Digital Detox: What I Discovered in 48 Hours Without My Phone
This week I did something a little nutty.
I decided to pursue a 48-hour digital detox in the woods. Thats right - no phone calls, text messages, emails, or social media.
I rented an AirBnB in Idyllwild California- a small mountain town of seven thousand people about two hours away from both San Diego and Los Angeles. It sits at about 5-thousand feet in the wooded national forest of San Bernardino.
The reason for this was retreat was an inspiration I heard from a series of podcasts with Tim Ferriss along with knowing it is a common ritual of several big thinkers such as Bill Gates.
Everyone thought it was going to be impossible for me to do- as they know how addicted I am to posting my anecdotes on Linkdin and rapidly shooting off text messages. My experience wasn’t painful at all- in fact my brain was spirit was craving some peace.
I spent my time going on hikes with Charlie, journaling, and reading. At the end of my experience this is what my key learnings were.
Embracing Logos: A term I discovered in Marcus Aurelius’s renowned book Meditations. Marcus often refers to logos, or spirituality, as synonymous with nature and our deep connection with it. He eloquently states, "Nature, you offer me abundant treasures throughout your seasons. All things emanate from you, exist within you, and return to you." I realized the significance of immersing myself in the woods to attain clarity; it became a pivotal part of a transformative cycle.
The yearning for silence: When I confided in a select few about my upcoming journey, they laughed, warning me that without my phone, I would surely go crazy. Surprisingly, my experience was quite the opposite. It appeared that my mind yearned for silence, much like a someone in the scorching heat craves a salty foods.
I love algae that grows on rocks: weird I know but it brought me back to my childhood. I loved looking at algae patches on granite in the woods.
Charlie craves logos as well: My sedentary overweight golden retriever also had a complete psychic shift while in nature. He belongs in the woods as well.
Being disconnected from my family made me crave them: I make tons of jokes of wanting to a break from my family. Its not really a joke- they can drive me crazy. That being said when I was away from them without any contact I was craving them.
I need to batch nature with my family: If I am going to spend more time in nature I am going to need to do it with family. I cannot afford much more “David alone” time. It is only going to strengthen us as a family to experience this together.
Going into nature and on retreat is a transcendental experience: It takes a while to get slip into this state of consciousness. It took roughly about 4-5 hours of disconnection before my brain started to slow enough to enjoy everything around me. I turned off everything on my phone the morning of the trip even though I didn’t check in until 4pm. I am glad I did that because it even still took a great deal of time to slip into the mindset.
Nothing in business matters accept not losing my families balance sheet and providing value to the people that I serve: It was incredible how much perspective you get once you are disconnected. Everything that you think matters doesn’t and everything you take for granted seems to really matter. It was such a relief to feel this feeling.
I have a lot of negativity in my life: When I started to re-integrate back into the world I noticed there is a lot of negativity in my life. When I checked my text messages I noticed that 9 out of the 13 had some negativity attached to it. The texts were filled mostly self-congratulatory ego and gossip. It is pretty apparent that I attract and welcome this energy in my life.
I consumer a lot of empty calories: Regarding item #9, I realize that I engage in numerous activities that are ego driven, which is likely contributing to my anxiety. It's crucial for me to replace these empty-calorie experiences with more enriching and fulfilling ones. Similar to starting the day with a protein-rich meal that sets the tone for our eating habits, initiating the day with sugary carbs tends to lead to a day filled with the same kind of choices.
I can carry with me tools outside retreat: Some of the tools and hacks that I have deleveloped on the retreat I can take home with me. Such as leaving certain apps off my phone (social), or at least off my home screen (email, chrome, text). Calendaring more nutrient enriching activities with family and self are also another great way from ingesting ego consuming calories.
In the quiet embrace of Idyllwild's woods, I unlocked profound truths that are often drowned out in the cacophony of our digital age. While my 48-hour digital detox might seem like a bold move to some, it allowed me to immerse myself in a world of introspection, bringing forth clarity and a deeper understanding of my own desires and relationships. Nature's call is unmistakable, and my journey — inspired by great thinkers and their shared beliefs — has revealed the undeniable power of disconnection to reconnect. From the simple beauty of algae on rocks to the realization of the noise in my daily life, every observation has been a step towards self-awareness.
Charlie's contented strides through the forest, the pull I felt towards my family, and the sheer tranquility of being present without distraction, have all solidified my conviction. Life's most profound lessons often lie in the silence, waiting for us to listen. If my musings have resonated with you or sparked a curiosity, I invite you to join me on this ever-evolving journey of discovery. Subscribe to my writings, and together, let’s uncover the wonders that await when we dare to disconnect.
