Yeah, I know. The irony isn’t lost on me – here I am, sending you a digital newsletter about disconnecting from the digital world. But that is exactly the contradiction modern creatives face: our work lives online, yet our creativity often thrives offline. The average creative pro, according to some stats, checks their phone 96 times daily. I have not counted myself. Lol. I know a friend who takes time off social media – that’s like being cut-off from anything called the internet to deal with their “sanity”. But there are some people whose lives and living are rolled into it. As much as we can’t do without being with a gadget or online, what about finding that bridge in-between it all? Never thought of it?
Creative Insight: The Strategic Digital Detox
The concept of “digital detox” often conjures images of throwing your phone into the ocean and living in a cabin for a month. Tempting? Perhaps. Practical? Not for most of us.
Instead, let’s talk about strategic unplugging – the art of disconnecting in ways that actually enhance your creative output while preventing burnout.
First, understand this: Constant connectivity comes with a measurable cost. Studies show that even having your phone visible (not even using it) reduces your cognitive capacity by up to 10% and decreases working memory by 5-10%. For creatives, whose currency is original thought, that’s like working with a permanent handicap.
Greg McKeown, who is the author of “Essentialism” and “Effortless,” discovered this firsthand when he found himself overwhelmed by digital inputs. As he shared in his podcast, “What’s Essential,” his productivity and creativity were suffering despite working longer hours. His solution wasn’t abandoning technology but implementing what he calls “digital quarterly offloads” – a systematic approach to reclaiming mental space. Let’s break it down:
- The Quarterly Digital Clearing: Every three months, McKeown dedicates time to removing unnecessary apps, unsubscribing from newsletters that no longer serve him, and clearing digital clutter from his devices. Personally, I have found this practice to keep myself more focused. Some of us keep apps on our phones just because our phones can take it. Others are sentimental about removing an app that has worked for them. The truth is, if you don’t use an app in over a month, you really don’t need it on your devices.
- The “Monk Mode Morning”: McKeown protects the first 3 hours of his day from digital interruptions. During this time, he focuses on his most important creative work without checking emails or messages. I have long discovered that the best time for me to work is very early in the morning. I don’t joke with that. It’s my prime time of productivity. As McKeown suggests, it is not the time to check Facebook or respond to WhatsApp chats of friends. Focus on what is most important to be done.
- The “Noise Cancellation” Technique: When working on important projects, he uses airplane mode on all devices except the one essential to the task at hand. Personally, I use DND. As a matter of fact, I have it set at dedicated times. During those times, no notifications, calls don’t ring or vibrate except for some specific set of numbers. You will be amazed at how efficient you can become with this practice. Whether it’s time for rest or time for work, you need the noise-cancellation technique to get the best out of yourself.
For the results? McKeown reports that not only do you experience increased productivity but also deeper thinking and more innovative ideas. “When you create space between yourself and the digital noise,” he explains, “you allow your mind to make connections it couldn’t make before.”
Note: Digital detox isn’t about rejecting technology – it’s about using it intentionally as a tool rather than being unconsciously used by it.
The Toolbox: Tech to Help You Unplug
Yes, there’s a delightful irony in using technology to help you use less technology. But these tools are designed with balance in mind. Let me make some recommendations:
For Focused Sessions – Forest App
It’s good to have focused sessions and to prevent impulse phone checking. This app works by planting a virtual tree that grows while you stay off your phone. If you break concentration and leave the app, your tree dies. You can create different “forests” for different projects to visualize your focused time.
Bonus: Forest App has a Chrome extension.
For Screen Time Management – Unpluq: Control Your Time
Manage your screen time by completing challenges like tapping a pattern, walking 25 steps, or shaking your phone for 15 seconds every time you want to access an app you have blocked. This app is perfect for building healthy screen habits through gentle intervention. It allows you to schedule app blocking and helps you set intentional usage goals.
For Calendar and Task Management – Todoist
Todoist is a very good productivity app, and if this is your first time hearing about this as a creative, I recommend that you check it out. You can literally use this app to plan anything in your life. It helps you organize, track, analyze and even collaborate on projects with others. It’s like a project-management app but on a smaller scale. I find the free version enough, but if you want to access the full features, you can subscribe to one of their paid options.
Bonus Mention: The YouVersion Bible App
Allow me to be biased with this: If you are a Christian tech bro or sis and you don’t have this app, you don’t know what you are missing. This app is very useful for meditation and for my favourite use, reading the Bible through. YouVersion now has a lot of integrations that make it a productive app for Tech Christians today. With Daily Verses, flexible Bible reading plans and devotionals, you can schedule your commune time without missing a beat.
I need to mention, though, that it is not about having these apps on your devices. You have to intentionally use them to become a better version of you.
The Challenge: The 7-Day Screen Awareness Audit
Today, let me challenge you to become truly aware of your digital consumption patterns. The majority just use gadgets without realising their addictive behaviour. Here’s how:
- Days 1-2: Baseline Measurement. Use your phone’s built-in screen time tracking or download Unpluq (from The Toolbox recommendation). Make no intentional changes to your behaviour – just observe your natural patterns.
- Days 3-5: Mindful Usage Before opening any app, ask yourself: “What am I hoping to get from this?”. This is a question Greg McKeown suggests asking before any digital engagement. After closing the app, note whether you got what you needed. Ensure you continue tracking your usage.
- Days 6-7: Strategic Experiment Identify your highest-use app and implement one boundary (e.g., no usage before 10 AM). Note any changes in mood, productivity, or creative thinking.
- Reflection: At week’s end, answer these questions:
- Which digital habits drain your energy?
- Which digital habits actually enhance your creativity or wellbeing?
- What’s one change you’ll implement permanently?
Share your insights with #MyDigitalMuse. I’ll feature the most interesting feedback in an upcoming edition!