The new year is picking up speed and Lent is just around the corner again. Whether it's eating less or exercising more - many people use it to get their lives back on track after the often excessive Christmas period. How about using this period for a digital detox this year? A digital detox, including smartphone-free time, can enrich our lives immensely, making us more mindful and focused and bringing us back to our analog roots. We have therefore collected 7 tips for digital and smartphone detox.

• Set an offline day: not using a smartphone for days on end - a nightmare for many. After all, most of us can't even manage without our cell phones for a few hours these days. Such a plan can therefore quickly become overwhelming. It is better if you define a smartphone-free day per week, for example, or banish your cell phone from your field of vision from a certain time of day. And distraction is key: instead, grab a book, try out a new recipe or meet up with friends. The more smartphone-free time you integrate into your everyday life, the easier this form of detox will become over time.
   
• De-digitize your bedroom: Bed, wardrobe, bedside cabinet - these are three essential items that can be found in many bedrooms. However, there is usually also a cell phone, others even take their laptop into the bedroom or have a TV hanging on the wall. However, such a scenario is not beneficial. So take Lent as an opportunity to de-digitize your bedroom. Swap your smartphone for an analog alarm clock so that you don't have to start the day on your phone. Banish the TV from the room, as the blue light radiation impairs sleep. And your laptop has no place in this oasis of calm either.
   
• Outsource services: It's not just in the bedroom that "Back to analog roots!" applies, but even more services that we take for granted can be outsourced. The classic: a wristwatch so that you don't have to constantly unlock your cell phone. You can also reach for a flashlight or a dictionary again instead of relying on the relevant apps. And when you're out and about, the good old map has its advantages or you can ask a passer-by for directions.
   
• Define fixed check times: Because we always have our cell phones to hand, many of us check our e-mails and messages all the time. However, this kind of behavior is stressful for the body. It is better to schedule one email check per day. And even if we are now used to responding to messages immediately, the world won't end if we take more time to be outside or socialize instead. To avoid being constantly confronted with new messages, it is advisable to switch off push notifications or even switch to flight mode for a while.
   
• Use apps: Nowadays, there is already an app for almost everything - including for spending less time with and in front of your smartphone. Not only are we made aware of our own screen time, which is often far too high, but some apps also work with time locks, reward a certain amount of stamina with points or provide special modes that hide apps for a period of time. This allows us to focus better or sleep more restfully, for example.  
   
• Clean out your cell phone: Using useful apps is one thing. But it is also advisable to clear out your smartphone at the same time. Because hand on heart: how many apps and applications are on your phone? And how many of them do you actually use several times a week? Exactly. It's high time to tidy things up and remove anything superfluous. At the same time, think about whether you absolutely need every new app you are considering.
   
• Practice mindfulness: Digital detox isn't just about giving up certain devices and ways of doing things; on the contrary, integrating new activities or ways of seeing things can also help you say goodbye to too much media consumption. One method is to refocus on the essentials and practise mindfulness. Meditation can help with this. Others swear by journaling or starting a gratitude diary. And still others spend more time outdoors in nature instead. All of this can have a positive effect on body and mind.

Ideal refuge for a digital detox break

What can be just as helpful in this context: Breaking out of your familiar surroundings for once, changing your perspective and literally broadening your horizons. And this is where we, the Seehotel Jägerwirt, come into play, if you like. Located on the border between Carinthia and Styria and at an altitude of 1,800 meters, the Turracher Höhe is a delight at any time of year. Crystal-clear lakes and magical stone pine forests provide the inspiration and motivation you need for a digital detox break. If you want to go one step further, you can also book one of our retreats. The range extends from communication to psychology topics.

Alexander Springenschmidt, Managing Director of Seehotel Jägerwirt, is an expert on the topic of flow throughout the DACH region. With his "High Flow Time Management" patent, he helps people to achieve twice as much in half the time without burning out. 

www.alexanderspringenschmidt.com