What if you completely disconnected—no phone, no internet, no distractions? Would you feel free or completely lost?

Last week was my birthday, and my cousin, who’s my go-to adventure buddy, sent me a cryptic message: “I have an idea for your birthday present. Can you do a night away?”

I had no clue what she was planning, but I was definitely not expecting what she came up with. While searching for a cosy cabin retreat (with a hot tub, of course – which is exactly what I’d been looking at for her birthday), she stumbled upon something a little different: a remote cabin in the woods with no electricity and zero phone signal. And she thought it would be fun to completely switch off.

I said yes immediately, as I do with most things – sometimes regrettably! But then the nerves crept in. A pitch-black cabin in the middle of the woods? No way to check in with anyone? And let’s not forget the very real possibility of spiders. Plus, January isn’t exactly prime outdoor adventure season – were we just signing up to freeze all night?

When we arrived, I was relieved to find the cabin was on a farm and near the main campsite, just a short (but slightly chaotic) trek through the woods. It was isolated enough to feel like an escape, but not too isolated—though the sheep did seem to take charge of the toilets.

We lost signal before even reaching the cabin. Normally, I’d send a quick “arrived safe” message, but nope – it was just us and the trees now.

We had prepared a little: battery-operated tealights, fairy lights, and a portable charger for emergencies. But apart from snapping a few photos, our phones remained untouched. We lit the fire, ate, drank, and chatted for hours. No checking the time, no scrolling, no replying to notifications. When we were tired, we just… went to bed. No goodnight texts, no arranging rides home, no glowing screens lighting up the dark. And honestly? It felt amazing!

Lately, I’ve become painfully aware of my screen time. Even though I never scroll when I’m with people, and I make an effort to be present, I was still shocked at how much time I spent on my phone. But in that cabin, I barely noticed its absence. The weirdest part? Coming home and suddenly feeling hyper-aware of being constantly connected.

I’ve always been someone who answers messages quickly and checks my phone out of habit, even mid-task. But spending a full night with zero screen time made me realise just how freeing it is to be unreachable. I wasn’t missing out on anything—I was just living. I appreciate it was just one day and I’m not sure how I would fare for a longer time, but it honestly made such an impact!

Bringing the Digital Detox Home

Of course, I can’t escape to a remote cabin every weekend. (Or can I?) But this experience made me think about how I use my phone at home, especially with my boyfriend. We often sit together in the evenings, each scrolling through our own feeds or watching tv shows. It’s not that we’re not usually present or don’t connect in other ways – and the poor guy probably can’t take any more talking! – but it’s just so easy to default to screen time.

Since coming back, I’ve asked for us to have no screen evenings to focus on just being more intentional about spending time together without distractions.

Going Fully Off-Grid at Home

After experiencing a night with no electricity in the cabin, I’ve been thinking about how to bring that same peace into my own home. So, I’ve decided to start having ‘off-grid’ nights—no lights, no WiFi, no screens. Just candles, books, conversation, and slowing down.

I think it will help us relax before bed too, no endless scrolling, no background TV, just a cosy, tech-free atmosphere.

I’m realising more and more that being constantly connected doesn’t mean we’re truly engaged. And sometimes, the best way to reconnect – with yourself, with loved ones, and with the present moment – is to just switch everything off. That evening with my cousin was such a lovely way to spend time with her, chatting and laughing all night!

So, if you ever get the chance to fully disconnect, I can’t recommend it enough. Whether it’s a cabin in the woods, a day without WiFi, or just switching your phone off for an evening – give yourself that space. You might be surprised by how much you don’t miss it.

What are some small ways you could incorporate a digital detox into your daily routine? Do you feel like constant connectivity enhances or takes away from your relationships?