Digital Detox Retreat: Planning a Tech-free Vacation for Mental Wellness

Who is this for?

Anyone looking to improve their mental wellness during a personal retreat.


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What’s your screen time? How many times a day do you check your phone? When was the last time you left your house without it? Chances are, you either don’t know the answer to any of those questions or are too embarrassed to admit it (I’m right there with you). It’s time to face the facts– we’re addicted to our phones. 


The internet has become an integral part of our lives. We do almost everything online now, from working and paying bills to socializing and shopping. It’s convenient to have the whole world in the palm of our hands, but the cost of that convenience is our mental health. So, how do we break our phone addictions and improve our mental health? The answer is, do a digital detox.

Two people are looking at the aurora borealis over a body of water.

What is a Digital Detox?


According to one official study on the subject, “Digital detox means a person or individual stays disconnected from devices or social media for a defined duration.”


Being constantly connected to the internet has been linked to information overload, shorter attention spans, increased anxiety, depression, and stress. The goal of a digital detox is to counteract the harm of digital addiction by disconnecting from the internet and reconnecting with reality. 

A woman is laying on a bed reading a book.

Digital Detox Retreat


It can be hard to detox when you’re dealing with the stress of your daily life. How can you find the time to break the habit when you’re surrounded by the triggers that drove you to your phone in the first place? Taking a personal vacation is a great way to shift your mindset. And upgrading a vacation into a retreat is surprisingly easy. Here are some ways you can plan your own digital detox retreat. 

A woman is sitting in a lotus position on a wooden floor surrounded by plants.

Focus on Wellness


If you really want to end a bad habit, start by replacing it with healthier ones. That’s often easier said than done in your hectic home, but a personal retreat offers the perfect environment to try something new. Here are a few activities known to improve your mental wellness.

Yoga


Try practicing some yoga for your health and well-being. If you don’t already have a routine in place, you can research some basic poses before you go. If you aren’t confident enough to go solo, see if there are some classes available in a nearby studio or a local public “yoga in the park” event. You’d be surprised how easy it is to find an instructor ready to help yogis of all skill and accessibility levels.

A group of people are sitting on yoga mats in a gym.
A man is sitting in a lotus position on a log in the woods.

Meditation


Calming your mind is an important step in relaxation, but it’s also one of the most difficult. We’re used to constantly being stressed about our responsibilities or mindlessly scrolling through our screens, so our brains never get a break. That’s what meditation is for! 


It may be hard to clear your mind at first, but there are some great guided meditation resources you can use. If you are worried that bringing along your phone to use an app might tempt you to cheat on your detox, you can find some old-school meditation CDs or tapes to get the job done.

Journaling


Journaling is taking the quiet part of meditation and combining it with the pensive aspects of writing. In fact, these two activities are often done hand-in-hand. Writing in a journal can help you empty your mind onto the page, leaving it clear for meditation. It may also help you work out some of the problems that you used to turn to your phone to solve. 


If you aren’t sure where to begin with journaling, you can try using some writing prompts to get inspired. Another idea is to try free-writing, which is the practice of writing whatever comes to your mind in the moment. 

A woman is sitting under a tree in the woods writing in a notebook.
A woman and a child are sitting on a rock overlooking a forest.

Explore the Real World


You can’t meditate and do yoga all day. It’s also important to get outside and “touch some grass”, as the kids say. We often spend so much time staring at screens that we don’t notice the real world around us. Here are some ways you can reconnect with your surroundings. 

Explore the landscape


Fresh air and exercise are essential for your mental and physical health, but it can be hard to find the time for a workout during your busy week. Luckily, Ontario’s beautiful landscape will make it hard to resist going outside to explore! Here are some activities that you can enjoy while taking in the beautiful scenery:



  • Take a hike through the woods
  • Rent a bike for a trail ride
  • Ski down the mountainside
  • Go swimming in crystal waters


An aerial view of a lake surrounded by trees and mountains.
A woman wearing a hat and a backpack is walking down a city street.

Explore the City


If you aren’t big on nature, how about exploring a new city? Keeping busy in town is a great way to distract yourself from your phone. Seeing new sites, trying new foods, and meeting new people are great ways to see what you’ve been missing while you were busy scrolling. Here are some fun things you can do:



  • Try the special at a local favorite restaurant
  • Shop at some local boutiques for unique gifts
  • Catch a play or concert at a nearby theater
  • Try chatting with some locals at a park or bar


Take a Ride


If you are the kind of person who likes new experiences, make your digital detox an adventure. There are so many things to do to make your retreat memorable. Here are just a few ideas:



  • Go horseback riding for an afternoon trail ride
  • Rent a boat for some sailing or fishing
  • Book a helicopter tour for aerial views
A person is riding a horse through a field of yellow flowers.
A man and a woman are holding hands under a starry night sky.

Engage in Hobbies


Have you been meaning to pick up a hobby? Maybe there’s a skill you wanted to learn, or an activity you used to love, but haven’t done in months (maybe years)? Life gets busy, and adulthood is stressful. Before you do it, the things you used to love to do become things you never do. The good news is, a digital detox is the perfect opportunity to free up some time to try them out!

A close up of a palette of paint and a brush on a table.

Pick up an old hobby


Have a project you’ve been meaning to get back to, but never seem to have the time? Now’s your opportunity! Bring along that ball of yarn you’ve been meaning to turn into a blanket. Pack up your carving tools and some wood to turn into ornaments, or dust off your old film camera. 


Whether you’re a painter, a writer, a small-model builder, or whatever else, freeing yourself from the screen means freeing up your imagination to do what you love.

Learn something new


If you think a single week or weekend isn’t enough time to try something new, you’d be wrong. There are plenty of new skills you can try with a single class. You don’t have to be perfect at something to enjoy it. You just need to be open to learning. Here are some activities you’ll love so much, you’ll forget your phone exists:


  • Painting: A lot of places offer guided “paint and sip” nights for a small fee.
  • Pottery: Many studios offer single-day classes for small projects!
  • Dancing: Look for some community dance classes for a fun night out.
  • Fiber Arts: Some craft stores have crochet and knitting circles open to new learners
  • Archery or Ax Throwing: Yes, really! Some ranges have professionals that will give you tips for a fun (and safe) experience.
A woman in an apron is standing in a pottery studio with her arms crossed.
A woman in a red dress and straw hat is walking down a dirt road.

Tips for Your Trip


Deciding to go on a digital detox is the first step in cutting the cord, but there’s a lot to consider to make a detox retreat effective in the long term. Here are a few tips to help you turn this retreat into a life-changing experience.

Two folding chairs and a telescope are sitting in the grass.

Preparing for your detox


Quitting something cold-turkey isn’t easy, so you’ll want to do everything you can to make the transition easier. Here are some things to consider as you prepare.


  • Location: Choose a location that offers both comfort and convenience. Free yourself from the urge to scroll by choosing a location with amazing amenities and nearby activities to keep yourself too busy to miss your phone.
  • Plan your itinerary: Know what you want to do before you go, so you aren’t tempted to use your phone to look up things to do. 
  • Practice your analog skills: We’ve all gotten too used to having answers at the touch of a button. Get used to looking up directions on a map or reading instructions from a book so you don’t pull out your phone for an easy answer.

Packing


Now that you know where you’re going and what you’re doing, here are some tips on what to bring (and what not to bring) for your digital detox.


  • Extra Snacks: Make your trip extra special by bringing along your favorite treats. Not only will that help perk you up, but it can also help you avoid ordering takeout on your phone.
  • Hands-on activities: Keep your mind and your hands busy with some hands-on activities. This can be some of the hobbies listed above, or other things like puzzles or board games.
  • Low-tech replacements: There are a lot of things our phones have replaced, so you’ll need to bring them back to replace your phone. Some ideas include a map, a music player, books, etc.
  • Leave the Charger: Our final tip is to leave your device chargers at home or locked in the car. Knowing that your device can’t easily be charged will force you to limit its use.
A woman is sitting on the floor packing a suitcase.

Stay at Back Forty Glamping

If you’re looking for the perfect location to unplug and reconnect, stay with us at Back Forty Glamping. Our luxury accommodations make the perfect digital detox domes for your retreat. Enjoy luxury bedding, private hot tubs, gourmet meals on order, and an onsite sauna surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the South Georgian Bay. 


Whether you need a quiet weekend getaway, new towns to explore, or adventure in the great outdoors, our location in Meaford offers easy access to it all. Come see what glamping should be when you book your stay today! 

About the Author

Scott

co-founder of Back Forty. You can find him usually in dirty work clothes in a muddy pit, trouble shooting some obscure problem a dome build is experiencing. Scott has boldly led our team through all the red tape of permits and zoning amendments in the early days and currently manages all the financials for Back Forty. Scott enjoys sharing his knowledge and networking and you can find him telling our story in numerous articles and podcasts!