By G. Madaraka Nyerere
Imagine this: You might be spending up to six days each month glued to digital screens. Studies show the average person spends more than six hours a day on their phone—often longer for computer users. That takes a toll, in more ways than one. Stepping away from screens has been shown to offer real benefits.
Excessive screen time is a growing problem that could seriously impact future human interaction. Around 41 percent of people reportedly spend more than nine hours a day on their phones, with the average close to seven hours. Screen use surged by 70 percent during the COVID pandemic—a statistic hard to ignore. Given that we are daily made up of precious hours and tiny efforts, these daily habits affect not just personal well-being but also general productivity. Studies show overuse increases anxiety and disrupts sleep cycles. Even more troubling, whole life patterns often depend on or get trapped by a digital device.
Fortunately, digital detoxes are the correct fix for this growing imbalance. A weekend where we aim to lower our screen use may improve our real-time connections. We were not created to sit around smartphones and computers. There are benefits to unplugging—tech-free weekends, social media breaks, and more. Our bodies and spirits welcome periods without a screen. Detoxed from machines, we gradually take a step back. If this trend continues, it’s likely the oral communication skills of future generations will slowly decline—and not just in their native tongues.
Beyond that, detoxes are key antidotes. Reducing digital device use offers huge benefits—better focus and memory, healthier sleep, and stronger in-person relationships. Children, most affected by screen addiction, are especially at risk of losing their phone privileges if not closely monitored. It’s not just their phones that should be turned off; it’s the digital distractions stealing their peace. We need a lifestyle of healthy tech use.
Here’s one solution: Take back life. Overcoming any digital addiction, it starts with conscious effort—ideally, in small doses. Try switching off your phone in the morning or limiting screen time before bed. The timing alone can lift up your mood and sharpen focus. And of course, Minimal Digital is a helpful tool: it replaces social icons with a dull grey screen, helping to stop aimless scrolling.
Screen alternatives are everywhere—journaling, drawing, reading, gardening, or other outdoor activities. The solution lies in small rediscoveries—the joy of real life beyond the glowing screen.
