Benefits of Unplugging

Smartphones are our best friends and our worst enemies. They allow us to answer important emails on the go, remind us of meetings, and let us share on social media from just about anywhere. But they can also be a source of stress, constantly connecting us to work. We all know public relations is not a 9 to 5 job, a client crisis or PR emergency could happen at any moment, but it’s even less so thanks to our mobile devices eternally in the palm of our hand. So turn off that phone, sit back, relax, and check out these benefits of occasionally going off the grid.

More free time. As PR practitioners, it’s important to be up to date with what’s trending on social media. But think of how much time you waste continually scrolling and refreshing your news feeds only to see the same content over and over. Use those five minutes here and there more wisely to do something offline, like starting that book you've been hearing so much about.

More sleep. Putting your phone on airplane mode, or better yet turning it off altogether, allows you a good night’s sleep without the interruption of a text or update. This will also eliminate that awful habit most of us have of lying in bed continually refreshing our news feeds which always keeps us up later than expected. Staring at that bright screen at night suppresses your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone which regulates sleep.

Less stress. This one’s a given. Stepping away from your phone every once in a while will give you the opportunity to relax and get your mind off of school work and office work. You’ll be better equipped to deal with that to-do list if you’re not seconds away from a mental breakdown.

So as much as we love our smartphones and the access they give us to, well, just about everything, it’s important to give yourself the time you need away from the screen.