Digital Detox: Reclaiming Time, Clarity, and a Bit of Your Soul

The other day I caught myself checking my phone during a walk in nature—right in the middle of the forest, birds singing, the wind brushing my face—and there I was, scrolling.

It hit me like a whisper I couldn’t ignore: This isn’t what I want.

Not how I want to live. Not how I want to feel.

If you’re anything like me, you’re not anti-technology. It’s useful, it’s fun, it’s how I write, connect, and even coach. But somewhere along the way, the screens stopped serving us, and we started serving them.

So let’s talk about reclaiming something we don’t even realize we’ve been losing: our presence, our time, and our peace of mind.

When Screen Time Turns Into Soul Time Theft

Ever get that foggy feeling, like your brain’s full but empty at the same time? That’s not just tiredness—it’s often overstimulation. Our nervous systems weren’t designed for 17 tabs open in our head and 6 apps buzzing at our fingertips.

It’s not just about productivity. It’s about the quality of your inner world.

More screens usually mean:

• Less real connection.
• Shorter attention span.
• Racing thoughts.
• Less joy in the little things.

I don’t know about you, but I miss the little things.

What I Did (That You Can Too)

I didn’t go full hermit. I just started small:

• Turned off all non-essential notifications. No more dings for emails I didn’t want.
• Left my phone in another room after 8 p.m. I’d forgotten how quiet my evenings used to feel.
• Took daily walks without my phone. At first, I felt naked. Then I felt free.
• Set “tech-free zones” in my home. My bedroom is now for rest, not reels.

You don’t have to disappear. But you can come back to yourself.

What You’ll Start to Feel (And It’s So Worth It)

After a few days, I noticed something wild:

• I started breathing deeper.
• I heard myself think again.
• I looked people in the eyes longer.
• I had space. Real space. Mental space.

It’s not magic—it’s you. Just less scattered.

Try This: A 3-Day Mini Digital Reset

Day 1: Turn off notifications. All of them. No pings, no pop-ups. Check things when you choose.

Day 2: No screens 1 hour before bed. Read, stretch, talk to someone, sit in silence—anything but scroll.

Day 3: Go outside without your phone. Even if it’s 10 minutes. Look up. Listen. Walk.

Simple, not easy. But game-changing.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about being perfect. Some days, I still scroll too long. But now I notice. And that’s the first step.

You don’t need another app to feel better. You need less of them.

And more of you.

Because when we stop looking down, we start waking up—to life, to love, to presence.

And that, my friend, is worth everything.