Over the last few decades, technology has gone from a sign of affluence to a necessary commodity. The internet keeps us all connected. With smartphones, smartwatches, and even tablets, we can take our entire digital world with us everywhere. While this is an amazing conquest and something necessary in our current world, there can be too much of a good thing. There have been many studies over the years on social media and technology that show how they can affect your mental and physical health, social life, and even your productivity. Check out five reasons you should unplug every once in a while.

1. Less Stress

Believe it or not, digital technology can introduce unnecessary stress into our lives. Many people use their personal phones for work, making it easier for work to creep into your personal time. Work-related emails or texts can ping! at any time. If you have a compulsion to answer or read it, no matter the time, it can feel like you’re always working. But even personal messages like text messages from family or friends can interrupt what you’re doing and cause stress. Unplugging, even if just for a few minutes a day, gives your brain a well-deserved break and helps create boundaries around your personal and leisure time.

2. Your Productivity can Increase

Research has shown that employees who unwind from work stress during the weekend are more productive when solving problems. They are also more engaged at work. This means taking a full break from technology after work, or at least limiting the type of emails or texts you get when you’re on the clock, can make your Monday much more productive! According to YoungAh Park, a Kansas State University researcher, receiving work-related messages can actually affect your feelings and behaviors at home. The result of work-at-home could be a lack of support for your partner, fatigue, or even lead to you becoming more hostile (aka, grumpy). So, take the time to clock out and have some you time when you leave the workplace.

3. Enhance Your Relationships

Don’t get me wrong, I love my social media apps and use them constantly to talk with friends and family. However, I’ve caught myself reaching for my phone during rare lunches with friends or even when visiting my parents. It’s second nature for us to scroll through our apps or send a quick text, but it can be detrimental if it isn’t the right time. The constant connection to technology creates barriers that can hinder in-person relationships. When you’re constantly checking in on everyone and everything online, you’re not focusing on the people who are physically present in your life. When you put the technology away, you remove that barrier and can focus on what’s being said or done without the burden of every notification that pops up on the screen. As a result, you can create more meaningful, powerful, and even fun experiences with your loved ones.

4. Improve your mental health 

Having nonstop access to social media might not seem like a bad thing, but it can be. Research published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open has found that adults using Snapchat, Facebook, or TikTok were more likely to report they felt depressed than those who didn’t use social media. Some experts believe that this could be because of FOMO (fear of missing out) when we see others enjoying life or doing things we can’t. Being connected to friends and colleagues on social media can increase feelings of jealousy, envy, and loneliness. Unplugging breaks you out of the negative emotional cycle. It can be hard to step away at first, but it gets easier when you can't constantly access the technology. Besides, forcing yourself to unplug for a while might actually help you accomplish the things you’d envied in the first place!

5. Own Your Time Again

Do you ever dry your hands just to send a text while washing the dishes? Have you had your legs go numb because you got distracted scrolling TikTok on the toilet? Sometimes, we dry our hands just to send a text while washing the dishes. Other times, we get distracted scrolling TikTok on the toilet, only to realize our legs have gone numb. The point is, it’s so easy for technology to distract us from doing something and while it might not always affect our health, it can worsen our productivity. When you have chores, homework, or even a hobby, try turning your phone off. This will keep you from migrating from the task you need to do and could even cut that 30-minute kitchen tidy-up down to 15 minutes.

Incorporating regular breaks from technology into your routine can lead to a healthier, more balanced life. So, why not take the first step today and commit to unplugging for a little while? Your mind, body, and relationships will thank you for it.