Break the Cycle: How Fasting and Digital Detox Can Help You Gain Insight and Reset
- Sherri M. Herman
- Mar 4
- 4 min read
Have you ever caught yourself in an unhelpful pattern but just don't know how to break it?
Truly, most of us don’t even notice we’re doing it. We just feel the urge, act on it, and move on until that urge comes again.
Usually it isn't until after several painful run-ins that we finally stop to think, "What is going on here?"
That’s why fasting, whether from certain foods, technology, or other ingrained habits, can be such a powerful spiritual and self-awareness practice. It’s not just about deprivation and sacrifice. It’s about breaking the pattern long enough to actually notice what’s underneath.
Because here’s the truth:
Most of the time, those urges aren’t random. They’re rising up from something deeper within you that's begging for your attention.
And when we pause instead of automatically reacting, we give ourselves the chance to see what’s really going on.
Why Fasting (From Anything) Works
Fasting isn’t just about giving something up—it’s about creating space to notice what’s been there all along.
Whether it’s food, social media, caffeine, or even negative self-talk, the real power isn’t in the thing you’re removing.
The power is in the pause—that moment where you normally would have reached for your phone or grabbed a snack, but instead, you stop.
That pause?
That’s where connection happens.
That's intimacy.
It’s where you meet yourself. It’s where you hear the emotions that have been trying to get your attention.
It's where you hear the voice of intuition (or God or the Universe) that's been speaking to you all along.
It’s where you notice how often you distract yourself instead of truly listening to what you need.
How to Start—Without Overcomplicating It
You don’t have to do anything extreme to experience the benefits of fasting. The best way to start is by choosing one small pattern to disrupt—just enough to notice the shift.
Here are a few easy ways to begin:
1. Start With Awareness
Before changing anything, spend one day simply noticing your patterns.
When do you instinctively grab your phone?
When do you snack even if you’re not hungry?
When do you check email for no real reason?
Just watch. No judgment. Just awareness.
2. Pick One Small Disruption
Instead of trying to overhaul your entire routine, pick one habit to shift:
Social Media Detox: No phone for the first 30 minutes of the day.
Mindful Eating: No snacks between meals—when the urge comes, pause and notice.
Screen-Free Nights: No screens after 8 p.m. (or set your own boundary).
It doesn’t have to be dramatic. The goal is not perfection—it’s presence.
3. When the Urge Hits, Pause
This is the most important part. When you feel the pull to reach for your usual habit—don’t.
Pause. Take a deep breath. Ask yourself:
What am I feeling right now?
What do I actually need?
What’s underneath this urge?
You don’t have to force an answer. Just sit with it. The insight comes with time.
4. Don’t Replace One Addiction With Another
This is a sneaky one and is the number one mistake most people make. We often fast from something, only to replace it with another distraction.
Giving up cookies but eating extra pasta.
Cutting down on phone time but binging TV instead.
Reducing social media but checking email every five minutes.
That’s just trading one unconscious habit for another.
Instead, let the space remain empty for a moment. Let yourself feel what comes up.
5. Meet Yourself With Compassion
This isn’t about willpower or deprivation. It’s about gentle awareness.
When (not if) you slip, don’t punish yourself. Just notice. Learn from it. Approach yourself with curiosity, not criticism.
Stay connected with the urge and be curious about the underlying need while you're doing the thing.
Stay connected.
The goal isn’t to “get it right.” The goal is to see yourself more clearly and reconnect with what truly matters.
Fasting, whether from food, technology, or other habits, should be done with self-awareness and care. If you have a history of disordered eating, anxiety, or any mental health condition that could make fasting harmful, consider modifying the practice to fit your well-being.
The goal isn’t deprivation or self-punishment—it’s awareness and connection. Always prioritize your mental and physical health in any practice of letting go.
What You Gain When You Break the Pattern
Every time you pause instead of reacting, you’re literally rewiring your brain.
You’re breaking the automatic loop.
You’re creating space for new neural connections.
You’re learning how to sit with discomfort instead of numbing it.
You’re getting closer to yourself, your emotions, and your higher guidance.
That’s why fasting, from anything, can be a spiritual practice.
Fasting isn't just about giving something up. It’s about returning to yourself.
And that kind of awareness? That kind of connection?
That changes everything.
What’s one small pattern you could disrupt this week? Try it, see what happens, and let me know how it goes!
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