Unplugged: Reclaiming wellness when life feels over-connected

A gentle guide to reclaiming your headspace (without throwing your phone in the sea !)

There’s a specific kind of mental hum that comes from being "tethered." It’s the phantom vibration in your pocket, the instinctive reach for a phone the second you're bored, and the quiet anxiety of an unread WhatsApp. We’ve gone from hunting through encyclopedias for answers to having the entire world’s information—and its demands—at our fingertips 24/7.

It’s no wonder life can feel a little stretched. Real mindful escape isn't about ticking boxes or drinking green juice. It’s simply about depth. It’s the ability to notice the way the steam rises off a wood-fired sauna, or the exact moment your breath hitches when you step into the cold plunge, without the instinctive urge to "share" it with a 6-inch screen.

The Digital Elephant in the Room

We all know the science: constant pings spike cortisol and turn attention into a sieve. But the real cost is more personal. It’s the sunset missed because of an "urgent" email that could have waited until Tuesday.

The hardest part about switching off isn’t the phone itself; it’s the feeling that if we aren't reachable, we're somehow falling behind. But here’s the secret: the human brain isn't a laptop. It doesn't need a software update; it needs a reboot. This is why slow living has become so vital—it’s a conscious choice to prioritize presence over productivity.

Making the Phone Boring Again

If the goal is a reset without going full "off-grid hermit," these slightly more unusual boundaries can help protect a wellness retreat:

The Greyscale Trick: Switch the screen to black and white. It’s remarkable how much less addictive Instagram is when it looks like a 1940s newspaper. It removes the "dopamine hit" of those bright red notification bubbles.

The "Pocket-Less" Rule: Try wearing clothes without pockets. If a phone isn't physically on your person, the "phantom reach" disappears. With hands empty, there is more freedom to wander through 46 acres of meadow.

Don't Document the First Ten Minutes: When something beautiful appears—a deer at the edge of the woods or a perfectly poured coffee—give yourself ten minutes to just look at it. If the desire for a photo is still there afterward, take it. But usually, by then, the memory is already tucked away somewhere better than a camera roll.

The "Out of Reach" Morning: Most people use a phone as an alarm clock, which means the world "invades" the bed the second we wake up. Use an analog alarm instead. Let the phone spend the night in another room (or at least out of arm's reach).

Why Winter is the Secret (Wellness) Weapon

Winter is nature’s way of taking a deep breath. The world slows down, retreats inward, and stops trying so hard. Pairing a digital break with the "warmth and wild" of a wellness retreat in North Devon—the wood-fired sauna, the heavy duvets, the crisp air—does something a digital detox alone can't do. It pulls the attention back into the physical body. Heat and cold don't care about notifications; they demand presence.

In that presence, the "hum" finally stops. Sleep improves, and the internal "to-do" list finally unclenches.

A Small Act of Rebellion

In a world built for speed, choosing to be unreachable for a few days is a quiet act of rebellion. It’s not about being "anti-tech"; it’s about being pro-you.

Whether it's a weekend under canvas or a dedicated hour of stillness at home, remember: you aren't missing out on the world by unplugging. You’re finally giving yourself a chance to see it.

Ready to find a different rhythm? If the pace of life has become too loud, explore our luxury tipis and see how a few days of unhurried time can reset your perspective.