the Second WHO Global Summit on Tradi ...
Social Media Detox: Hype or Actual Mental Health Boost? Social media is integrated into almost all facets of contemporary life. It keeps us connected, up-to-date, and entertained—yet it has hidden costs. Millions of people report feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even "addicted" to scrolling, so sociRead more
Social Media Detox: Hype or Actual Mental Health Boost?
Social media is integrated into almost all facets of contemporary life. It keeps us connected, up-to-date, and entertained—yet it has hidden costs. Millions of people report feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even “addicted” to scrolling, so social media detoxes have become popular. But do they work? The answer is complicated: it depends on your approach, mindset, and activities online.
1. Social Media and Mental Health
It is typically reported by a majority of research that overuse of social media could:
- Create anxiety and depression: Overexposure to idealized depictions, info glut, and online comparison can create feelings of inadequacy or FOMO (fear of missing out).
- Impact sleep: Scrolling late at night exposes you to blue light and mental stimulation, making it more difficult to sleep.
- Decrease focus and productivity: Bottomless scrolling creates “attention fatigue” and compromises your capacity to stay focused on real-life tasks.
- Create emotional rollercoasters: Reactions, likes, and shares may cause a dopamine-fueled feedback loop, making your emotional state too dependent on virtual validation.
2. Detox Benefits
Social media detox—short (a weekend) or long (weeks)—can have the following benefits
- Calmness and mental clarity: Stepping back can eliminate overload of information, so your mind can unwind and reboot.
- Better mood: No ongoing comparison or bad news phone calls result in people feeling less anxious and better humored.
- Better sleep and energy: Less screen time before bed can get sleep routines working again and recharge natural energy levels.
- Increased concentration and productivity: Time away from social media can be spent on hobbies, sports, or other substance interactions in person.
A couple of days away from social media and you’ll be amazed at the amount of time and effort that goes into it.
3. Warning: Detox is Not a Panacea
Detoxing may be helpful, but it is not a solution by itself on a long-term basis:
- Some develop withdrawal symptoms, such as boredom or anxiety, within the first couple of days.
- Detoxing eliminates stressors in the short run but doesn’t establish long-term digital balance. If people don’t shift behaviors, they revert to old ways of being after detox.
- Social media is not necessarily evil—its effect depends upon the how and the why of its usage. Random scrolling is toxic; thoughtful interaction can restore.”.
4. A Wiser Path to Digital Wellbeing
Instead of on-off cleanses, think through solutions to work with:
- Set boundaries: Restrict social media use to specific times during the day (e.g., only during morning or break time).
- Tame your feed: Unsubscribe from feeds that breed negativism or comparison. Subscribe to feeds that teach, motivate, or inspire.
- Use tech tools: Screen time monitors, app blockers, and “concentration modes” can assist you in controlling use without going cold turkey.
- Use your mind: Tell yourself, “Am I using this to connect, learn, or waste my time?” This increases awareness and decreases aimless scrolling.
5. Social Connection Is Important
Amazingly enough, social media is not completely terrible. Affirming, substantial interaction—such as becoming linked with compassionate pals, participating in communities through shared values, or remaining in contact with distant relatives—has the potential to build wellbeing. The trick is quality, not amount.
A social media detox can be beneficial, indeed—particularly at lowering stress, anxiety, and cyber fatigue—but works best when combined with sustained mindful practice. Detoxing is a reboot, not a fix: the goal is not to cut out social media but to engage with it purposefully and wholesomely.
Think of it in those terms: your phone and apps are tools—used responsibly, they enrich your life; used addictively, they drain it. Detox is just a plan to reclaim control and become skilled at using these tools on your own terms.
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The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine: India to Host in New Delhi World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India have signed officially a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to host jointly the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, to be hosted in New Delhi in 2025Read more
The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine: India to Host in New Delhi
World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India have signed officially a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to host jointly the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, to be hosted in New Delhi in 2025. The event represents a significant milestone in the acknowledgment of traditional medicine as an integral component of world health and sustainable development.
Background: A Renewed Focus on Traditional Healing
The inaugural WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine took place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in August 2023, in conjunction with the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting. The summit gathered ministers, scientists, and policymakers from more than 90 nations to discuss the scientific verification, integration, and regulation of traditional healing systems.
The success of the 2023 summit induced an increasing call for a sequel — one that goes deeper into how traditional medicine can coexist alongside contemporary health systems. This is why WHO and India decided to deepen their collaboration for the second edition in New Delhi.
What Is Traditional Medicine in WHO’s Context?
Traditional medicine encompasses a broad variety of health beliefs and practices, knowledge, and behaviors that utilize plants, minerals, animal products, manual methods, or mind-body techniques. In India, these are exemplified in the systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, and Naturopathy.
WHO appreciates that close to 80% of the global population uses some type of traditional or complementary medicine. Still, standardization, safety, evidence-based legitimacy, and equal access are the foremost global challenges.
What the WHO–India MoU Means
The fresh MoU puts India’s emerging leadership in traditional and integrative medicine on formal basis. It encompasses:
This action is also in line with India’s “Heal in India” and “Heal by India” programs, which are meant to make India a centre for medical and wellness tourism.
Themes to be covered in the 2025 Summit
The summit should consider:
Representatives from around the globe — scientists, policy-makers, and practitioners — are anticipated to join in, closing the gap between ancient knowledge and contemporary science.
Why It Matters
This is not merely a celebration of heritage; it’s a way of making history for global health. Conventional medicine, supported by strong evidence and ethics, may provide affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate care to millions.
For India, hosting this summit indicates its long tradition of holistic healing dating back to centuries and its contemporary dream of leading wellness innovation globally.
Brief Summary
- Event: Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
- Date: 2025 (to be officially declared)
- Location: New Delhi, India
- Organizers: Government of India & WHO
- Theme: Synthesis of traditional and contemporary healthcare for the good of humanity
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