Digital detox is a modern concept that is relying on many reports that state how we are getting heavily dependent on smart devices and at the same time how they are affecting us in both positive and negative ways. Smart devices are good things, these devices not only ease your life but make your time more productive. However, I felt many times that these smart devices have started to control my life as well. They control and many times change the decisions that I am about to take.

Detention

I use my smartphone to make my life easier and thanks to the beautiful productive apps that are available online give me enormous quick solutions for my problems. I am very happy with the way these things are making me more productive. However, after taking a pause from all such devices I felt the type of detention I am in by being digital. For example, food apps, know the timings of lunch-munch-dinner. Now even if I have no food thoughts in my brain, as soon as I reach my phone there are already tens of notifications suggesting me my next meal. Now as soon as I see these, I become to think about them and that's how unconsciously it is entering my brain and becoming a thought. I already have tons of priorities on my list which I am focusing on, but such apps enlarge the list by filling in unnecessary things to do.

I understand that I am the final consumer and every decision is based upon me only, but If I say that at least they are getting successful in putting a thought about their product in my head, then I am not saying anything wrong as well. A few decades back we used to see some salesperson standing at the storefront and becoming thoughts in our minds. They used to lure us out by giving us deals, but their win is marked when we are being attentive to what they are saying. Taking a decision or not is the second thing but just think that when you walked out of your house to fulfill a task, were you thinking about shopping, or eating? In most cases, the answer will be no. So how do we end up at a store or restaurant? Of course, some advertisement, word of mouth, or any sort of information entered the mind and became a thought.

Dialectic materialism says the same thing, that changes occur in ideas(thoughts) first then in material(objects). Such golden theories are practical in modern days as well. The ultimate task is of taking a shape of thoughts, become an idea, and then reflect upon our decisions. Audit your day-to-day work and identify yourself that how the interconnectivity between devices and data is deciding your next set of actions.

I believe that these theories are applicable and are also being in use by such tech giants. These were the theories that originated during the pre-industrial and industrial phases. This also gives us the essence of capitalism and how it is fueling consumeristic ideals.