Diary: How My Five Days of Digital Detox Experience Went

I never would have believed I’d willingly sign up for something like this, but when my editor called with the challenge of a five-day digital detox, I had to rise to the occasion. She really gave me no choice. Ok, “What’s a little break from screens for the sake of our readers?” I mused myself, trying to convince myself that this was a great idea after all. ‘Experience everything at least once’ my mom used to say. Little did I know, the next five days would test my patience, creativity, and sanity in ways I could never imagine.

To kick off this digital detox, I rented a little Airbnb flat in the heart of the city. The plan was to immerse myself in this screen-free experience fully—no phone, no computer, no tablet. Just me, my thoughts, and my trusty old notebook that I lost years ago and found after hours of searching. Arriving at the cozy apartment, I laughed at the fact that my most sophisticated piece of tech was a vintage typewriter left as decoration. Well, cried mostly. Writing my notes and reflections with a pen felt oddly liberating, yet curiously nostalgic. Can this be the way everyone used to write?

Day 1: Screenless Motivation

I kicked off my digital detox with high hopes. "This is going to be a breeze!" I lied to myself just like that. But reality hit hard when I realized that my usual next steps were entirely dependent on my phone to entertain myself and tell a couple of friends that I am in the city and bored. No Tiktok to scroll through while I waited for my coffee, no apps to check on my commute.

I found myself aimlessly wandering around my apartment, struggling to remember what people used to do before the digital age. After an hour of awkwardly pacing around, I decided to bake banana bread. Went out to get some groceries and as it turns out, my baking skills are as outdated as my condition.

The next few hours of my detox was met with a mixture of confusion and boredom. I was determined to start strong, but without the familiar glow of my phone, I quickly realized how deeply intertwined technology is with my daily activities.

I found myself staring at the ceiling, contemplating the age-old question: “What did people do before smartphones?”. Are my usual digital distractions not about entertainment and interest but just my way to avoid boredom? `

With the banana bread fiasco behind me, I went out for a walk, only to realize how disconnected I feel. My mind raced through a thousand thoughts—What’s trending on Twitter? How many likes did my latest post get? It became glaringly apparent how much I relied on my digital devices to fill the voids of daily life. I stepped in a little coffee place, and started reading a book I had been meaning to read for ages. Finally I felt a certain charm to this all experiment.

Day 2: Boredom Arises

Day two was a true test of my adaptability. I was all set on enjoying this experience no matter what. I wanted to be the one that got back from the ‘no digital’ no man's land. But I was still not quite sure what to do with all the time I have now, and so little things that I know and I can actually do.

Without access to delivery apps, I had to go out to find something to eat. I walked streets that I didn’t know they even existed without my mobile phone and the wonderful apps that could have assisted me in this situation.

After a long and somewhat frustrating search, I finally stumbled upon a nice looking restaurant. Food was good, and the look I got for using cash was indeed priceless. My detour revealed some new nice spots I hadn’t seen before, so it was not all bad. Oh wait, scratch that, I still need to find my way home without my apps, damn.

In the evening I was filled with a mixed feelings of boredom and distress. With no phone or TV to distract me, I found myself rediscovering hobbies I had long abandoned like looking out the street and sleeping. I attempted to go back to my reading, finishing my day on a silent note.

Day 3: How Much More To Go?

By Day 3, the lack of digital distractions was starting to make my brain feel like it was on vacation. So, I decided to give my mental health a little boost with some meditation. I set up a cozy corner in my place, plopped down a cushion, and attempted to clear my mind of all those digital daydreams. Spoiler alert: It took about ten minutes before my thoughts drifted back to wondering how many notifications I had missed.

So I took a refreshing stroll around the block. It was like stepping into a different world. A world where people still walked their dogs and played with their phones. Thank God, they still exist! The sounds of the city felt oddly soothing without the usual background hum of my social feeds. Without my screens normal things suddenly had particular sounds and scents.

The highlight of my 3rd day was a planned visit from a friend. We had coordinated this meetup before the detox began, and I had managed to convince her to come over despite the fact that I’d lost touch with the digital world. When she arrived, she was first encouraged by my tech-free zone and existence. 

We spent the evening talking and laughing like normal people, who could have believed it’s still possible without our screens? I caught a glimpse of her phone flashing with messages and notifications, glowing in the dim light. Glowing at me! When she left she was clearly relieved to leave my technology-free bubble and rejoin the general population’s digital life. I returned to my book before going to sleep. I was hoping to dream about myself, only with a phone, like a normal person.

Day 4: Trying the Classics

With a growing sense of boredom creeping in, I decided to rediscover some classic pleasures I remember hearing about from my grandmother. I brought cards with me. People said they may help. They lied.

So I took advantage of the amount of clothes that I brought with me to mix and match my clothes creatively. Then I tried my hand at sketching, a hobby I didn’t know that I enjoy. Not a bad experience at all. Can the absence of digital entertainment turn out to be a blessing in disguise, pushing me to rediscover and appreciate the non-digital joys of life?

Long walks in the park became a daily ritual, providing a much needed break from the apartment. The park's serene atmosphere today allowed me to think about my detox experience clearly and I spent some time writing about my experience, capturing my thoughts and emotions in a way that felt profoundly personal and fulfilling. That doesn’t usually happen when I am with my phone.

Day 5: Detox from Detox

The final day has finally arrived. It seems like months have gone by since Monday when I checked in. My boredom and loneliness are at their peak. On the last day of my digital detox, I awoke with excitement and familiarity. The last five days had been challenging, and today was my chance to soak up every last bit of this screen-free experience.

I started my morning with a walk around the neighborhood. My first stop was my local coffee place that I discovered on the first day. I almost forgot how it is to sip your coffee when you do have your phone with you. I miss it by now.

After breakfast, I took another stroll to a nearby park. I found a quiet spot under a tree and spent some time thinking and writing to myself. Writing by hand has been a change for the past few days, but I am ready to start typing again. I have been in the park the last 5 days more than I spent in parks for the 5 years before that!

By the time I got back I had to pack and check out to return to my old life of digital pleasures.

I took a final walk through the apartment, taking in the memories of my screen-free adventure. ‘Never again’ I reassured myself. Before heading out, I took one last look at the quiet apartment and reflected for a minute. The detox produced some meaningful insights about myself but I wanted to re-engage with the digital world already.

The experience did teach me the value of unplugging. These quiet benefits of challenging yourself or just letting go. But I was eager to go back to my old balance between technology and personal presence. That means being connected digitally 99% of the time. There is no way I am doing detox ever again.