How to embrace a digital detox this summer

By Holly O'Mahony on 30/7/2019

Whether you’re jetting off on holiday or setting time aside to enjoy a much-needed staycation, it’s just as important to give our minds a break from our busy lives as it is our bodies. Last year, an Ofcom survey found we now check our smartphones once every 12 minutes on average, meanwhile two thirds of adults say the internet is an essential part of their lives.
So far, the summer has been brimming with national events, most of which we’ve absorbed through screens; from women's football and Wimbledon and the nightly pull of Love Island. But with August and the school holidays upon us, why not use the next month to let your batteries recharge and take a break from the apps? It’s not as difficult as you might think; here are some tips for taking a hiatus from your screens this summer holiday.

Set yourself a time frame

Rather than fretfully wallowing in thoughts of your detox, as if it’s your final au revoir to life as you know it, it’s important to approach your purge with a realistic time frame for how long you plan to do it for. This will help you embrace it with a positive mental attitude. After all, there’s plenty of good things about being digital savvy – from keeping up with what’s going on in the world to finding your way from A to B – and you don’t need to stave off it forever. Instead, take control by setting a viable amount of time for how long your break from it should be.

Switch up your mediums

Not all forms of tech are as bad (or time consuming) as each other. For example, it’s hard to think of any disadvantages to using Sat Nav; who wants to spend extra hours of the day driving round in circles and shouting at one another because your designated map reader got you lost? Not us. But when it comes to, say, smartphones, if you still want to capture your summer in pictures without getting sucked into your Instagram or Facebook feed, why not dig out – or invest in – a proper camera? Chances are you pictures will be of better quality – and you can still upload them to your social channels post-digital detox.

Indulge in your offline hobbies

That book you bought at Christmas but still haven’t got round to reading? The short story you wanted to write? The easel and watercolour paint set growing a thick layer of dust in the attic? Now’s the time to immerse yourself in the hobbies you never seem to have time for, or projects you keep putting off, because you’ve lost track of time browsing online. You could also go a step further and try your hand at something new. Who knows, there could be a green-fingered goddess inside you, waiting for a chance to show herself...

Banish thoughts of ‘pics or it didn’t happen’

Yes, you’re wearing your gorgeous new cotton dress and a stylish hat while walking down the cutest cobbled street at sunset. Yes, your Instagram following would be quick to ‘like’ a picture of this scene and comment on what a stunning holiday you’re having. But on the flip side: yes, you’d end up uploading more holiday snaps in pursuit of further ‘likes’ and gushy comments. You’ll order drinks you don’t even like because they look better on the ‘gram and traipse to views you’re not fussed about seeing just to get a photo of you there. Don’t. Save your energy and enjoy your holiday for what it is. Yes, still take the photo of you walking nonchalantly down the cobbled street, but save ‘gramming it till you’re ready to reconnect with the digital world on your return.

Pack games and ideas for sociable activities

It’s 2019. If you’re a parent, of course there are times when nothing beats a tablet as a means of occupying the kids. Especially on long car journeys (or when you need a bit of peace and quiet after a long day at your desk). But at the same time, memorable moments on family holidays are often forged over a game of Monopoly, charades or whatever game it is you like to play. Whether you’re heading away or planning activities to do at home, this is the time to be ‘vintage’ and dig out a family board game. Or, if you’re an active bunch, why not get a frisbee or bat and ball to play together with outdoors?

Enjoy spending quality time with your thoughts

It’s not news that our brains struggle to concentrate when bombarded with the clutter of information found on the internet, or that the pressure to exist both in the real world and online is causing many people to suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. A digital detox is a chance to quieten our busy brains, open up the mind to new perspectives, and even clear the mental pathways for fresh ideas. Who knows? Some time away from your online self might even shift your focus or provide some inspiration for what you want to do next.

Give yourself a (limited) digital allowance

Having a digital detox doesn’t necessarily mean going cold turkey. It’s about taking back control of how much time you, or your children, spend looking at screens – and using the summer as a chance to cut down if you think you might be zoning out online too much. For example, you could try limiting your scrolling time on Twitter or Pinterest to 10 minutes a day. Or, you could make your screen time more sociable and use it to curl up on the sofa – or at the cinema – and watch a film together. Cutting back doesn't have to mean falling behind on the new season of Keeping Faith, or missing out on seeing the Tarantino's latest, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, on the big screen. Just try to avoid the trap of getting sucked into a Netflix binge.