We hear the word “detoxification” or “detox” quite a lot, a word that is most often associated with a diet plan that aims to remove potentially harmful toxins from our bodies that slow down metabolism and might cause chronic disease. One of these diets is the master cleanse or juice cleanse, which require you to drink liquids for a number of days to flush out the toxins.
Similarly, a detox can be applied to reducing anything that is in excess or something that needs to be done more moderately to have a healthier and balanced life. The fast-paced modern and digital world we live in requires us to be always online, ready, and on-the-go. Urban development has made high-rise buildings into residential areas, making it almost impossible for city dwellers to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Smart phones, tablets, and laptops need to be constantly checked for new social media messages and news feed updates or else we feel like we’re missing out on important things.
It has been said that the average person checks their phone every six and a half minutes. That’s 200 times a day! Gadgets also have an adverse effect in our children’s learning and communication skills. A report by Public Health England found more than four hours a day of “screen time” was linked to anxiety and depression in children.
Digital is undeniably faster and more reliable, but it’s becoming increasingly overwhelming and stressful as more social media sites and apps are developed. To regain your sense of reality, here are 6 things you can do outside of the screen.
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Make your condo a decent jungle
Something as simple as having an indoor garden in your condo can help you detoxify. Indoor plants helps boost productivity and reduce anxiety. There are many fast-growing plants that are easy to maintain, improve health, and add visual interest to any living space. The snake plant has long, straight leaves that grow upright without any fuss. The popular spider plant and the areca palm create a tropical feel, while the aloe and the smaller aloe vera have medicinal properties. Also, flowering plants that are easy to grow like the pretty peace lily will motivate you to keep your indoor garden and eventually lead you to more creative ideas for maintaining a garden while in the city.
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Give your diet some color
Eating colorful fruits and vegetables is a surefire way to naturally detox. Including a rainbow of colors into your diet will reap you amazing benefits such as lower risk of heart attack, diabetes, and stroke. Tomatoes, for example, has been found to reduce the risk of breast cancer because of its lycopene content. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, arugula, Brussel sprouts, kale, and cabbage also have cancer-fighting compounds according to the National Cancer Institute. Blueberries are said to reduce memory loss due to aging and slow down cognitive decline, while pineapples are known to treat indigestion.
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Remember your books
Instead of holding that tablet, remember how a paperback smells and feels in your hands and start reading again. Reading is fundamental not just in the intellectual sense. Although we are constantly fed information, these bits and pieces we encounter through social media and online digests are not comparable to the joy of reading a good novel or a book of poems. Op-Ed columnist Charles M. Blow of the New York Times shared in his column that reading has saved him “from a life of poverty, stress, depression, and isolation.”
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Create something
When was the last time you created something with your hands? Making something from scratch is quite fulfilling and art has been known to be a form of therapy. Whether it’s drawing, painting, writing, calligraphy, or woodworking, take some time off and discover what you can do with your hands besides swiping on the glass screen.
- Learn how to play an instrument
If you can’t stay away from the internet for long, at least learn something. If you've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, so why not start by watching tutorials on YouTube? The beauty of the internet is that you can be an autodidact in anything and everything. Once you get the hang of it, turn off your computer and find people who you can jam with.
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Get high on endorphins
Any type of physical activity will make you feel happy and more energized. You can do a lot of simple exercises with or without equipment in the comfort of your own condo unit. Start by trying out different squats and lunges, then move on to more challenging ones like a kettlebell workout. Put on some music to make you forget the time. Move, groove, and sweat out those toxins and maybe you’ll remember how life is like beyond the confines of a screen.
Living in the city blurs the full picture of good food and healthy living because we are blinded by fast-food and fast-paced living. However, the raised consciousness for the need of a healthier lifestyle while living in the city continues to grow and spread.
