Technology is predominant aspect of everyone's lives, but sometimes it is worthwhile to take a break from the screen and focus on living in the present moment. Your mental, physical, and emotional health will majorly benefit. In case you need a little extra motivation to detach from your beloved devices, here are five reasons you should take a break today!

Minimize Negative Feelings such as Jealousy, Resentment, and Isolation.

Even though we all have the wonderful privilege of staying up to date on people's personal lives, constant exposure to lives outside of our own can lead to comparison. Topics of comparison such as physical appearances, accomplishments, lifestyles, and vacations can cause feelings of jealousy. We may begin to question the quality of our lives, and if we are inherently "good enough". Remember, social media is the highlight reel of most people's lives and is not a realistic portrayal of their daily lives. You will begin to feel more confident in your lifestyle, happier in your normal routine, and satisfied in your relationships when negative feelings are minimized.

FOMO is Real, but Really Not Worth It

FOMO= Fear of Missing Out. I promise you that you really are not missing out on much if you decide to unplug. Constant exposure to the events in the world, your community, and social circle can stimulate feelings of anxiety. You may begin to wonder if you are "missing out" on all of the fun or exciting events. It is not realistic for anyone to participate in everything they are interested in. Breathe, give yourself a break, and focus on being present in experiences that bring personal joy. You'll smile more because of it and forget all about "missing out".

Be a Friend to Yourself

If you are always focused on the lives of others via social media, how can you be aware of how you are feeling? Taking a break from the screen means taking time for yourself and prioritizing your needs. This limits distractions and allows you the opportunity to explore interests such as reading, art, hiking, etc. Also, this increases self-confidence, self-compassion, and decreases stress levels. If your friends actively choose to spend time with you, your company must be worth it. Give it a chance and find out how worth it you truly are!

In-person Connections > Virtual Connections

Interpersonal communication is a valuable skill that involves maintaining eye contact, acknowledging body language, understanding tone of voice, actively listening, and sustaining conversation. You can gain so much more meaning from conversations, and a deeper connection through in-person interaction. This will not only help you in the professional setting, but also in your personal life. Additionally, this gives you the perfect excuse to take a break from the screen and focus on the people you have chosen to spend time with.

Check Off Your To-Do List, Plus More

It's undeniable—you can get so much more done without the distraction of a phone. This concept applies to other unnecessary technology used during simple tasks. They can be distracting to say the least. Although there is a time and place for using technology to get things accomplished, most of the time we do not need technology to check off our to-do lists. The sooner the list is completed, the sooner we have the opportunity to explore interests, hobbies, and spend time with friends.