HELLO magazine: I ditched my phone for a week
Every week I write a column for Hello Magazine, and am on a mission to cut through the noise and find out what really works, in order to help you become the happiest, healthy version of yourself. I set out to explore everything and anything I can to increase happiness, and promise not to hold back.
Living in a world that’s constantly pushing and pulling us to achieve more, do more or earn more – can be overwhelming to say the least. One thing we can all agree we want more of, and let’s be honest, need, is happiness. Th quest to be happy can feel both all-consuming and never-ending, and often we don’t know where to start to reach those desired dopamine levels or feel energised by joy.
There’s a lot of noise out there in the wellness industry, with an abundance of treatments, therapies and professionals on offer – all promising to boost our general wellbeing and in turn make us happier. But what really works? How do you know where to start? This week I wrote about my experience with ditching my phone for a week.
Why I decided to swap screen-time for the Swiss Alps
On my pursuit of better sleep, health and increased happiness, I’ve really started to tune into the little things that bring me joy. These can come in a multitude of forms – from conversations with friends, spending time with my little nephews or cooking a delicious meal. If I was to pick just one thing that boosts my wellbeing and enhances my happiness time after time? It’s switching off. Despite living in a very digital world, nothing makes me feel better than time away from my phone or laptop, especially when combined with being in nature.
After going through a rough patch with bad sleep, I trialled the well-worn path of ‘switching off’ and eliminating screen time before bed. I swapped Netflix out for a book, and left my phone outside of my bedroom. The improvement was instant; my sleep improved drastically and I was falling asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Naturally, my mood was better, I had more energy and felt able to tackle the day ahead. After a busy couple of months in full wedding season and a hectic summer coming up, I knew I needed to carve out some me-time to keep me on top form and functioning! Wanting to test this theory further, I booked a week-long trip in the Swiss Alps – with a view to fully embracing the great ‘switch off’. Here’s how I got on…
Adventure has always been one of my core values, and it’s something I seek out at every possible opportunity. To me, it can look like many different things, but I think the greatest sense I get is through feeling ‘free’, not making too many plans and allowing spontaneity to take over. However, all of this can often be at odds with switching off. Our screens are so intwined with our lifestyle, relying on an assortment of apps to get us around and make our lives ‘easier’. Deciding to switch all of this off for a week was a very conscious decision, one which wasn’t always easy to follow but I knew would have great impact my overall wellbeing.
Along with a friend, I rented a campervan from Geneva, and armed with a few disposable BBQ’s and a map of Switzerland, we set off vaguely in the direction of the Swiss Alps. Before we left, we consciously made no plans. We had no set route, no itinerary and no blueprint. This alone felt out of my comfort zone as generally, like most people, I like to know where I’ll be sleeping that evening and what my day will loosely entail. This freedom of movement turned out to be incredibly liberating, as we had the agency to wake up in the morning and do whatever we pleased. Some days we would drive for hours looking for the perfect lake to set up our BBQ and park up for the night, and some days we head to a destination with a loose plan in mind. Given the nature of our environment and being so far up in the mountains, there was very little entertainment available – which meant we had little else to do but embrace switching off! Having no phone as a distraction, my mind felt wonderfully clear and I was able to be fully present in my environment. Free time was spent walking, talking and reading. It sounds so simple, but I noticed how much more engaged I was without the distraction or feeling the urge to check my emails or reply to a whatsapp message.
There were challenges along the way – a broken fridge, unreliable cooking facilities and a cold shower (not to mention the tiny bathroom situation!), but relinquishing control of these everyday luxuries was liberating. In the grand scheme of things, none of it really mattered. Priorities seemed to naturally shift as we were fully engaged in embracing all the incredible scenery that Switzerland has to offer, while soaking up the sunshine and that much sought after vitamin D.
Having very little connection to the ‘real world’ gave me the much-needed time and space to rest, re-charge and re-connect to myself. I returned after the week feeling calm and clear. I feel that by fully switching my mind off, it has allowed me to completely re-set.
Being able to turn your phone off for a week is a complete luxury in today’s world, and one I don’t take for granted. While it’s a rarity to be able to do so for a prolonged period of time, I have felt the benefits enough to know that it’s worth pursuing. Going forward, I will be switching off as much as possible. Next up is a weekend 24-hour digital detox, as this feels manageable for a busy life in London. I would hugely advise switching off for as long as possible – whether this is putting your phone on airplane mode for a couple of hours in the evening, or promising to leave your phone outside of your bedroom. I guarantee your sleep will improve, your mind will clear and you’ll feel so much better for it!