Unless you work online, be inspired by The Joy of Missing Out, a fabulous read by writer Christina Crook, who went on a 31-day Internet fast, after hearing a preacher blessing Blackberries (the phones, not the fruits). She did return to going online, but now sets strict limits, and is all the happier and healthier for it. Technology is fine, as long as we are not owned by it.
Christina was one of the first users of the phrase ‘JOMO (the joy of missing out’). This is when people are no longer anxious, feeling they are missing out on ‘interesting events happening elsewhere’, if they are not constantly online.
Consider Taking a Short Internet Fast
The 2-Week Digital Detox is a book from an American mother (of six children) who pulled the plug, and declared a 14-day digital detox for all her offspring. The transformation blew her away – she got her sweet happy children back, rather than screen-time meltdowns.
Far easier than she had hoped, within a fortnight her children’s moods shifted, and their creativity exploded. They learned to entertain themselves, and enjoy life without screens. This experiment led to total tech overhaul, that changed her family’s life. This book details how she did it.
The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing is a book to help young people find healthy balance between the real and digital worlds, ensuring smartphones and other digital advices don’t take over your life. Packed with positive prompts and thought-provoking science, it offers fun alternatives like phone-free nature walks and tips to deal with comparison culture, cyber-bullying and trolling. Learn how to know your own screen limits, stay safe online and nurture relationships offline.
The Unplugged Hours is a book to inspire true connection with others which reduces anxiety, in a world where the average person now checks their phone 2000 times a day. Author Hannah used her anxiety and guided faith to set the challenge of reaching 1000 digital device-free hours over a year. The book contains all she learned along the way, making attainable changes like learning to be alone and appreciating the mundane beauty of everyday life.
3 to 4 night off-grid short breaks
Unplugged offers off-grid cabins in nature, where you can switch off completely for three days. With over 20 nationwide locations (all near a city and public transport, with some dog-friendly) it’s just a short taxi ride to the cabin of choice. Some cabins offer hampers (you have to pre-order veggie options).
All cabins are sustainably-built in remote areas, with solar-powered showers, kitchens and comfy beds. You voluntarily lock away your phone and laptop on arrival (there is an old Nokia phone for emergencies), then you just take in views from panoramic windows, or read one of the books or play a board game. There is also a radio, to wind down for early nights, as you immerse yourself in nature.
It’s not just hemp-clothed hermits that live offline. Ed Sheeran got rid of his mobile phone years ago (it made him sad). Paul Merton never uses email (he wrote his autobiography with pen and paper – someone typed it up for him!)
Benefits of a Regular Digital Detox
Imagine sitting in a cafe, the rich aroma of coffee filling the air, and truly being there. No phone in hand, no notifications buzzing. Regular digital detoxes can make this vision a reality by encouraging a more mindful approach to life. Without constant distractions, you start noticing the world around you—the warmth of the sun on your skin, the laughter of children playing.
Mindfulness is more than a momentary escape; it’s a way to reconnect with the present. By setting aside regular times for a digital detox, you begin cultivating a habit of awareness. Your thoughts become clearer, and you handle stress with a bit more ease. Life stops rushing past, and you start living in the now.
Spending quality time with friends and family without digital distractions can improve communication and build stronger bonds. Imagine a game of cards where laughter replaces phone-checking, or sharing a book where discussions replace scrolling. These experiences foster real connections that outlast any social media update.
Imagine trying to read a book while someone repeatedly calls your name. That’s what excessive screen time does to your focus. By reducing screen time, you allow your brain to settle and concentrate better. Without constant notifications and digital distractions, your mind can dedicate itself to tasks at hand. This can lead to:
Do you find yourself tossing and turning at night? Excessive screen time can be to blame. The blue light emitted by screens can interfere with your body’s sleep cycle, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. A digital detox before bed can improve your sleep quality significan
Maintaining Simplified Online Habits
- Use less or no social media. And if you do use it, be nice!
- You can donate a pc to others, if no longer needed (the site shows how to wipe your data beforehand). And recycle your technotrash.
- Switch to an eco-friendly search engine. Also Download (free) Adblock Plus, which wipes all ads from your computer and social media (you can whitelist sites you visit that don’t allow you to visit without them). Once used, you’ll never go back.
- Browse Happy shows the latest browsers, to either switch to something better or update a present version. Millions of people still use old versions of outdated ones like Internet Explorer (now Edge, or switch to others like Chrome, Opera or Firefox). This will speed up things a lot, so you can work, turn off the computer and go outside!
- Also read the post on how to free yourself from CAPTCHAS (those annoying puzzles that never seem to end). Really, the onus is on companies and websites that can switch to alternatives.
Enchantment: Rewakening Wonder in an Exhausted Age is a beautifully-written book for anyone who is bone-tired, anxious and overwhelmed by the rolling news cycle and pandemic age, and find their life is wound too tightly. Could there be another way to live? Katherine takes us on a journey from sacred wells to wild moors, and from seas to starfall.
