Visions of perfect parties and winter wonderland vacations. It’s all there on social media, flooding your phone with constant notifications, messages and images. These highlight reels, showing only the best and brightest moments of others, can lure you into the comparison trap of wondering why all of a sudden your holiday plans don’t seem to be quite enough anymore. Why doesn’t my holiday look like that? Because it doesn’t have to.

When “we compare ourselves to others, get lost in their idealized lives, [we] forget to enjoy our own,” says psychologist Dr. Emma Seppälä. So whether you’ll be meeting up with friends or wrapped up in a blanket sipping cocoa, you can turn away from comparison and back to your holiday by doing a digital detox.

Taking a break from screens is an opportunity to protect your peace. It “creates space for us to focus on our own experiences, to be fully present in the moment, and to re-establish our connection with … our well-being.” While most of us would agree that disconnecting completely is unrealistic, we can manage our activity. We can choose to shift from being captivated by idyllic moments to putting down the device and joining in on the here and now.

Afraid of FOMO? Think of this as social media harm reduction, enacting strategies that comfortably limit your online activity:

  • Establish phone-free mornings or evenings to get yourself in the swing of being offline.
  • Schedule specific times to check in and set a timer so you know when it’s time to log out.
  • Turn off non-essential notifications and designate tech-free areas so you’re not tempted to take just a quick peek.
  • Let friends, family and online communities know when you’ll be unplugged so they know you’re OK IRL.

Take pictures just for memories, be with friends instead of checking on their posts. When you celebrate in your way, your holiday is the best holiday.

If the prospect of creating a digital detox plan and putting it into action seems daunting to you, someone you love or someone in your network, an Accountability Coach can set the path to developing healthier digital habits and being more present for the holidays and beyond. To learn how, have a confidential conversation with Cindy via phone at 631-921-4085 or reach her directly via email here to discuss the benefits of working with a member of our Accountability Coach team.

The Recovery Coach NY program, developed by Founder & President Cindy Feinberg, is based on the philosophical theory of holism: The system as a whole determines how the parts behave. Working together, we create a plan to provide the safety, structure and accountability that promotes long-term wellness.

We provide Mental Health Support & Coaching, Recovery Support & Coaching, Sobriety & Mental Health Companionship, Accountability & Executive Function Coaching, Academic Coaching, Scholastic Support, Case Management, Safe Transport, Psychedelic Integration Coaching, Intervention and Emergency Services. For more information, visit our website.

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