Detox your mind, a simple pause
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For this period of Ramadan 2026 (until March 20) and Lent (until April 4), each religious practitioner has their own ways of fasting according to their respective doctrines and among those fasting in Lent, it involves a practice called abstinence.
Another alternative – besides food and drink – is the abstinence of digital exposure. Of course, with social media and the digitisation of media resources at our fingertips, it is easier said than done.
Gone are the days of 2010 where parents can confiscate their kid’s phones and them, “You don’t need it. Go out for a walk”. Now in 2026, the network is where people make their identities. Looking away from your phone may even deny some people their right of existence.
Even so, “digital fasting” is still possible and not as big as a hurdle as many might think, with the right guidelines and precautions.
Fact check: You do not live in your phone
By first acknowledging this fact, you realise other neglected aspects of your life. Nowadays, we do everything online – checking Instagram posts, scrolling through TikTok and doomscrolling on Threads – to fill that empty void in our minds.
The fact that we perceive that we need to be on our phones and be online to solve the issue of boredom, should be particularly concerning. We do not realise it but occassionally, a small but efficient digital detox – a conscious, temporary break from electronic devices – would be all we need to reduce stress, improve mental health and increase our real-life engagement.
It may even be the solution to many of our problems when our mind is overly occupied.
What lies beyond digital borderland?
Most people might not realise that by fasting from digital influences, they are not really losing a piece of their lives but are recovering from an overload that they are potentially unaware of.
The hours they do not notice passing by with every scroll of the thumb, releases a continuous amount of dopamine (a hormone to convey excitement) into our brains. This keeps us glued to our phones for hours.
As the days pass, the body’s demand for dopamine becomes more significant and soon – even with the network – we find ourselves bored and searching for more stimulation.
Therefore, during this time of Lent, take this opportunity to start “digital fasting”, practicing discipline for not only a psychological but spiritual reset on how you view the world. Take a glimpse at the lush green out the window, stroll in the park or even chat up a random stranger.
A simple 30 minutes in your 24 hours will be enough for a thorough digital detox, giving you a more grounded start to the year.
Making effort for digital fasting
There is no one-size-fit-all formula for every single person but the important step is taking the initiative, which does not happen overnight.
Start small by setting specific no-phone hours daily.
That one hour before and after sleeping can make a big difference in your life. Wake up, turn off the alarm and straight away enter the showers to freshen up. At night, forget that hour of doomscrolling to some last minute enjoyment and just shut off the lights. This is a good way to start building discipline and adapt to slowly disconnecting from their apps.
Moving up a scale, an app-specific fasting option comes into play where you take time off a single app each alternate week. This will allow you to disconnect but also reconnect appropriately, not overspending your time on certain applications. The partial digital detox will prevent you being overwhelmed by withdrawal symptoms from the lack of dopamine secretion. A perfect method for those taking the challenge of “digital fasting” and within appropriate bounds to progress further.
A more advanced way of digital abstinence would be to opt for a full dopamine reset by cutting off all social media in their daily life – with the exception of essential calls and messages. Nowadays, technological devices are essential to connect with work and lifestyle but should not condone full screen-time indulgence. Instead, prioritise technological functions prevalent to your daily life and as to adapt to “digital fasting”, do not just remove your screen-time but find ways to replace it, through traditional physical activities and conversation that have been largely neglected.
All of these methods exist and now, it is just a matter if you are willing to make an effort. It will be uncomfortable at first – the silence, the new routine – but trust me when I say, that your mind and body will thank you for the detox you never knew you needed. For this Lent, it is not just giving up something important to yourself but rediscovering yourself spiritually in an expected way, with a clear and stable mind with this new routine.
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