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Lifestyle & Success

Digital Detox: Reconnecting with Life Beyond the Screen

By Lufian Staff November 16, 2023 1039

In an era dominated by digital devices, a growing movement champions the idea of a digital detox—a deliberate choice to break free from the shackles of screens and reconnect with the richness of life. Experts and scientists, including renowned professionals, are increasingly advocating for this practice as research highlights its potential benefits. Let’s explore the insights and examples that underscore the importance of disconnecting in order to truly reconnect.

The Expert Perspective:

Digital Minimalism Advocate – Dr. Cal Newport: Dr. Newport, a computer science professor and author of “Digital Minimalism,” argues for intentional technology use. He emphasizes the necessity of taking breaks from digital distractions to cultivate deep focus, foster genuine connections, and reclaim a sense of control over our lives.

Psychologist and Author – Dr. Sherry Turkle: Dr. Turkle, a psychologist and MIT professor, delves into the impact of constant connectivity on human relationships in her book “Reclaiming Conversation.” She sheds light on how the omnipresence of smartphones affects the quality of our interactions, advocating for a mindful digital approach to nurture authentic connections.

Scientific Insights:

Research from the University of California, Irvine suggests that a perpetual stream of digital information can lead to information overload and contribute to stress. Taking a break from screens has been linked to improved mental well-being, reduced stress levels, and heightened focus.

Embark on a transformative journey to liberate yourself from the digital hustle. Discover refreshing methods to initiate your digital detox, paving the way for a mindful and intentional connection with technology. Dive into these invigorating approaches, and unlock the door to a more balanced and fulfilling digital life.

1. The Unplugged Sanctuary:

Designate a specific room or corner in your home as a tech-free sanctuary. Allow this space to be a refuge where you can unwind, read a physical book, or engage in creative pursuits without the digital hum.

2. Tech Sabbatical Weekends:

Dedicate entire weekends to a tech sabbatical. Turn off your devices, venture outdoors, and immerse yourself in activities that ignite joy and connection with the analog world.

3. The Notification Diet:

Conduct a thorough audit of your notifications. Trim the excess by turning off non-essential alerts. This subtle shift will create a quieter digital space, reducing the constant urge to check your device.

4. Digital Vision Boarding:

Create a digital vision board of your aspirations, goals, and dreams. Engaging with positive and inspiring content deliberately curates your digital experience, making it a source of motivation rather than mindless scrolling.

5. Mindful Photo Capture:

Instead of incessant photo-taking, adopt a mindful approach. Allow yourself a limited number of photos per event, encouraging you to be fully present and engage in the experience without viewing it through a screen.

6. Analog Accountability Partner:

Enlist a friend or family member as an analog accountability partner. Share your digital detox goals and check in regularly to provide mutual encouragement and celebrate successes.

7. Digital Declutter Challenges:

Gamify the decluttering process by turning it into a challenge. Set specific, achievable goals for cleaning up your digital space, whether it’s organizing files, decluttering your inbox, or revisiting your app usage.

8. Screen-Free Night Routine:

Establish a screen-free routine before bedtime. Engage in calming activities such as reading a physical book, practicing gratitude, or jotting down reflections in a journal to enhance your sleep quality.

9. Nature-Infused Screen Breaks:

Incorporate screen breaks with a nature-infused twist. Take a stroll in the park, have a picnic, or simply sit and appreciate the outdoors without the distraction of digital devices.

10. Tech-Light Workouts:

Transform your workout routine into a tech-light experience. Opt for music without screens, podcasts, or the guidance of a fitness app. Allow physical activity to be a space for mindfulness and self-reflection.

11. Digital-Free Meals with a Twist:

Turn digital-free meals into a sensory experience. Experiment with new recipes, focus on the flavors, and savor each bite without the interference of screens.

12. Themed Unplugged Days:

Designate specific days for themed unplugged activities. Whether it’s a creativity day, a reading marathon, or a DIY project, infusing purpose into your screen-free time makes the experience more rewarding.

13. Analog Adventures with a Purpose:

Plan analog adventures with a purpose. Explore local cultural events, volunteer opportunities, or workshops that ignite your passions, fostering connections beyond the digital realm.

14. Tech Reflection Journal:

Keep a tech reflection journal. Note your feelings, experiences, and realizations during your digital detox journey. This introspective practice adds depth to your detox and helps you stay attuned to your evolving relationship with technology.

15. The Analog Hourglass Technique:

Embrace the analog hourglass technique for focused work. Set a physical hourglass timer for a specific task, allowing you to immerse yourself fully without the interruptions of digital timekeeping.

A digital detox is not about rejecting technology; it’s about consciously managing our digital interactions to lead a more intentional, balanced, and fulfilling life. As we absorb insights from experts, scientists, and real-life examples, it becomes evident that the benefits of a digital detox extend far beyond reduced screen time—they encompass enhanced well-being, strengthened relationships, and a profound reconnection with the world around us. So, detach from the digital tether, embrace the analog world, and rediscover the vibrancy of life beyond the screen.

Inspiration

Create Yourself Again: Where to Start

By Lufian Staff June 18, 2020 1528

We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.

Oprah Winfrey

If you have been wanting to drastically change yourself, your lifestyle and the current situation, you are growing and becoming wiser. But is it easy to become a better version of yourself? And how to develop the willpower? Let’s figure out the basic ways of self-improvement and find out where to start.

Make a clear decision

If you feel that you need changes, do not delay it. If you don’t understand whether this is worth doing, then ask yourself the questions: “If I continue to live like this, what will my life be like in a year? Two? Five? Will my life suit me? What kind of people will surround me,” “ If I change my life, what will it be?”

Find yourself a goal

Sometimes we need some kind of kick, some goal, for the sake of which we will change and change the situation around us. Try to make a list of goals that you want to achieve. Does your current lifestyle give you the opportunity to reach them? If not, then something should definitely be changed.

Start cleaning

To change yourself, it is also worth changing what surrounds you, both in life and in virtual space. Start with social media feed, because what we read or observe on social networks directly affects our mood. Unsubscribe from negative and not interesting people and pages. Revise your communities. Organize and create a new feed for yourself that will motivate, educate and cheer you up.

Time for analysis

Think about your strengths and weaknesses, but rather, write them down in two columns. Analyze what you should do to change for the better. Who or what prevents you from changing? What scares you? Identify it all and decide how to change it. Remember, there is no single way, as everything is individual.

Use your time wisely

When you get a free minute, read a book, watch a movie or listen to a lecture. It’s time to train yourself and stop spending so much time on social media. Instead of seeing people that you are no longer interested in, visit a museum or exhibition. Spend time the way you want, and remember that it’s not always selfish to do it your way.

Changes never end

Remember that the self-improvement never ends. Every evening, find 5-10 minutes to analyze: how the day went, if everything from the list was completed and if you had some quality time for yourself. Plan for tomorrow. As a general rule, do not stop asking yourself questions. Write them down to understand yourself and your condition, to conclude what will be best for you.

Find a friend

It is sometimes difficult to change alone. If you wish, you can find a friend who will help, mentor and support you. You can compare your emotions and feelings, monitor changes and move towards the goal together. Also more interesting!

Good luck, we believe in you ♥

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Lifestyle & Success

How to Engage In Healthy Networking, No Kale Required

By Gordon Jenkins May 24, 2020 2041

I don’t like carrots. I like my potatoes roasted, preferably double roasted. I consume different vegetables depending on whether I’m cooking a Western, Asian or Indian style meal. If I’m feeling super healthy, I blitz a bunch of veggies in the mixer and drink the juice. However there is still one vegetable I don’t know what to do with, kale.

While wellness influencers spruik its health benefits, kale isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, kale isn’t a healthy option for everyone. Telling someone to eat it without knowing their medical history can do serious damage.

You may be wondering, am I reading the wrong magazine? What has kale got to do with being an entrepreneur? Bear with me.

We’re all different. Just like a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work with vegetables, it doesn’t work with networking. While networking is unlikely to kill you, it could kill your future growth if it’s not prescribed correctly and tailored to your unique circumstances. Vegetables are a vital part of a healthy diet in the same way that networking is essential for personal and business growth. The key with both is finding what works for you.

What Is Networking?

Google ‘networking’ and you will find over five billion responses. Investopedia defines it as “the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest,” usually in an informal social setting.

I define networking as, “the establishment of relationships with people who will most likely become your friends, influence your decisions and/or be an ambassador for what you stand for. They will support and stand by you as much as you will support and stand by them.”

Networking is a critical life skill and it has no barriers or limitations – anyone can do it, including introverts. It’s not simply the exchange of information, it is an integral part of our growth, now and in the future.

Networking is an extension of you – your brand, your lifestyle, your attraction, and your desires. We network every day even if we don’t realize it. If you have a website or social media page, you’re networking. If you are walking down the street or in a bar, you’re networking. If someone is talking about you, even if you’re not present, you’re networking. Networking is working for you 24/7, 365 days a year so you need to maximize the opportunity.

Overcoming Your Fear Of Networking

Put a bowl of kale in front of me and I can’t help thinking about how my mum used to feed it to the cows as a child in Poland where it grew freely with other weeds. It just doesn’t appeal to me. You might feel the same about networking.

Networking can be extremely daunting for someone who is introverted or feels stuck and unable to break through a plateau. You might fear that you’ll say the wrong thing and be rejected. You might feel uncomfortable having to engage in small talk with strangers. You might feel weighed down by the pressure to connect and sell. Maybe you just have no idea what to say or how to follow up.

The biggest obstacle I’ve heard in my 20 years in business is, “I don’t like going to networking events”. Guess what? You don’t have to. There are 30 other network pathways you could try and I guarantee you will enjoy at least three of them.

Just like you can pick the vegetables you prefer to stay healthy, you can pick the kind of networking you enjoy to keep your personal and business growth on track.

And if you’re still worried about your natural introversion, don’t be. Right now is the ideal time for introverts to network. The way we interact is continuing to evolve with more opportunities in the online space. Introverts, this is your time.

Five (Unconventional) Ways to Network Online

1. Start volunteering
Reach out and offer to help people with their online programs. Online programs have increased dramatically in recent years providing a great opportunity for you to build relationships with teams who have different backgrounds or niches.

2. Get Published
Want to know how I got this article published? I reached out and asked if an article on networking would be of interest. After checking out my online profile, the answer was yes. If you’re an expert on a particular topic, get in touch with magazine editors and offer to share your insights with their readership.

3. Reengage your online networks
There is no point in having millions of ‘connections’ if you’re failing to connect with them. I have over three million connections through LinkedIn groups and I recently started to reengage them by asking two simple questions:

How are you?
How can my network support you and your network?

I had a wonderful response which strengthened my networks and kept me in front of my mind.

4. Become a trusted voice
Take the time to share your expertise in online groups. I contribute to 10 groups every day which has built my reputation as a leader in my field. On the flip side, if you need expert advice from someone else, reach out via online groups to connect with people who can facilitate your growth.

5. Pay it forward
I recently sent 25 $10 coffee vouchers to key members of my network – five to existing clients, 10 to hot prospects and 10 to prospects that had gone cold. I included a message that reflected my personality and unconventional style. This simple initiative had an overwhelming positive response.

Why Network With Purpose™ Is Important?

Purposeful action is fundamental in how we interact with team members, clients, prospects, suppliers, brand ambassadors, advocates and industry colleagues.

My Network with Purpose™ framework is built on over 10,000 hours of real life experience. It fosters the right behavior and decisions to naturally increase the quality of your growth, trust and commitment. It is the glue that binds your intrinsic motivation with your big picture goals.

In the same way vegetables improve your wellbeing, networking with purpose helps you live a healthier and happier life. It makes you more visible, memorable, intriguing and compelling which can result in an astounding transformation. And no, you won’t have to attend a networking event. Or eat kale.

Click here to buy the book.

Network With Purpose – Transform Your Skills In 4 Simple Steps.

Author: Gordon Jenkins

As an executive coach, speaker and international author, Gordon helps entrepreneurs and professionals break through their plateaus and accelerate their personal and professional growth. With his trusty sidekick, Banfi The Duck, Gordon has an innate knack for recognising and celebrating people’s individuality. His book, ‘Network with Purpose: Transform your skills in four simple steps’ has become the go-to guide for entrepreneurs who want to distinguish themselves from competitors and enrich their relationships. For more info on Gordon head to www.iamgordonjenkins.com .

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Boost Brainpower

Intelligent in Different Ways: IQ, EQ and, so important nowadays, VQ – the Vitality Quotient

By Olesia Deineka May 7, 2020 3573

Why are some people capable of taking challenges head-on while others are not? Why hardships motivate some to pave their way to success but drive others into depression? For years, it was thought that the main reason is simply a different level of intelligence.

But the richest and most influential people are far from the smartest. The key component for success, according to the study, is not the level of intelligence, familiar to us as IQ, but emotional intelligence – EQ (emotional quotient.) This concept means an ability to understand and control emotions, as well as be able to understand other people and their feelings.

Is Emotional Intelligence The Only Key To Success?

EQ was introduced by psychologist Lindsay Gardner in the 90s, but after studying it over the past quarter of a century, scientists have not been able to determine its clear criteria, as was done with IQ.

Nevertheless, some signs do indicate a high level of emotional intelligence:

A vast “emotional vocabulary” – that is, the ability to understand your experiences and describe them;
A lively interest in people, curiosity and empathy – the ability to put yourself in other people’s place;
Openness to change and the ability to adapt to various circumstances;
The ability to effortlessly “say no” to yourself and people, which indicates self-control and self-esteem;
A desire to share with people new knowledge, unexpected gifts, without expecting anything in return;
Gratitude for what you have right now.

There are other features of an emotionally intelligent individual, for example, a habit to observe a work-leisure balance, including having adequate sleep at night, as it improves the intellectual and emotional state.

As you know, people can be generally divided into “right-hemispheric” (with enhanced imaginative thinking, creativity and emotional intelligence) and “left-hemispheric” (goal-oriented and logical thinkers.) It turned out that individuals, whose right hemisphere is more developed, are more likely to get well with people, be flexible and, therefore, become successful.

Why Your Energy Level Matters

However, Paul George Claudel in his book «The Project To Live,» draws attention to another important success factor – VQ (vitality quotient,) which measures how energized a person is: mentally, spiritually and physically. The author believes that the very concept of VQ – the coefficient of vital energy – is the ability to change, inspire and lead.

Photo by **Andrea Piacquadio** from **Pexels**

Indeed, people who are unable to control and replenish their energy are not able to achieve high results simply because they are tired. Worn-out leaders might become the catalyzers of professional burnout within their teams, as they fail to provide necessary support and motivation for their employees. Moreover, not only in business but in personal life, VQ is worth paying attention to. Especially at this time, where self-realization comes to the fore during self-preservation.

The quarantine has put the world on pause: industries froze in anticipation, like train cars on a siding. This period gives you a chance to think about life energy – a key resource to your well-being and productivity, as it determines how quickly you complete tasks and how you affect other people.

Ways to Optimize Your Energy

Patricia Goldfrey, American psychologist and integrative coach, offers these simple tips to replenish your energy:

Learn to say “no”

Constantly agreeing to help others when you don’t want to, results in losing your energy by giving it to other people. Luckily, American psychologist, Ellen Hendrickson, has come up with these guilt-free ways for a smooth refusal:

Offer an alternative;
Explain your inaccessibility by something specific: your schedule or other responsibilities, or feeling unwell;
Turn “saying no” into a compliment (e.g. “No, but thank you for thinking about me”.)

Control the surrounding sounds

Unwanted noise can absorb tons of energy. An easy way to quickly change your mood is to create your invigorating playlist or take on the earplugs (depends on a situation.)

Get rid of unnecessary things

According to Trisha, in nine out of ten cases, even quick cleaning up significantly helps to recharge. If you want to free up space in your house or apartment and make it cozier here are some ideas:

Throw away old books and magazines;
Get rid of unnecessary documents, such as old paid bills;
Wipe off dust;
Throw away other useless or worthless things;
Decorate your room with photos of your happy moments.

Despite the importance of your energy, developing IQ and EQ is also essential, as the presence of energy with a lack of mind can have undesirable consequences. Even the brilliant commander, Napoleon once said: “People with high intelligence and powerful energy become generals, but the ones with an excess of energy and no mind are no good to the society.” Then, probably, it’s not a good idea to avoid gaining new knowledge if you’ve decided to become successful!

The levels of IQ, EQ and VQ are innate properties. However, by setting a specific goal, it’s possible to develop each of those quotients within yourself. By understanding yourself and stimulating your multilateral thinking, you can become a well-rounded person and reach your potential. It is also important to do what you love, as it will increase your intelligence and vitality without trying too hard.