The Benefits of a Digital Detox

Last week, I did another of my regular endurance challenges.  This one was called Race to the Wreck which was 300km on a bike and by foot across the Namibian desert which included the worlds largest sand dunes finishing at the Skeleton coast.  I joked afterwards that it was my kind of all inclusive holiday with everything taken care of so that we could focus on each days distance and heat. It was absolutely fantastic!

Most days we were camping under incredible stars, but one day before a 3am start for a long bike stage we stayed at a lodge which had the sign above on the bar window.

One of the many benefits I found from last week was we had no mobile signal or wifi and we all had a well deserved digital detox. For many leaders, constantly being "on" leads to fatigue, reduced clarity, and burnout. Going off-grid allows us to recharge, reset our mental state, and return to our roles with a renewed sense of focus and purpose.

In todays, world we are usually constantly connected, stooped over our phones, tablets or laptops both for work and for personal consumption.  I am shocked by some of the stats published on typical digital connectivity. This includes overall internet usage where on average we all apparently use it for six hours a day! In the UK, people spend an average of one hour and 49 minutes per day on social media. 53% of UK consumers spend two to four hours a day, while one in four spend more than five hours a day! This is shocking!

The average American consumes about 34 gigabytes of data and information every day, which is equivalent to about 100,000 words.

I am very pleased to report that last week I consumed zero gigabytes and definitely felt better for it!

I think stepping away from the constant flood of emails, messages and notifications allows us to think more clearly about long-term vision and priorities, have more conversations and enhances creativity.

In addition to mental clarity, going off-grid offers physical and emotional health benefits. Technology can keep us in a constant state of low-level stress, as the brain is continually primed to respond to every beep and buzz. Time in nature, however, has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, decrease blood pressure, and improve overall well-being. I would definitley recommend it!

Whilst digital tools are essential for modern business, I think striking a balance is key to being an effective and healthy leader.

Would value your thoughts on a digital detox and also value any recommendations for future endurance challenges.