Our lives are often dominated by screens. Whether it's the smartphone in our pocket, the computer on our desk, or the television in our living room, screens have become an integral part of our daily existence.
We use them for work, entertainment, and even social interaction. For the heaviest consumers among us, it has become increasingly challenging to discover and derive pleasure from screen-free activities. In this article we'll look at how to get motivated again in your everyday life and how to carry out activities without screens and, above all, enjoy them!
Understanding the IKEA Effect and Its Implications
If you've never heard of the IKEA effect, let me enlighten you. The IKEA effect, first coined by Dan Ariely, is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to attach a disproportionate value to products they have partially designed or built themselves. And there's no better example of this in action than the Swedish furniture giant, IKEA. When customers assemble their own furniture, they not only save money but also form a deep emotional connection with their creations.
So, why is this relevant to the topic of screen time and productivity? It's quite simple. The idea here is to encourage you to take a break from your screens and engage in an uncomplicated activity that you know you'll love. By doing so, you'll not only experience immediate satisfaction but also derive long-term gratification every time you encounter the result of your efforts. This can be much more rewarding than mindlessly scrolling through social media or binge-watching the latest series on your streaming platform.
5 Activities to Unplug From Your Phone
Now that we've explained the IKEA effect, let's get practical with 5 tips you can try to disconnect from your phone.
🎨 DIY and Craft Projects
Get your creative juices flowing by embarking on DIY projects or crafting. Set aside specific times in your day to engage in creative activities. Whether it's 15 minutes of drawing or a weekend DIY project. These breaks will not only benefit you in the present, but they will also leave a tangible mark that you can check at any time, providing lasting satisfaction. Remember, you don't need to excel at anything! That's what the IKEA effect is all about: something simple with high added value. When it comes to drawing, for example, you can opt for colouring in or use models as a starting point, and over time, you'll see your progress.
🌲 Outdoor Activities
Spend time in nature, whether it's hiking, gardening, or simply going for a walk. To help you get off to a good start, you can set yourself small challenges during your outings. For example, don't limit yourself to "just walking". For example, tell yourself that during this outing you will have to: discover a new shop, talk to 3 people and walk at least 3km. This is a good way of feeling that you're doing something useful when you set yourself a goal.
🥘 Enjoy Cooking
The problem with cooking is that it is typically viewed negatively. It's often seen as a mandatory task that must be carried out daily, and it doesn't exactly inspire enthusiasm. This feeling often stems from two primary reasons: either we don't particularly enjoy the recipe, or it seems overly complex. To begin, opt for recipes that are exceptionally straightforward to prepare. Remind yourself that by dedicating time to cooking, you are showing self-care (and potentially caring for your loved ones as well).
🪷 Mindfulness and Meditation
Engage in mindfulness activities, like meditation or yoga, to disconnect and reduce stress. We don't expect you to perform a lotus position. Instead, consider it a moment when you encourage yourself to tend to both your body and mind, allowing your thoughts to wander freely. To track your progress or reaffirm the positive changes you're making, you can make notes in a journal. Regularly revisiting your notes is bound to alter your perspective on various aspects of your life!
🪑 Furniture Assembly
Because we've talked about the IKEA effect, we couldn't resist recommending that you assemble or DIY furniture! If you're up for a challenge, assembling furniture can be an exciting project that yields a tangible reward. There's no need to redo your entire interior - sometimes it's just a question of personalising or improving an object you've already owned (maybe for a long time) and giving it a new lease of life!
Go further with App Blocking
Sometimes our motivation isn’t enough and we need an extra help to be more focused.
🔒 App blocker and Screen Time Management Tool
Sometimes, we may require a little help. For this, you can download an app blocker that will allow you to block the apps of your choice for as long as you need. The most complete tool for iPhone is Jomo, available for free on the App Store.
With Jomo, you can block apps for specific time slots or set time limits on your most distracting apps. Additionally, you can link a blocking session to a concentration mode, and we'll provide more details about this in the following article.
Taking a break from screens and engaging in activities is a great way provide tangible results and long-lasting satisfaction. Unplugging, even for short periods, allows us to recharge, rejuvenate, and ultimately become more productive. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by your screens, remember the IKEA effect and the immense satisfaction that comes from creating something tangible (and super simple) in the real world.
🔗 Dan Ariely ; IKEA Effect
✋ Illustrations by Jomo ; Photography Unsplash
Made with love in Brittany