The Digital Detox I Never Planned, but Needed

My sister felt I needed an escape and suggested we go on a 5-day retreat. I agreed because I needed to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. Little did I know that it was going to be a complete break from my phone.

The whole idea was a simple getaway, a break from the never-ending notifications, constant emails, and the pressure to always be reachable. The website described the resort as a place to connect with nature and rediscover self. What they forgot to mention was that there will be no Wi-Fi, no signal and no screens allowed. I only realised this when we arrived.

The first shocker was at the check-in counter; I tried to get information on my phone and saw that there was no signal. I thought it was a one-off, maybe an issue with their provider. Prior to that time, I had checked my phone at least 15 times from the time I stepped off the plane to the 45-minute ride it took to get to the resort.

Stepping away from the counter, 2 smiling, cheerful ladies welcomed us again. One of them had a tray with steaming cups of herbal tea, and the other had a basket and warmly said, 'You can drop your phone here; you won’t be needing it.' I reluctantly dropped my phone and instantly felt like I was dropping a part of me.

The first day was the hardest, but by the end of the second day, with no distractions from my phone, I began to enjoy the peace and quiet. The yoga and meditation sessions felt liberating and we did it outdoors to the chirping of the birds and the calming sound of the flowing water from the river nearby

By day 4, I had totally forgotten about my phone, and I started noticing things I would normally ignore, like the way sunlight filtered through trees. I enjoyed conversations with other guests, sharing real stories and insights about why they came and the expectations they had. Turned out I wasn’t the only one who needed a digital detox.

At the end of the 5 days, I honestly didn’t want to leave, but I had to. The amazing thing was that after I left I was not in a hurry to turn on my phone or check for notifications. I have learnt that the messages and emails can wait, and there will always be something interesting to see on social media no matter what time you check.  

Disconnecting from the digital world is not about losing touch, it is actually about regaining control.