How To Do a Digital Detox [Updated 2025]
Learn What a Digital Detox Is, How to Start, Tips, Benefits, and the Best Apps, Books to Help You Disconnect.
What Is a Digital Detox?
A digital detox is a planned break from technology—like smartphones, social media, or streaming platforms—to help you reduce stress and reconnect with real-life activities. Rather than mindlessly scrolling, you consciously step away from apps and devices that overstimulate your brain. Whether it’s a one-day unplug, a digital detox vacation, or even a 30-day digital detox challenge, the goal is to give your mind a break from the digital noise.
How To Do a Digital Detox
Steps to get started with a digital detox plan:
Set an Intention: Decide why you’re doing this. Do you want more productivity? More creativity? Less stress? Being clear on why digital detox is important for you makes it easier to follow through.
Choose a Timeframe: How long should a digital detox last? That depends on your schedule and comfort level. Some start with a 24-hour break; others commit to a week.
Remove Temptations: Delete tempting apps for the duration. If you’re worried about missing notifications, set up custom “Do Not Disturb” hours.
Related: How To Limit Screen Time on iPhone
Use Tools for Accountability: Employ a digital detox app like Refocus or similar tools. Blocking social media, certain websites or time-wasting apps ensures you’ll stay on track.
Plan Offline Activities: Think about what you’ll do instead. Will you read a digital detox book, try new hobbies, or hang out with friends? Prepping healthy distractions lessens the impulse to check your phone.
Digital Detox Benefits
The top benefits of a digital detox:
Reduced Stress: Cutting down on information overload helps you recharge mentally and feel calmer overall.
Better Sleep: Shutting off blue-light devices earlier promotes a healthier sleep schedule.
Improved Focus: Less distraction leads to enhanced productivity, creativity, and deeper work or study sessions.
Stronger Relationships: Being fully present around friends, family, or colleagues nurtures richer, face-to-face connections.
Boosted Self-Esteem: Stepping away from social media comparison can improve how you feel about yourself and your life.
Digital Detox Vacations (or Retreats)
The best digital detox retreats are:
COMO Shambhala Estate (Indonesia, Bali): A holistic wellness retreat nestled in tropical rainforests, offering mindfulness programs, meditation sessions, spa treatments, and nature walks.
The Ranch Malibu (USA, California): A luxury health resort with an intense daily regimen that naturally limits device usage.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (Mexico): Features a unique Detox Concierge who "detoxifies" your suite by swapping TVs for board games and storing away gadgets.
Digital Detox Books
The digital detox books are:
"Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World" by Cal Newport: Focuses on adopting a minimalist approach to technology use, prioritizing tools that align with your values.
"How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life" by Catherine Price: Combines psychology, neuroscience, and practical advice to help regain control of your screen time. Including a step-by-step, 30-day guide to reducing phone dependency.
"Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked" by Adam Alter: Explores the psychology behind why technology is addictive and offers solutions to break free from overuse. It's a deep dive into the design choices of tech companies that influence behavior.
Best Digital Detox Apps
The best digital detox apps are:
#1 - Refocus
Refocus is the best digital detox app for those who prioritize ease of use and powerful flexibility.
Pros:
Simple: within the first minute, you'll be set up to block apps in the most optimal way.
Flexible & Powerful: Refocus includes strict modes and other advanced options to customize your app-blocking setup to fit your needs.
Quality: while Refocus doesn’t have a flashy design, it’s best-in-class for reliability.
Great free-tier: Refocus has one of the best free tiers.
Cons:
No gamification: Refocus focuses on simplicity and flexibility, so it lacks gamification features like pairing with a friend to track screen time or “unlocking apps after 1,000 steps.”
#2 - Forest
Forest stands out by gamifying the process of staying off your phone, making focus sessions more fun and environmentally meaningful.
Pros:
Gamified Motivation: Forest uses a virtual tree-growing mechanic that’s surprisingly effective at encouraging you to stay focused.
User-Friendly: Its simple, intuitive interface and ambient sounds create a pleasant, distraction-free environment.
Cons:
Limited Advanced Features: Forest’s core functionality is straightforward and may feel too simple if you need more advanced time-tracking options.
Paid App: Forest requires an upfront purchase, which may deter some potential users.
Related: Best Digital Detox Apps for iPhone in 2025
The Siggi’s Digital Detox 2024 Program
The Siggi’s Digital Detox 2024 Program was a contest designed to promote a simpler, healthier lifestyle by challenging participants to disconnect from smartphones for 30 days. Open to U.S. residents aged 18 and older, the program required entrants to submit a 100–500-word essay explaining why they needed a digital detox and how it aligned with Siggi’s dairy philosophy of “less sets you free.” Ten winners were selected to receive $10,000, a lockbox for their phone, a basic mobile phone with a prepaid plan, and a three-month supply of Siggi’s yogurt (total prize value: $11,159). Judging was based on clarity, creativity, and authenticity. The contest ran from January 17–31, 2024, and winners were announced in mid-February.
