My First Device-Free Day: Restless, Raw, Revealing
(+ link to digital detox guide)
We hear about “digital detox days” or “disconnect days” more and more — and with good reason. Our brains have become overloaded with information from the digital world, which in turn overstimulates our nervous systems.
Interest in “going analog” — a term used to describe stepping away from screens in favour of offline activities — hit an all-time high in December, according to Google Trends.
Despite my daily rituals (yoga, walking, meditation) to regulate stress, I’ve felt my anxiety creeping up over the past few years. Deep down, I know my screen time is linked to this.
Because of that quiet knowing, I felt called to put my devices aside and see how it would affect my overall well-being.
(NOTE: I SHARE A LINK TO A DIGITAL DETOX GUIDE I CREATED AT THE END OF THIS POST).
My initial plan…
My experiment began with the best intentions: a 100% device-free day.
No phone. No computer. No TV.
That plan quickly fell apart when I realized I had scheduled a new recipe (which required the internet) and some content creation.
I’m all about baby steps when implementing new wellness routines. Experience has shown me it’s the most sustainable way to build lasting habits. So I decided to apply that same philosophy here.
The revised (more realistic) plan
Knowing I needed my devices for those two things, I gave myself a deadline: noon.
After that, I told myself, it would be 100% device-free.
Oh dear, Geneviève…
To think you might be the exception when it comes to our collective addiction to phones and social media.
I was quickly humbled when noon arrived and I felt the urge to check YouTube.
“NO,” I told myself. “I’m not breaking this experiment already.”
It’s astonishing how quickly we revert to old habits.
Instead of reaching for my phone, I grabbed my journal and began documenting the experience so I could share it here. (It was also a very effective way to keep my hands busy.)
And that’s when the real experiment began.
Insight#1: Devices may be slowing our healing
As I observed myself going through what felt like “device withdrawal,” I was reminded of a juice cleanse I documented on my blog over ten years ago.
Just like during that fast, I noticed the same pattern: the impulse to reach for something the moment boredom or discomfort surfaced.
Only this time, instead of food, it was my phone.
Fear.
Loneliness.
Worry.
Restlessness.
When I couldn’t distract or self-soothe digitally, I had to actually sit with the emotion — or simply allow the boredom.
It was a powerful reminder that what we resist persists. When we think we are avoiding something uncomfortable, we are merely postponing it.
I love the quote:
You can’t heal what you don’t reveal.
Our devices make it dangerously easy to bypass discomfort. And in doing so, they may be delaying — if not blocking — deeper healing.
Insight #2: Decision fatigue decreases dramatically
Even during “doom scrolling,” we are constantly making micro-decisions:
What to click.
What to watch.
What to read next.
Less screen time meant fewer decisions.
And fewer decisions meant a quieter brain.
I hadn’t expected that.
Insight #3: ChatGPT and I needed a break
Although I’m aware of the environmental impact of AI tools, I’ve been using ChatGPT quite a lot — to answer questions floating around in my mind and sometimes even to navigate life’s challenges.
During my device-free afternoon, whenever a question popped up that I would normally bring to ChatGPT, I simply… let it go.
And something surprising happened.
It was relieving.
I didn’t need to resolve every thought immediately.
I didn’t need an instant answer to every mental inquiry.
Some questions can float.
Some thoughts don’t require resolution.
That alone felt freeing.
Insight #4: Going guideline-free is like going cold turkey
A device-free day requires preparation — at least it does for me.
Don’t underestimate the friction it creates.
And I only did half a day.
In hindsight, I could have prepared better. Read a few articles. Created a small structure. Designed it in a way that felt supportive rather than abrupt.
Going cold turkey without intention can create unnecessary resistance.
Which is why I want to set myself up for success next time — and help you do the same.
You can check out my guide: How to Go Device-Free Without Losing Your Mind or by clicking the image at the bottom of this post.
Insight #5: Kindness and grace are essential
While this is a worthwhile experiment for our mental health, there is absolutely no benefit in criticizing yourself during the process.
If you reach for your phone, notice it.
Gently.
We are deeply programmed to check our devices multiple times a day. Undoing that conditioning requires patience and practice.
Kindness will take you much further than discipline alone.
Have you ever tried going device-free?
If so, how did it go?
If you have tips, I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Geneviève
Tap the image below to set yourself up for your own digital detox day(s):
