This year, more than ever we have been reliant on technology to work and to interact socially. We are all guilty of spending more time than usual on our smart devices, keeping up to date on social media, video calling with our loved ones and checking emails. It sometimes feels that we are addicted to our social media channels.
Work has presented us with a different challenge this year as well. Instead of going to the office and interacting with our colleagues, we are now spending our working day at home alone, with the only interaction being with our work friends through Zoom or by email. This has created a communication gap that we need to address, due to the stress that being isolated at home can cause. It is also important to maintain a healthy work environment at home, which can be difficult at times, especially if you are living in a large household and you have to balance work and family life together.
The Stresses of Technology
We all can admit that we are somewhat addicted to our smartphones. It sometimes feels like our phone is a physical extension of ourselves. This reliance on technology can cause us a lot of stress and anxiety in the long term. Social media has a part to play in causing loneliness and anxiety as it puts a lot of pressure on us to conform and removes our ability to feel comfortable with our individuality. There are benefits of technology, especially through Lockdown as it has enabled us to keep in touch with loved ones and establish a new normal for our social lives. However, it is important to remember to have time away from technology and not to rely too much on your smart device for purpose.
Working from home can cause a lot of stress, especially when you are facing challenges at work alone. You don’t have the convenience of turning to your colleague for support and sometimes you are waiting a long time for an email. This has caused us to rely on emails and it has even made us hesitant to call our colleagues, because it can be difficult to convey our intentions without communicating with body language. Another big factor is peace and quiet whilst working at home. If you are balancing work with looking after children, you can often feel that your input at work is suffering or that you are neglecting your responsibilities as a parent. To overcome this we need to strike the right balance that suits us as individuals, but also not to rely on technology for our happiness. Visit our recent journal entry on making the home a sanctuary for body and soul through Vastu.
How to Digital Detox?
Sometimes, it is not realistic to remove yourself from technology completely, but there are ways to spend less time on your phones and screens and more time doing things that nourish the soul. If you find yourself spending too much time on your phone or laptop, here are some ways to digitally detox:
- Green spaces. Recognise the physical and emotional support that nature provides. From an Ayurvedic perspective, reconnecting with nature is crucial for developing a relationship with the elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. Our Devotion Rose Mist is a perfect pick me up, spritz a small mist over your face and neck before your venture outdoors
- Walking. Ayurveda highly recommends walking in the morning, as walking is considered to be a Rasayana, or rejuvenative. Even if you live in a city, going for a walk can make you feel calmer. Dress how you feel on your daily walk with our Hand Spun, Temple Blessed Kahdi Shawl. Wrap yourself up, connect, and just be.
- Meditation. Next to Yoga, both of these practices are strongly rooted in the ancient holistic lifestyle practice of Ayurveda. Discover how meditation affects your unique dosha here. Set the mood with our Sundaram & Silence Essential-Oil Candle to clear the mind, bring pleasure and create a sense of wellbeing.
- Restrict screen time before bed. Allow the eyes and the mind time to relax and recuperate. Ease into a blissful slumber by spritzing a mist of Mauli’s Sleep Dharma Pillow Mist, harnessing nature’s most soothing botanicals of bergamot, chamomile, lavender, vetiver, geranium, clary sage and marjoram. For more advice on getting the right amount of sleep, discover our sleep edit.
Visit our Digital Detox page for Mauli Rituals that ease mental, physical and emotional fatigue and promote clarity and calm.
How to Maintain a Work/Life balance
The practice of Ayurveda is all about balancing your dosha, and during lockdown, it is as important as ever to maintain a balance between work and personal life as well. It can be tricky to navigate our free time when we have our work computer staring at us from across the room on the weekends. However, you need to create a distance between your work and your downtime because your home is essentially your office now. If you took an hour for lunch at work, make sure you maintain that working from home and if you went for a walk on your lunch break, keep that habit up. We understand that these are difficult times, but we have to make sure our mental health is at its best to maintain a healthy work/life balance.