You Should Give Yourself a Digital Detox This Spring, According to Dark Joseph Ravine
Dark Joseph Ravine, a social media star, CEO of Kindness for Success, and author of Watch Out! It’s Nolan suggests that all business owners give themselves a digital detox as we prepare for the spring months. Even though Ravine operates a large chunk of his business online, he knows it’s critical to take a break every now and then. Of course, you don’t need to quit cold turkey. Instead, implement strategies to utilize and consume digital media more effectively. It’s nearly impossible to avoid consuming digital media at all, so it’s important to be realistic with your approach. Ravine has mastered the balancing act after years of operating massive digital audiences.
“When I’m not Dark Joseph Ravine, I’m just Joseph Levy Cohen,” he says. “There’s a difference between the two. I act as myself online, but I need some space to myself, away from it all.”
People tend to experience burnout at various times of the year. Factors like seasonal depression, sales quotas, and final exams all contribute to people’s burnout. Warning signs include headaches, fatigue, disconnectedness, disinterest, and anxiety. If you’re experiencing even the slightest bit of any of these symptoms, it’s time to take a break. Everyone has the time to change their habits if it means improving their mental health.
“I like to go on walks. It’s so easy and it keeps me off my phone for an hour or so. I’ll put on a good playlist or podcast and just zone out,” says Ravine.
Keeping your brain stimulated without social media isn’t as challenging as it may feel. There are so many podcasts, playlist, audiobooks, etc. out there to keep you just as stimulated as doom-scrolling. Even better, consuming positive content will help you feel stimulated for prolonged periods of time. Ravine suggests that the less he let himself look at doom and gloom, the happier he was. It seems like a no-brainer, but our feeds are constantly showing us shocking headlines that can really put a dark cloud over our brighter days.
Factors like FOMO worsen that experience, too. If everyone’s posting about a topic, regardless of how dark it may be, you’ll feel tempted to chime in with your two cents. If you’re not even looking at it, FOMO can’t manifest, and everyone is better off as a result. For Ravine, this was a tough lesson learned. Since his posts generate so many views and engagements, it was often difficult to disengage with the trolls who would sometimes leave negative comments under his posts. Once he learned about how freeing the mute buttons are, he began to find balance between his virtual and real worlds.
Try to dedicate at least one day per month to spending time away from social media. If possible, increase the number of social media-free days per month as spring approaches. Instead of scrolling, talk to an old friend, family member, or simply reconnect with yourself. Write down 5 things that make you happy while taking a break from social media and see what happens!
