
• Keeping your digital desktops and folders decluttered and well-organized
• Doing fact-checking and wisely choosing which digital content to expose yourself to

👎 Bad digital habits:

• Checking your Instagram first thing in the morning
• Replying to emails from colleagues during off-work hours
• Being glued to your phone throughout the day
• Staying up late to watch another episode of a new TV show
• Oversharing personal information on social media in order to get more likes and attention

😈 Ugly digital habits:

• Cyberbullying and trolling
• Getting constantly distracted on your phone while in the company of other people
• Putting too much trust in unverified information and low-quality media resources
• Devoting all your time to social media while completely neglecting your health and other aspects of life (i.e., social media addiction)

Digital Habits: Friends or Foes?

“An abundance of information creates a poverty of attention” – Herbert A. Simon

 

There are many great things about modern technology. It helps us easily access knowledge, learn from versatile sources, communicate with people all over the world, and automate routine processes that would otherwise consume an enormous amount of time.

All in all, technology is meant to simplify and enrich our lives. But just like in the case of many other human inventions, it provides advantages only when handled well.

When overused, digital technologies and the internet can become our enemies, not friends. They may alter our lifestyles in an adverse way and carry us away to the boundless ocean of information that overwhelms our senses and eats up chunk by chunk from our capacity to concentrate, think creatively, and be our genuine selves.

Scary, right?

But just look at this list of effects that bad digital habits can have on you every day:

• Increased risk of sleep deprivation, fatigue, and exhaustion due to excessive screen time and diminished quality of rest.
• Eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes caused by prolonged exposure to bright screens or incorrect viewing distances.
• Difficulty focusing and remembering things as a result of overstimulation caused by information overload and constant digital distraction.
• Impaired social skills due to fewer face-to-face interactions with peers, family members, etc.
• Deeper sense of loneliness and depression since digital devices provide more connectivity but less meaningful relationships.
• Diminished creativity due to lack of time for self-reflection on individual experiences.
• Poor imagination due to the preference for easily accessible digital content rather than creating one’s own ideas and solutions to life’s problems.

This list is by no means an exhaustive one, yet it gives a good idea of how your digital habits can actually have a pretty big impact on your well-being. So, let’s learn how to break those bad boys and form some healthier digital habits in order to be more productive and live a happier life.

14 Healthy Digital Habits for Higher Productivity

🚵 Spend enough time without devices

Now we all know how digital devices can be both a blessing and a curse. But how can we make sure that we’re not spending too much time in front of screens?

By setting limits!

Of course, it’s easier said than done, but even if you take just a few steps at a time, your brain (and your eyes) will thank you for it.

So, here’s what you can do to start:

• Avoid opening social media before lunch
• Try to dedicate a specific time to email checking
• Go on an evening walk with a friend instead of watching Netflix
• Make your bedroom a tech-free zone

This way, slowly but surely, you will be able to create a perfect balance between your online and offline lives and figure out how to spend your time in a more productive and fulfilling way.

🔍 Keep track of your online activities

Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on how much time you actually spend on social media and other websites that don’t serve your purpose?

It’s easy to slip away while scrolling through endless news and feeds, but by using a good activity tracker, you can take much better control of your productivity and precious time. Such a tool can help you identify your internet usage patterns and adjust your habits accordingly – and that’s the first step toward making more intentional choices about where to spend your time and focus on tasks that will actually move you toward your goals.

Wanna give it a try? Download Time Management Assistant today!

Time Management Assistant is a handy browser extension that automatically keeps track of all the websites you visit and provides a detailed log of how much time they take away from your life. The extension includes visual productivity reports that simplify data analysis and decision-making. And the best part: it is absolutely free to use!

Check out this post to find out more about Time Management Assistant and learn how to use it to your greatest advantage.

🔐 Focus on data security

As sad as it is, deception and fraud are commonplace on the web. Therefore, we recommend you take your data security very seriously. Lucky, it’s not that difficult to make sure your information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands:

• Use unique passwords for different accounts + update them regularly: None of that “12345” nonsense. Make it difficult for anyone to guess and include a mix of numbers and symbols in your passwords.
• Be wary of suspicious emails or pop-ups asking for personal information: Don’t fall for the classic “Your bank account has been hacked, please click this link and enter all your details” trick. Before sharing your data with a website, check if it has security badges and proper data encryption protocols in place.
• Invest in some reliable anti-virus software: Nobody wants a nasty virus infecting their computer and exposing all their juicy secrets. Thus, get yourself a reliable anti-virus program to avoid that.

✅ Back up your data

Have you ever experienced the frustration of losing important files, photos, or documents because your device crashed or got stolen? If so, then you know how vital it is to back up your data.

Data backup is about creating a duplicate of all your essential information and storing it in a separate location. This precautionary measure provides peace of mind knowing that if anything happens to your primary device, you’ll still have access to the documents and information you need.

☎️ Switch your smartphone for a dumb one

Have you ever heard of a dumb phone? It’s essentially a non-smartphone device that only has basic features like phone calls and texting. While it may seem like a step backward in today’s tech-savvy world, there are actually some benefits to using a dumb phone.

First of all, it helps to reduce screen time, allowing you to disconnect from the constant stream of information and social media notifications. In addition to that, dumb phones are incredibly durable, and their battery life lasts for days. Plus, they’re typically much more affordable than their smarter counterparts.

So, if you’re looking to simplify your life and take a break from the digital world, a dumb phone may be just what you need.

❌ Unsubscribe!

It seems like everywhere we turn on the internet, there’s someone urging us to subscribe to their content. And let’s be honest, it’s easy to get sucked in. But have you ever stopped to think about the toll it’s taking on your mental health and productivity?

Constantly being bombarded with notifications and messages can be overwhelming and distracting, leading to feelings of anxiety and stress. So why not try doing something radical and unsubscribe from it all? By decluttering your digital life, you’ll be able to better focus on what truly matters and improve your overall well-being.

🔕 Turn off notifications

Sometimes notifications can be no less than the bane of your existence. Your phone is constantly buzzing, your computer is flashing, and you can’t seem to get a moment’s peace.

But fear not! There’s one easy solution that will help you take control of your digital life – why not try switching off those pesky notifications and deciding for yourself when to respond to messages and emails?

By doing so, you’ll avoid getting sidetracked by every little thing that demands your attention, and you’ll actually be able to concentrate on the task at hand and complete it faster, without any mistakes. So, go ahead and turn them off!

⛔ Try distraction-blocking apps

If you often find yourself checking your email every few minutes or mindlessly scrolling through social media but don’t have the courage to ditch them as yet, it might be time to consider using a distraction-blocking app.

These apps are designed to help you focus on the task at hand by blocking distracting websites or apps for a set amount of time. They can not only increase productivity and efficiency but also reduce stress and anxiety from feeling overwhelmed or constantly interrupted.

Plus, with many options available, you can easily find an app that fits your needs, budget, and preferences best. So, check the below post to choose the perfect distraction-blocking app that will benefit your daily routine:

⚫ Make use of grayscale mode

By switching your phone to grayscale mode, you will remove all the bright and attractive colors that stimulate your brain and make it harder to put your phone down. And without those eye-catching hues, your phone becomes less visually stimulating, making you less likely to continue scrolling endlessly.

In sum, using grayscale mode is a small but effective step in reducing phone addiction and taking back control of your life. Thus, make sure to give it a try and see how it can make a positive impact on your daily routine.

☀️ Cut down on screen brightness

Have you ever felt like your eyes were burning after a long day of staring at your computer or phone? That’s probably because the brightness on your screen was turned up too high.

When you spend hours and hours daily looking at bright screens, you’re putting a lot of strain on your eyes, which can lead to issues like dryness and fatigue. But reducing screen brightness helps to preserve your vision in the long term.

Additionally, lowering your screen brightness can also help conserve battery life on your devices, which means fewer frantic trips to find an outlet – and that’s another small efficiency-boosting digital habit in itself.

😎 Get yourself some blue light filtering glasses

Blue light filtering glasses are nifty spectacles designed to alleviate eye strain and ward off disruptive blue light from electronic devices. And considering the enormous amount of screen time everyone is exposed to these days, it’s no wonder so many people are investing in these glasses.

Whether you’re gaming, scrolling through social media, or binge-watching your favorite show, these glasses can help protect your eyes from the harmful effects of blue light. Plus, with so many stylish designs to choose from, you can look good while staying healthy!

🏂 Take breaks from social media

Nowadays, we live in a world where social media has become an integral part of our lives. It’s no longer just a means of connecting with friends and family or sharing our thoughts and adventures. It’s now a platform where we can get lost in hours of scrolling, comparing our lives to others, and consuming a constant stream of information.

That’s why taking breaks from social media is crucial. It allows us to disconnect, recharge and reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones, and the world around us. It’s vital for our mental and emotional health, and it gives us space to reflect on what truly matters to us.

Remember to take a break from social media every once in a while, and you’ll surely feel refreshed and energized.

📑 Keep your digital space organized

As physical sources of information are steadily going obsolete, digital information takes the reign. Photos, documents, emails, and messages – it’s all there, cluttering up our devices and making it harder to find what we actually need.

However, keeping your digital space organized is essential if you want to stay productive, efficient, and on top of your game. Not only will it save you time in the long run, but it will also ensure that you don’t miss anything important, like scheduled appointments and deadlines.

So, where do you even begin?

Well, start by creating folders and sorting your files by type or date. You can also use tags or color-coding to make them easier to find. And don’t forget to regularly clear out your inbox and delete any files that you no longer need.

Trust us, a little bit of organization goes a long way!

🧘 Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help us become more present in the moment, reduce stress, and improve our overall well-being. It helps us to reconnect with ourselves and cultivate more fulfilling and intentional relationships with everyone and everything around us, including technology.

By bringing awareness to our online behaviors and setting intentions for how we want to use technology, we start to interact with our devices in a more meaningful fashion. Mindfulness can also help us create boundaries around our phone and computer usage, leading to more balance in our lives.

So, next time you pick up your phone, just take a moment to check in with yourself and consider how you want to engage with technology (and if you actually need to). Try to stay in the moment by focusing on your senses – the sights, sounds, and sensations around you.

Even something as simple as taking a few deep breaths can help you feel more grounded and centered. And in an instant like this, it’s so much easier to understand what you really need and want – you might be surprised to see that the urge to check on social media is your brain’s honest attempt to distract you from anxiety or stress, and staying aware of that, you’ll be able to choose a healthier coping mechanism for yourself.

Conclusion

Although our digital habits can be hard to shake, taking the first step and actually trying to make a change can be rewarding in itself. It requires patience, effort, and self-discipline, but you can get back on track before you know it.

To help keep yourself accountable, consider using Time Management Assistant by actiTIME. It will automatically track all your web activities and the time spent online so that you can see where your day goes and understand how to enhance your productivity.

Ultimately, changing your bad digital habits won’t happen overnight, so use Time Management Assistant as an opportunity to fully practice self-control and grow from the experience. With determination and resilience, it’s amazing what good digital habits you can create and how much better the outcome may be!