Computers and phones have their place, but it’s up to individuals, parents and teachers to set limits on time spent on either, to ensure we spend most time outdoors in nature, reading real books or meeting up with ‘real friends’.
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!)
take a month-long Internet fast
These flora & fauna playing cards are great for evening fun. Illustrated by Eleanor Longhurst, each card features a watercolour of mushrooms, wildflowers, birds, bees, butterflies and moths. The suits are mushrooms, wildflowers, birds and (for clubs – a mix of bees, butterflies & moths). There are also Joker cards (a seagull and a pigeon!)
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.
give your child a 2-week digital detox
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
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.
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.
