Digital Detox: How to stay off your phone

If you’re looking to make a few cutbacks on your time investment in doom scrolling, but don’t want to give up the fit pics, we’ve got you.

• Turn off your notifications: You don’t need to always know if there’s a new kind of Birkenstocks to put yours to shame, and you definitely don’t need to see the daily carnage on LinkedIn. Make use of your phone settings and focus modes to get rid of those unnecessary dings.

• Add time limits to apps: Another settings-based winner, head to your phone’s options to put some hard stops on how long you can gaze at the infinite feed.

• Pick out some quality time: There’s no need to be on the black mirror at dinner, unless you’re watching Black Mirror. Go analogue for an hour or so.

• Swap a device for a hobby: Try the balancing act, keep some time in the day for your beloved memes, but take something new on to get your mind and body healthy. Best options? Something that gets you moving out in nature.

• Gain some perspective: Go take the antidote to seeing Tiktok-ers roast you for your high waisted skinny jeans. Climb a giant hill, take lungfuls of fresh air and enjoy an amazing view.

Realising your social media use is starting to bother you? Struggling to wake up in the morning without finding out which thermos is vibiest? Maybe consider these steps:

• Buy an old school alarm clock: Not only is this an excuse to buy your dream analogue house accessory, but the chance to reset your circadian rhythms. Wake up with the sun and feel good about it.
• Give your social media a cleanse: It might be truly incredible to watch your childhood bully now enter endless pyramid schemes, but it’s probably not healthy. Get on the apps, refresh your feeds, maybe even give one up.
• Take a tech free break outside: Go out and touch some grass, my dude. Get out for a hike, dive into some wild swimming – and most importantly, leave the phone at home. Try it out for short durations, and practise leaving it longer and longer.
• Find an accountability partner: It works for a lot of addictive habits, why not smartphones? They say misery loves company, so why not drag someone else into it too
• Rediscover paper: Remember books? There was once a time the scholastic book fair was the highlight of your calendar year. Treat yourself, go shopping for a novel or two, and even better – start journalling.

Sure, it does look pretty convenient doesn’t it – but going off-grid can be the best option of all. It ticks all the boxes.

First of all, it offers a great option to those curious whether a few hours off a day, or a complete ban is right for them – head where there’s no wifi to find out who you are, without the devices. You can always walk to town for a quick social fix, we won’t be angry, just, disappointed.

Second, the benefits of spending time out in nature are very, very well documented (like 227 reasons well). Get out to experience some awe, stand in front of the vastness of the ocean, stare up at starry skies, head up hills for sprawling vistas or take a plunge into wild swimming.

Heading out to digital detox off-grid is the easiest way to see how some time off the devices might benefit you. Not only have you got plenty to do to keep yourself distracted, and luxurious comfort to settle into as you climb the walls, but there’s every chance there’s a hot tub for a little bubbly therapy. And in all seriousness, it’s nice to not have the option when it comes to choosing to flick the phone to airplane mode. We’ll see you out there.