Starting to notice that abstinences from internet effects the daily chats you tend to have with your friends and after a point in time you seem to be little distant from them so how does one balance their usage on the internet and their social connections
When I get away from the internet, I actually find that it improves the relations I have with people around me. I'm able to connect with people better and to a greater degree. To me, the internet is a barrier rather than a portal to form more lasting connections with people. With humans, it's literally out of sight, out of mind, which the internet I find tends to exacerbate.
I think one of the biggest ways for me to create that balance has been to use the internet like a tool instead of a means of entertainment. Recently, I have taken to a whitelist approach to my internet browser, which is where I whitelist only the sites I need for things like, banking, work, essential communication like e-mail, and essential shopping.
I have certain strict rules for socializing - I *never* pickup my phone to check it during in person hangouts with a friend. Rare exceptions are if I am expecting a call or message, in which case I apologize in advance and let my friend know that I am expecting a call during our hangout. and I made it very brief. This is incredibly rare. This shows respect to my friends, and Ive noticed, makes them value our time together more. I do not use my cell phone as a "watch". I have other digital (without internet) so that I do not need internet devices to know the time of day. I like the whitelist idea. I could also use more "days off" completely unplugged.
That's pretty resonating, I was going to write thread about same experience as yours. The whole way we look to people changes.
