I just returned from five incredible days canoe camping deep in the Canadian wilderness. No power, no Wi-Fi, no endless news cycle. Just me, my pack, a canoe and thankfully friends who knew what they were doing!
At first, I kept reaching for my phone out of habit even though I knew there’d be no signal. By day two, the urge had gone. By day three, my mind had slowed to match the pace of the lakes.
Here’s what I learned about life (and technology):
We don’t need to be “on” all the time. The world didn’t end while I was offline. The emails were still there when I came back, but I had more energy and clarity to deal with them.
Nature resets our nervous system. The calm I felt sitting by the lake in the sun after a hard day’s paddle was something I hadn’t felt in months, and it lasted long after I came home.
Disconnection leads to reconnection. Without my phone, I was more present. I noticed the loons on the lake, the stars at night, the way the wind rippled the water. I was connected, just not to the internet.
That trip was the inspiration for The Digital Reset, a 4-week experience I’ve created to help others feel that same calm and clarity, without needing to disappear into the woods.
It’s about small, practical steps to reclaim your focus, reduce screen time, and feel more present.
If you’ve been craving a break from the scroll, this might be exactly what you need.
Join me for The Digital Reset
Why do a reset and what are the benefits of time away from our screens?
We’re seeing a decrease in our ability to focus, a shortening of our attention spans and an increase in stress, overwhelm and mental health challenges. We struggle for time and yet lose so much of it on social media. We’re not present with our loved ones, even when we’re all in the same room. We’re more connected than ever yet increasingly lonely.
Brene Brown observes that we’re facing a whirlwind of AI, social media, wearable tech, causing instability, feeling untethered, and mentally exhausted. She calls it living beyond human scale.
What are the benefits of a digital detox?
Reduced stress and anxiety – less exposure to constant notifications, news, and comparison triggers lowers cortisol.
Improved mood and emotional regulation – breaks the dopamine rollercoaster from social media and alerts.
Greater self-awareness – noticing how often you reach for your device helps you uncover triggers and habits.
Increased calm and presence – more moments of stillness, mindfulness, and focus.
Improved attention span – fewer digital distractions means you can focus longer on deep work.
More time for what matters – freeing up hours otherwise lost to mindless scrolling.
Better decision-making – with fewer inputs, your brain can think more clearly.
Space for creativity and problem-solving – boredom sparks original thinking and new ideas.
Clarity on priorities – without constant online noise, it’s easier to hear your own thoughts.
Stronger sense of autonomy – you feel more in control of your attention, rather than pulled around by algorithms.
If all that sounds like something you could do with join me for the digital reset. Create a healthy relationship with your screen, be more present to invest in real relationships, become a role model to children in how to take time offline.
It’s too easy to waste time online – it’s also easy to change that. I believe that technology can help us be more human and not less but only if we use it rather than it using us.