Mobile Fasting - An Approach For Brain Detoxification

Introduction

The ongoing century wherein the world is deeply plunged in science & technology, electronics & communication & the Internet, a common man just can't undo a day without his/her mobile phones, to be more specific from Social Networking. It's become part & parcel of our everyday life. Even before our eyes could open in the morning and before we remember our Almighty, it's our mobile phone which is in our hand, be it while going for a walk, be it while working out at gym, be it while taking bath & listening to the music or watching a movie, be it while cooking or washing dishes, be it while eating, be it while interacting with our family or friends,even be it while going to bed. These mobile phones have traveled across the world & there is no place left untouched. Right from the toilet commode to the most auspicious place of our home, mobile phones are found everywhere. Right from every newborn child to every senior citizen it's present with everyone & loved by all. It's becoming difficult day by day to commute without a mobile phone. Missing a wallet at home is okay but forgetting mobile phones leads to a panicky & helpless situation. 

Though we cannot do away with these mobile phones as they become the most important part of our life, we can definitely find out certain ways to manage its usage thereby indirectly having a lesser impact on our life. 

We have heard much on spiritual fasting and physical fasting but Mobile Fasting is a new concept generated out of necessity. 

Let's explore more on THE MOBILE FASTING.

What is Mobile Fasting? 

Mobile Fasting is a process of abstaining oneself from using the mobile phones for a period of one or more days in a week or for few hours within a day thereby recalibrating our relationship with the mobile phone and developing a better personal well-being and building stable mental health. 

In simple terms, Mobile Fasting is staying away from mobile phones for a day or two. 

Need & Importance Of Mobile Fasting

Dr. Manjari Tripathi, HOD of the Neurology Department, AIIMS, New Delhi says, “Headaches, sleep disturbances, memory disturbances, foggy mind, irritability, impulsiveness, hand pain, neck pain, poor vision and loss of vision etc., are the  result of excessive use of mobile phones.”

The Research Article published in the online journal of National Library of Medicine,  titled ‘Effect of Ultra High Frequency Mobile Phone Radiation on Human Health’ Co-Authored by Mosa Moradi, Nasrollah Naghdi, Hamidreza Hemmati, Majid Asadi-Samani, and Mahmoud Bahmani, The results of the study and International Commission of Non Ionization Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) reports showed that the people who spend more than 50 minutes a day using a cell phone could have early dementia or other thermal damage due to the burning of glucose in the brain.

Hence, Mobile Fasting is the need of the hour and it's important for each and every individual:

1. For Recalibrating Healthy Relationship

2. For Building Stable Mental Well-being

3. For Optimum Utilization Of Time

4. For Being More Productive At Work

5. For Developing Better Attention Span

6. For Reconnecting With Loved Ones

7. For Good Sound Sleep & Rest

Different Ways Of Practicing Mobile Fasting

1. Mobile Fasting Only on Sundays

2. Mobile Fasting on Weekends (Saturday + Sunday) 

3. Mobile Fasting on any weekdays (Any one day between Monday to Friday) 

4. Mobile Fasting Within The Day - Morning to Noon (Every day from 6 am to 2 pm) 

5. Mobile Fasting Within The Day - Post noon (Every day from 12 noon to 8pm) 

6. Mobile Fasting On Holidays/Vacation

Benefits Of Mobile Fasting

1. Decreased Distraction & Increased Attention

Mobile phones are the major source of distractions in a human life. It has irreversibly replaced the common man's life to such an extent that one cannot do away from it even for a second. Be it WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Mobile Games, e-Stores, entertainment sites and many more are all varied forms of distractions. But by Mobile fasting you actually will be able to gain better attention and focus over your work and daily life chorus. You will be more alert and awake in everything. With increased attention you will be able to gain more success and achieve greater milestones with better concentration. 

2. Better Time Management

According to recent research data, an average person spends approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes on their mobile phones every day. And almost around  1 in 5 smartphone users spends more than 4.5 hours on an average on their phones every day. Looking at these statistics, We hardly realize the amount of time being wasted while spending time on mobile phones. But by Mobile Fasting we can actually be productive in our work and manage to finish all the allocated tasks well before time or on time. 

3. Reduced Exposure To Radiation

As per the NIH - NCI fact file: The human body does absorb energy from Mobile phones that emit radiofrequency radiation. The only consistently recognized biological effect of radiofrequency radiation absorption in humans that the general public might encounter is heating to the area of the body where a cell phone is held (e.g., the ear and head). However, that heating is not sufficient to measurably increase core body temperature but it leads to tissue warming. Also change in the physiological conditions like: increase in the heart rate and decreased blood pressure is also observed. There are no other clearly established dangerous health effects on the human body from radiofrequency radiation.  Excessive use of mobile phones can also impair cognitive function, which includes memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Several studies have shown that prolonged exposure to mobile phones can lead to poor performance in memory and attention tasks. Hence practicing Mobile fasting not only keeps us away from all these health hazards but also protects our body from within and makes it more fit and healthy. 

4. Controlled Addiction

Mobile phones are full of distractions that provide a plethora of sources for addiction. Be it Netflix, Amazon Prime, Candy Crush, PUB-G, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Online Shopping etc. Social Networking is becoming the biggest addiction among the small and big alike. Mobile fasting keeps us away from such attractions so that our addiction is controlled. So don't be carried away by someone's WhatsApp Status, Facebook story and Instagram Reels but be focused that yes, my life is more blessed than these. Start your day with an affirmation. Build success and avoid failures. Practice mobile fasting and ignore the online status of others on social networks but build great stature for yourself. 

5. Healthy Body Healthy You

Studies reveal that the reduction in the use of mobile phones on an everyday basis results in a much healthier and fit body. The excessive use of mobile phones affects the physical well being of a person. Common health benefits that one can experience are: Lowering the stress level,  Improvement in the sleep pattern, Helps in better focus and brain activity, Improves the body posture by setting our spine in order, Reduces the strain on eyes, Reduces the numbness of the fingers & Thumb especially, Reduces back pain and Reduces headaches. 

6. Connect With One's Own Inner Self

Mobile fasting or Reducing the screen time gives a golden opportunity for an individual to talk with one's own inner self. Thereby making the bonds of our mind, heart & soul more stronger and unbreakable. One actually gets time to talk at peace with the inner soul. The most precious time where one can truly  focus on developing strengths and know their weaknesses and work appropriately to overcome the negatives. So take out time to talk with yourself and see the magic it adds to your life. 

7. Reduction In Cyber Crimes

Spam, phishing, malicious apps, and ransomware are some of the threats that mobile phone users face today. Mobile Phone Crimes are cybercrimes committed through mobile phones or that involve the unauthorized access of a user's mobile Phone for the commission of crimes such as fraud, identity theft, or cheating. Financial gain is the main driving factor for Mobile Phone Crimes. Hence Mobile Fasting can lower the risk of  us falling prey to different types of cybercrimes like cyberbullying, sextortion, cyber stalking, cyber harassment, pornography, Online payment, Juice Jacking, SIM card swapping fraud, fraud via E-Commerce sites etc due to overexposure on the social networking sites. 

8. No More Dementia

Dementia is a condition which involves changes in cognition and affects the ability to engage in daily tasks and activities. Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities. Mobile Fasting can help us come out of this condition as we will be able to focus better on our work and other daily activities without any form of worldly distraction or stress that we might incur due to excessive use of mobile phones. So come out of this reel world and experience a better tomorrow in the real world. All the best. 

9. Valued Relationships

By being dependent more on mobile phones we are losing the prime and sacred connections with our family members and beloved one's. We are moving away from real love and getting deeply involved in the reel world. We choose worldly happiness instead of finding happiness from within and with our loved one's. But by practicing Mobile Fasting, we truly will be able to give maximum time for self and family. Share our happiness and emotions with our parents, friends and kids. Cherish and nourish each and every moment of achieving greater milestones in life. Real love is nowhere but within our family. 

10. Save Money Save Life

The advancement in e-shopping or online shopping has made everything possible for humans by sitting at the comfort of home. Online transactions using UPI or any Secured Payment gateways have made life super duper cool. But do we realize that the attractions of these shopping apps siphon our hard earned money in just no time. When in leisure, we tend to surf online and land up purchasing some or the other product though not required. It is the females who are especially prone to this fever. But by Mobile Fasting one will actually be able to stay away from all these distractions and realize that we can land up saving in plenty. Start saving and secure your future. Just try it. 

Did u just say, Oh My God!!!

Yes, these are truly result oriented. Give your best and receive the super best. Start implementing these ways of Mobile Fasting and feel the difference within you. 

Do let me know in the comments if it works well for you. 

All The Best!!! 

Happy Learning!!! 

By Shobha Joy Gaddam

(Academician, Educator & Ph. D. Scholar)