Digital Detox Needed
With much of the United States still on lockdown mode, Americans are spending more time in front of screens than ever before. Zoom meetings and Facebook scrolling have replaced in-person connections. And with many attractions and activities closed or open at a lower capacity, Netflix and social media are taking up more time in people’s lives. For many of us, it’s time for a digital detox.
One company is trying to help Americans break the connection with their screens with a unique contest. SatelliteInternet.com is offering one person $1,000 to camp for two days without the internet. (1)
While being without wifi for two days may not seem like a big deal, initially, it’s a task that could be difficult for many people these days. The more we use our phones, the more attached we get to them. And as many of us are stuck at home, the dopamine our brains usually release during social interactions is now being released when we connect on social media. The result mimics addictive behaviors. (2)
While cell phone addiction isn’t currently recognized as an official addiction by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, cell phone overuse is a real problem. There are even new terms for issues related to overusing your phone, such as: (2)
- nomophobia, the fear of not having your phone
- textaphrenia, the fear that you won’t be able to send or receive texts
- phantom vibrations, the feeling that your phone is sending you alerts when it isn’t
Wifi-Free Weekend
To help combat this problem, SatelliteInternet.com will choose one person randomly to spend a weekend camping in an RV without internet. The lucky winner will either drive their own RV or rent one, which will be reimbursed by the company. They’ll camp at the National Park of their choice on the dates they choose. (2)
After camping for two nights, the winner will use a mobile hotspot to update the world about their wifi-free adventure. While they won’t be able to document the trip on Instagram or update their friends over FaceTime, the setup sounds pretty sweet. (2)
On the contest site, the company wrote, “At SatelliteInternet.com, we know many folks who camp with RVs also need satellite internet to stay connected, but given how much time we’ve all spent online in 2020, we wanted to find a way to help someone tune out the world and get back in tune with nature.” (2)
SatelliteInternet.com will pay the winner $400 upfront and $600 after they have completed their digital detox adventure. They can also be reimbursed for their RV rental, food, and mobile hotspot, up to $1,000. (2)
Any person who is eligible to work in the U.S., over 25 years or older, and able to legally drive in any state they’d pass through for the trip can enter the contest. All you have to do is fill out a form on the contest page, and SatelliteInternet.com will randomly choose a winner on September 23, 2020. (2)
Personal Digital Detox
In case you don’t win the contest, or if you’d just like to go screen-free for awhile at home, there are plenty of ways to do a personal digital detox. Try deleting your most-used apps one day a week. Charge your phone in a room other than your bedroom and use an alarm clock so you don’t start scrolling right when you wake up. (2)
You can also change your settings so you get fewer notifications. And set your phone to “Do Not Disturb” in your settings when you’re working or spending quality time with your family. (2)
Phones and screens in general are important tools for learning, connecting, and entertaining during this time. But with some awareness and boundaries, we can make sure that they don’t take over our lives.
