Have you noticed it? That change in attitude? That growing need to move away from ‘quickly checking Insta’ and responding immediately to every email?
It seems we’re all a little bit over doomscrolling. Life is just a little bit too ‘real’ for a lot of us. And we have instant access to everything all the time. Even when you meet friends, the phone is usually within reach, ready to interrupt the conversation or tempt you into another scroll.
Taking a digital detox gives you a chance to step away from that constant stream of information. Doing it with friends can help because you share the challenge. Here’s a look at why it’s good to take a break from tech…
Stronger connections
Without smartphones sitting beside your cutlery or buzzing in your pocket, you naturally have deeper conversations. You’ll notice body language and hear nuance in your friends’ voices. You can get into the latest news from loved ones and fully engage in a funny story.
Try establishing a group agreement before your gathering. Place all devices inside a dedicated basket in another room before you grab a drink and settle in for a lovely catch-up. By removing the urge to glance at a glowing screen every few minutes, everyone can contribute.
More memorable shared experiences
When you focus your full attention on your surroundings, you can make more memories. Your brain registers the crispness of the air or the true shade of a sunset.
To embrace living in the moment, carry a paper map on your next city break or pack a single disposable camera for the entire group. Limiting yourselves to 24 physical photographs encourages everyone to soak up the actual experience instead of retaking videos and pictures to get the perfect shot.
Adventure and new challenges
This is an opportunity to step outside of your usual routine. Rather than your usual city breaks with friends, you might want to book a trip where you can all totally switch off.
Swapping curated selfies for snowy slopes is one way to do this. Group ski holidays give you all some new skills to learn. You’re focused on mastering new slopes together. Or you might want to try a wellbeing retreat where you can all set your devices aside and enjoy morning yoga instead.
Physical challenges naturally keep your hands off your phone and your eyes on the activity you’re trying out.
Reduced stress
Silencing the continuous stream of breaking news alerts and workplace updates delivers an immediate reset to your nervous system. Constant connectivity forces your brain to process an excess of information, which frequently triggers low-level anxiety and mental fatigue.
You can ease this by planning a trip to a location with poor mobile reception, such as a remote coastal cottage or a rural campsite. Spending two days free from the feeds lets your mind unwind.
Better balance and wellbeing
Sharing a lengthy meal without anyone checking sports scores or going for an early morning walk with friends can feel more restorative when tech takes a backseat.
When you return to your normal routine, chat to your friends about how you can continue to have device-free dinner parties or other tech-free events.
This ensures that your temporary detox sees lasting improvements.
