- Getting to camp out in the woods without distractions AND get paid for it? Sign us up!
Does the modern world have you beat? Do you ever wish you could just throw all your phones and computers away, run off into the woods and just… Be?
Well, now’s your chance, and you might even make a decent wad of cash by going into self-imposed exile. A US internet company is looking for volunteers to make $1,000 by undergoing a weekend-long digital detox treatment.
What that means in practice is that the company will pay the chosen candidate to spend 48 hours camping without any electronic devices whatsoever. No phone, no social media, just you and the wilderness.
The campaign is the brainchild of satellite internet and TV research firm Satellite Internet. The company says they’re doing this because they’ve noticed that coronavirus-quarantined people are starting to experience what they call Zoom Fatigue.
“More of us than ever are working and staying at home during the pandemic. This means we’re logging far more screen time than usual, leading to … less time staying active,” the firm says.
As a result, sales and rentals of RVs have gone through the roof in 2020 as Americans are escaping from cabin fever into the woods.
“We know many folks who camp with RVs also need satellite internet to stay connected. But given how much time we’ve all spent online in 2020, we wanted to find a way to help someone tune out the world and get back in tune with nature,” the company says.
Rules of the Game
How the whole thing will work is that Satellite Internet will pick one random winner out of all the people who volunteer for the campaign by September 23. Anyone over 25, with a valid US work permit and driver’s license can apply.
The winner will then proceed to spend a weekend camping in an RV at a US national park over dates that suit them the best. The company will reimburse the chosen camper for the RV rental, unless they already have one.
As to the prize money, the first $400 will be paid up front and the remaining $600 upon completion of the campaign. In addition to the RV, Satellite Internet will also pay for the camper’s food.
“The catch is that you won’t be able to capture Instagram-worthy shots on your phone or tweet about how fresh the smell of pine is. No technology allowed beyond what you need to reach your destination safely,” the firm says.
However, ironically enough, at the end of the third day, the person will have to make a social media post detailing their experience.
Is it just us or does that kind of invalidate this whole thing? Take a break from the Internet only to immediately jump back on there and tell how it went?
Still, the company hopes that the 48 hours spent offline will encourage people to reevaluate their relationship with social media and embrace the outside world.
Digital Stress
Despite their obvious self-interest, Satellite Internet is on the right track with encouraging people to step away from virtual reality. Verywell Mind, an online mental health resource, says doing a digital detox can lower stress and improve your mood.
“While technology addiction is not formally recognized as a disorder in the DSM-5, many experts believe that tech and device overuse represents a very real behavioral addiction that can lead to physical, psychological, and social problems,” they say.
American Psychological Association has found that 18% of US adults feel technology is a significant source of stress in their lives. Another study discovered that heavy daily technology use contributed to a higher risk of mental health issues adolescents.
One of the reasons why digital devices cause stress – especially with adults – is that with constant connectivity, you’re never “off”. Having 24/7 access to your work emails even when out of the office will seriously mess up your work-life balance.
Additionally, researchers have found that social media encourages constant social comparison. Our social feeds are bombarded with pictures of beautiful, successful e-celebs and exaggerated stories of your friends’ lives. It’s enough to make anyone feel insecure about themselves.
Being reminded of all the great things your friends are experiencing can also feed FOMO – fear of missing out. This could lead to people burning themselves out socially by attending every possible event and party.
You don’t want your Instagram feed to look boring, do you?
How to Digital Detox Like a Champ
Maybe you’ve noticed that you spend too much time glued to a screen and would like to take a break. However, it’s also important to do a digital detox the right way.
One important thing to note is that you don’t necessarily need to cut yourself off from the Internet completely. It works for some, but others – like your author here – need phones and computers just to earn money for rent. Therefore, it is fair to say that technology isn’t all bad and has opened up plenty of opportunities for people. How you use the Internet plays a big part in your detox. For instance, you could use technology more positively by earning a degree in digital marketing. Getting a degree in an in-demand industry could prove useful to your career development. Using technology for this purpose is great, but detoxing from spending all your free time on social media could benefit your mental health.
“If you need your devices during the day for your job, try doing a mini-detox at the end of the workday,” says Verywell Mind.
“Pick a time when you want to turn off your devices, and then focus on spending an evening completely free of things like social media, texting, online videos, and other electronic distractions.”
You could also simply set times for yourselves when you will put down the phone and ignore it. For example, you could make dinnertime a digital-free hour.
Furthermore, notifications and ringtones are attention hogs and an ill-timed text message can ruin your detox streak. It might be a good idea in general to set your phone on silent when you’re not using it.
Digital detox doesn’t have to be an all or nothing deal of isolating yourself in the woods. Just little things in your daily life can make you healthier and happier.