A Digital Detox Holiday – Off-Grid; Blissful or Impractical?

A getaway from your everyday life to reset your mind, body and soul. But is no internet too extreme and far worse than staying home?

Recently, I saw some flyers advertising holidays, whether that be rural – back to basics or a hi-tech gadget luxurious stay where you have all your home comforts and more like EV chargers, streaming platforms etc. Which gives you the drastic option of two: a mental and spiritual vacation away from the noise or simply a change of scenery. Either way, should internet be a given?

It’s a difficult one. It could feel or seem controlling almost if the choice is out of your hands. Some may find it mind-numbing, whereas others could find it creative and being at one with simplicities and nature. Personally, I could quite easily spend a few days without internet, not saying it wouldn’t be hard, but I could occupy my mind with alternative options. I think the mental test would be knowing that I’m unable to check in to loved ones or keep up to date with breaking news. Maybe we’ve become too reliant on our tech devices for simple pleasures or staying informed minute by minute which inadvertently could cause widespread anxiety.

Take for example, how many times have you popped out without bringing life-saving medication or aids with you? That could even be paracetamol for minor headaches or pain. Whereas our mobiles are attached to us like our right hand. We acknowledge our mobiles more than saving our own lives. Our priorities are all wrong, scattered between downloads in digital apps artificially imported, compared to the true significance and value of your life. It’s funny that if we read about our own life as a fleeting headline, it’d somehow hit closer to home. Maybe we prefer references in third person, possibly easier to digest.

Your tracker in life is your device. Sinister or favourable. If you go missing, first port of call is last contact and last geographical location pinged via your mobiles service data. If you’ve been overcharged for a utility bill, you capture or provide the evidence from your device. Every photo captured generally provides a GPS location. As soon as your phone’s switched on, that’s your live pin whether you like it or not unfortunately. To detach yourself from this intertwined network, is seen as a questionable red flag. Whether that’s by friends, authorities, co-workers, their first port of call is to seek help to locate your whereabouts and find out why you’re unequivocally off the face of the earth. So would that mean I’d have to update my status and keep anyone and everyone in my contacts in the loop about my opt-in ghosting? Gosh this no-internet lifestyle is more stress than I thought!

All in all, I think it’s a great idea. But unfortunately in this modern, fast-paced world, it’s much easier said than done. There are definitely pros and cons to being connected to the internet and if you’d like moments or days even away from it, that’s a great idea. Store it in a drawer or cupboard – out of sight, out of mind But it’s a wise option to have access to internet and/or service as you never know when you might need it. It’s a hindrance I’d rather have than not. If a holiday let refused the option for me to access internet, I think I’d take my custom elsewhere as a large portion of a fun, relaxing holiday is the freedom your able to exercise. Without that I’ll probably be excited to reach home where I can opt-in to whatever I like rather than feel like I’m at a meditation retreat on a deserted island. That’s potentially more of a lifestyle than holiday.

Wha do you think? Would you be able to have a gadget/internet free holiday? Have you ever? Comment below!