After my MS diagnosis, I looked into simple ways to decrease inflammation in the body and reduce stress and anxiety. One of the quickest and most effective stress relief methods I’ve found? Disconnecting.
Love it or hate it, we live in a world where we are always “plugged in”.
We carry around pocket-sized computers and are perpetually bombarded with notifications, phone calls, text messages, and emails. As a result, we are constantly on high alert – always subconsciously on our toes, waiting for that next ring or pocket vibration. (Ever experienced a “phantom” phone vibration? Me too. It’s actually a recognized syndrome.)
In recent years the world is slowly coming to the realization that technology, with all of its conveniences, comes with some potentially harmful consequences. According to the BBC, “The negative impacts of this ‘always on’ culture are that your mind is never resting, you’re not giving your body time to recover, so you’re always stressed.” (source)
For those dealing with a serious illness, the consequences of chronic stress created by technology are especially magnified. Stress leads to increased inflammation in the body, and inflammation—particularly chronically high levels as is common in today’s “go go go” society—often leads to illness (or an exacerbation of existing symptoms).
How stress affects us is highly individualized and based on a multitude of factors including genes, age, physical health, diet, childhood experiences, and a bit of luck. Regardless, it is my belief that the negative health consequences of chronic stress, especially in combination with an unhealthy diet and lifestyle, eventually manifest in some form (in my case, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis).
The Importance of Disconnecting
So how can we combat stress in a “plugged in” society? One possible answer came to me on a flight a month after my diagnosis.
In July 2015, I found myself on an airplane to Ontario to attend Tina’s family reunion. The flight attendants did their customary routine and asked us to turn on “airplane mode” on our devices, and we complied.
Midway through the flight, I began to read a book I had brought. For the first 30+ minutes, my mind kept auto-drifting to my iPhone.
I had a subconscious urge to pick it up and check my email but quickly realized I couldn’t. My heart skipped a beat when I thought of the work emails I couldn’t check. Then I thought I heard the phone vibrate from inside my bag, then realized that was impossible in its disconnected state.
After a (long) while, I forgot about the phone entirely. All outside distractions disappeared and it dawned on me that I was completely relaxed and my focus was entirely on the content of the pages. It was the first time in months that my phone wasn’t connected and tempting me to check it. And it felt phenomenal.
Since that day, the little orange circle with the airplane symbol has become the most-used button on my iPhone (with the exception of the Candy Crush app icon, of course).
If you find yourself seeking a temporary reprieve from the chronic pressure of being “always on”, I’ve found that disconnecting, even briefly, represents the quickest path to reduced stress, increased relaxation, and greater mental focus.
Obviously, we live in a world that relies on technology and so it’s usually impossible to remain disconnected for long periods if you hope to maintain relationships or keep a job. However, there are a few specific situations where I’ve found “tapping the orange button” can be a huge benefit.
Disconnect In These Three Situations
When Sleeping
Quite possibly the biggest. The quality and quantity of your sleep affects everything, and there have been numerous articles and books written about how it can impact your health.
Being awoken by the buzz of a call or notification doesn’t just snap you out of restorative sleep. Checking your phone initiates mental stimulation that can take an hour or more to come back down from.
Personally I like to turn airplane mode on at least 60 minutes before turning in to begin quieting the mind, and I charge my phone outside of the bedroom so I’m not tempted to check it in the middle of the night.
When Exercising
I used to take my phone with me to the gym when I worked out – not anymore.
It serves as a constant distraction and can prolong your workout unnecessarily. In extreme cases, I’ve seen fellow gym-goers checking their device between every set! (I haven’t seen someone drop their weights and check between every rep, but I’m sure that day will come.)
You should enter every workout with a clear goal and purpose: to get in shape and stay healthy. Don’t let your phone affect the quality of your exercise routine – your health depends on it!
When Visiting Friends or Family
Tell me if this has happened to you: you’re having coffee or dinner with a friend when all of a sudden you feel the familiar vibration of your phone from your pocket or purse.
Your mind briefly drifts from the conversation to the possible reasons your phone buzzed. A work email? A text from Mom? Even worse, you may feel compelled to check your phone even though you know it’d be rude.
That internal dialogue is stress knocking at your door. Disconnect and stay in the moment – the conversation and laughs you have with friends and family will relieve stress even more.
Can Disconnecting Create Stress?
What if the idea of disconnecting actually creates stress for you with the worry that you’ll miss an important or urgent call?
It’s important to step back and realize that the world will “keep on spinnin’” if you’re out of touch for a little while.
Smartphones have taken hold of all of us with their addictive features and constant stream of positive reinforcement. Once you come to this realization and overcome it, disconnecting feels like the weight of the world is lifted off your shoulders. I know it does for me.
Disconnecting can free us up to focus on a single task. It can help us temporarily escape the pressure and stress of everyday life.
And most importantly for those of us struggling with illness, that little orange button can contribute positively to healing.
Do you have the habit of disconnecting? How does it make you feel?
Curt is successfully optimizing health and healing illness (and helping others do the same) with the help of his wife, Tina. Read Curt & Tina’s inspiring story, “From on our heels to On Our Heals”. Feel free to send them a message.