Switch off and recharge with our tips for unplugging

Lead image: The Treehouses at Lanrick

So… a digital detox. Where do we even begin?

We appreciate it’s not a brand-new concept – we’ve known for a while that being glued to our smartphones and seeing our screen time soar can impact our health in a myriad of ways. Do dry eyes, headaches, sleep issues and anxiety about the state of the world sound familiar? 

With our lives becoming increasingly technology-driven and screens a seemingly constant presence, it’s no wonder that hiding under your duvet and pretending the world isn’t happening can sometimes seem like the best solution. 

Wasn’t there a detox retreat that involved sleepwear and waving goodbye to your phone for several days?

Yes! There are a few of those, in pretty idyllic locations – so more than enough motivation to surrender your portal to all digital communication. Pine Cliffs Resort in The Algarve run a detox retreat where guests can choose to symbolically zip their phones into a sleeping bag for two days, in the hope of finding some inner peace.

Fill us in on the benefits then – why is tapping out of Instagram and sticking our phones on airplane mode such a good idea?

Well, it doesn’t have to mean cutting yourself off from civilisation completely – it’s just committing to taking a break from screens and social media for a set period of time. Research has shown there can be significant benefits: not least better concentration, improved mood, and of course, sleep quality. That glaring blue light is doing your circadian rhythm no favours.  

Should we also be jumping on board the ‘dopamine detox’ wagon?

A viral trend last year – mainly spurred on by TikTok and originating in Silicon Valley some years back – the idea is that you ‘fast’ from activities that might give you that quick dopamine hit, in an effort to mentally reset and reduce addiction to electronics. The experts have pointed out that dopamine circuits are complex and that it’s impossible to detox from something we produce in our brain naturally, but that being self-aware about impulsive, dopamine-seeking behaviours could mean taking back some control over your life.

Pine Cliffs Resort in The Algarve

Leave the notifications behind and clear your mind in these stunning and serene settings

The Deià Retreat

Nestled in the secluded hills of Deià in Mallorca and surrounded by olive groves, Los Retiros’ retreats take place in a secluded finca and combine mindfulness, yoga and meditation so you can de-stress and recharge.

Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort

The backdrop of the southernmost tip of Raa Atoll provides a breathtaking setting for Maamunagau’s range of wellness packages, including ‘Hermit Days Silent Immersion’ where guests can enjoy complete privacy, personalised amenities and minimal interaction. 

The Treehouses at Lanrick

Tucked away into the canopies of majestic oaks, sycamores and ancient beech, the off-grid location of Lanrick’s five luxury treehouses is perfect for forest bathing and walks by Perthshire’s River Teith.

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort

Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu

Spectacular Alpine views take centre stage at this German hideaway, where guests are encouraged to take up the ‘Nixtun’ offer and hand over their phones in exchange for some mountain cheese. There’s also a postcard service for sending ‘offline’ greetings.

6 tips for an amicable digital separation

Designate screen-free time

Be realistic about when in the day you’ll be more likely to succeed and start small. Kick off with a deliberate 30-minute window where you go nowhere near any digital devices, then build it up and make it a regular thing. 

The good apps

Sounds counter-productive, but some apps can help you in your quest for mental clarity. Freedom ‘blocks’ the websites and apps that distract you most by popping up with a motivational message, while Flipd encourages mindful device use with screen time reminders and productivity trackers. 

Turn off pesky notifications

And we mean all of them. Do you really need to read every single message pinging onto your phone from an insert irrelevant topic WhatsApp group from seven years ago? Probably not. 

Out of sight, out of mind

Does what it says on the tin. If you really can’t stop yourself pawing your phone or lifting the laptop lid, shut them away in a cupboard. This is particularly crucial at night – buy an alarm clock instead and evict your phone from the bedroom.

Practise being present 

It would be easier not to lean on the comfort blanket of technology, if we were all better at just being in the moment. Creating a small space for mindfulness in your day is well worth it – try the Calm app’s 10-minute daily meditation for starters.

Create a tech-free zone

Find a corner of your home or even a whole room that can serve as a bit of a sanctuary from the bombardment of info on your smartphone and any other offending screens. Fill it with plants, books, blankets or candles – whatever it takes to bring that Zen.