But behind the buzz is a widespread, real-world desire to return to a time before smartphones absorbed hours of every single day, before they were an extension of our bodies. There is a growing sentiment now that the way to thrive in our high-tech world is by living a low-tech life.<\/p>\n
Social media\u2019s original promise was to enhance our lives and build community, to connect us with other people. Yet research shows the more time people spend on these platforms, the more likely they are to feel depressed and lonely. Australia\u2019s recent ban on under-16s using social media platforms was a world-first policy designed to protect children from harm.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not only social media we are giving so much of our downtime to, but online shopping, gaming and random videos of random things. The internet is a never-ending supply of content, and more than 50 per cent of it is now AI generated. It can absorb so much of our attention that we can easily forget just how exciting life can be beyond our little screens. <\/p>\n
So lock away your phone, log out of Netflix and find inspiration in the ideas below to feed the mind, body and soul.<\/p>\n
Getting startedAnalogue kit<\/p>\n
Set yourself up by buying or borrowing a few items that will reduce the practical role of a smartphone in your life. Your lifestyle might require different things, but a good place to start is an alarm clock, so you can keep your phone out of your bedroom; a watch, so you can check the time without checking your phone; and a notebook, so you can jot things down to act on when you\u2019re ready. Most things are a lot less urgent than they seem when the option to respond or act immediately isn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n
Freedom phone<\/p>\n
The necessity of emails, maps and internet banking is enough to prevent many of us from making a permanent switch to a \u201cdumb phone\u201d that can\u2019t connect to the internet. There are workarounds, such as removing all non-essential apps from your phone or installing controls to limit screen time. Another option is to procure an old phone, one that doesn\u2019t have internet capabilities,. There are lots of options available for under \u20ac50, and you can get a pay-as-you-go SIM. Give the phone number to the people in your life who might need you in an emergency, or who you could call in one. Think of it as your freedom phone, the one in your pocket when you go hiking, or at the bottom of your bag when you go out with friends and just want to see where the day takes you, or when you\u2019re cosied up at home and need a few hours or days of being entirely present with yourself and the people around you.<\/p>\n
[\u00a0No Instagram, Netflix or YouTube: Can I survive a four-week digital detox?Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Collecting <\/p>\n Technology was supposed to streamline our lives, yet somehow it feels more complicated than ever. We stream music and movies, download books and save thousands of images in the cloud. But do we really own any of these things? If the internet went down, would you have anything to show for years of honing your tastes, curating and collecting? Is there a case for owning actual books, for printing out favourite photos, for finding an old Discman and listening to an album all the way through?<\/p>\n MindReading The secret to getting back into reading is reading purely for pleasure. Page-turners, characters that stay with you, fiction or non-fiction that is so compelling you bring the book with you wherever you go. Conventionally seen as a solitary way to experience the world, reading can also be a social pursuit. \u201cWe have found that community and friendship flourish when phones are put away,\u201d says Maeve O\u2019Brien, co-founder of Silent Book Club Dublin<\/a>, where people gather once a month in Mish Mash Caf\u00e9 on Capel Street to read together. \u201cWhile it can sometimes be difficult not to check your screen for an hour or two, we have found people start to crave it.\u201d<\/p>\n Photography<\/p>\n Taking photos with a dedicated camera rather than a phone camera might seem cumbersome, but it offers something different: a chance to slow down, look, engage and create. \u201cUsing a \u2018real\u2019 camera invites you into a more mindful, observational space where you\u2019re not just capturing life but composing a story and creating art,\u201d says Andrea Hunt, a photographer and tutor with the Dublin Photography School. \u201cMany people are drawn to film photography out of curiosity or a sense of nostalgia. What often keeps them there, then, is the slower, more thoughtful way of working that it encourages. You begin to trust your eye, your understanding of light, and your own patience.\u201d<\/p>\n Board games<\/p>\n Ditch the notion that board games are only for the festive season, and instead embrace them as part of everyday life, as they have been for thousands of years, from ancient Egypt to ancient Rome. Nine Men\u2019s Morris, a strategic board game, was so beloved by the 13th-century monks on retreat at Glendalough that it was found scratched into a flat piece of slate at the remote Temple-na-Skellig church, which is accessible only by boat. Today, charity shops are often a treasure trove for picking up a nostalgic family classic or discovering a new niche favourite.<\/p>\n Cinema<\/p>\n In an era where you can stream or rent almost any film instantly, going to see a movie on the silver screen retains a certain romantic quality. Cinema\u2019s history in Ireland is storied; James Joyce first introduced cinema to Ireland in 1909 with the Volta Cinematograph Theatre on Dublin\u2019s Mary Street. It was a short-lived venture for the writer, as Dubliners had a fairly muted reaction to his programme of European cinema. Alongside blockbuster cinemas, there are some beautiful independent options around the country with diverse programmes. Consider Dunamaise Arts Centre<\/a> in Co Laois, The Dot Cinema, a tiny private cinema in Dublin 2, or Triskel Arts Centre<\/a> in Cork.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Top travel: the hottest destinations to visit in 2026Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Arts and crafts<\/p>\n Stitching, knitting, pottery throwing, printing \u2013 all manner of arts and crafts offer a chance to create rather than consume, to use your hands for flair and individuality. There is no need for perfection in the end product, but the very making and doing provides an antidote to the passive viewing of algorithmically curated content. \u201cThe tactile nature of embroidery makes it such a detox from scrolling,\u201d says Alice Cummins, an embroiderer and tutor of the craft. \u201cThe repetitive motion of the needle and thread coming through the fabric. The \u201cin-out-in-out\u201d is almost like meditating. Obviously, you also get a beautiful piece of art out of it, too, but I think most people I know who stitch do it more for the process than the finished product.\u201d<\/p>\n In-person events One of the hooks that keeps many of us on social media is the promise of connection, with friends, strangers and potential work opportunities. Yet the number of hours spent scrolling in solitude versus the moments of actual fruitful connection does not work in our favour. Instead, try going to one in-person event a month \u2013 a talk, a lecture, a concert \u2013 and speaking to three people there. It\u2019s fertile ground for real-world connections, based on shared experiences and interests. <\/p>\n Language <\/p>\n Learning a new language is arguably one of the most complex mental activities humans can do, but the rewards are great. It has been shown to boost memory, concentration and creativity, as well as improve communication skills and empathy. A recent study published in Nature Aging<\/a> found that speaking multiple languages can slow brain ageing, the gradual decline in brain processing speed, attention and other cognitive functions. Immersion in the language is the way to maximise these benefits, so stay away from language apps on your phone. Try looking for an in-person class, or if you have a little Irish there\u2019s likely a ciorcal comhr\u00e1, an Irish-language conversation group, in your area. As the saying goes, \u201cIs fearr Gaeilge bhriste n\u00e1 B\u00e9arla cliste\u201d.<\/p>\n [\u00a0S\u00ed, oui, ja! You can learn a language late in lifeOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n BodySauna<\/p>\n The extreme heat of a sauna makes it a perilous environment for technology and forces people to leave their phones behind. Fynn Cook, who owns the off-grid Sauna Shack<\/a> in Co Tyrone, says he often hears phones pinging away in the changing space. \u201cFor once, those notifications don\u2019t matter and can be ignored until later.\u201d Without screens or distractions to take people out of the experience, saunas can become micro hubs of connection. \u201cThere is something about sharing conversations in a sauna that opens people up, allowing vulnerability and talking openly,\u201d says Cook.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Nude saunas in Ireland: \u2018I realise I will soon be naked among these strangers\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Bushcraft<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to believe in a doomsday scenario to think it might be worthwhile to know how to look after yourself in the wild with no Google or ChatGPT to ask for help. There are overnight courses around Ireland where you can learn how to make fire from a spark using things such as birch bark, lichen or sap, how to sterilise stream water for drinking, and how to build a shelter. \u201cIt\u2019s important for people to have these skills,\u201d says Nathan Kingerlee, who runs Outdoors Ireland<\/a>\u2019s bushcraft and survival courses in Glengarriff, Co Cork. \u201cWhether it\u2019s for the simple enjoyment and therapeutic value of being able to head outdoors and sit beside your campfire listening to birdsong. Or the ability to survive off-grid for even a week, say in the event of a longer-term power cut or disaster, knowing you can also help and look after those around you.\u201d<\/p>\n Growing your own Growing your own vegetables is a no-brainer if you have any space. It is cost-effective and fosters a deep appreciation of food and connection to the earth. \u201cAny activity that forces you to be out in nature is going to have a positive impact on your mental health,\u201d says Fergus Finlay, from Abercorn Farm<\/a> in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Abercorn offers day-long courses on how to grow your own vegetables at home. \u201cIn a world of instant gratification, growing plants and vegetables is the complete opposite. It takes time, patience and care,\u201d says Finlay. \u201cIt forces you to be fully focused on the now and what\u2019s happening in front of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking<\/p>\n Go on a walk without a phone, a watch or music. Gen Z calls this absence of distraction \u201crawdogging\u201d, and it\u2019s seen as a test of endurance. It doesn\u2019t need to be a punishment, though; it can be a time to connect to your natural surroundings. You could take note of the trees around you, see how many you can identify, and which ones mystify. Maybe learn a new one each day, so that nature is no longer one green and brown blur, but trees you know by name. Niall Mac Coitir\u2019s book Ireland\u2019s Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore is the perfect accompaniment. <\/p>\n Running<\/p>\n Running as a sport is booming, with record numbers signing up for the 2026 Dublin and Cork city marathons. It\u2019s cheap, accessible and delivers a boost of happy hormones as a reward for your efforts. Run alone or join one of the many run clubs around the country, like the Run for Palestine<\/a> run club, which does a 5km loop every Sunday morning in Dublin. \u201cThe pace is very inclusive, enabling runners of all ages and abilities to come along,\u201d says Ola L\u00f8kken Nordrum, who founded the group in 2024. \u201cI\u2019ve met so many brave, warm and inspirational people. It has become a space where people can come together and find strength in one another.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooking from a cookbook<\/p>\n Somehow, cooking blogs have become part of the \u201censhittification\u201d of the internet, the degradation of the online environment. Recipe websites are often so cluttered with ads and pop-ups that you\u2019re constantly scrolling up and down. Cooking a recipe from a cookbook, on the other hand, can bring \u201ccomfort and relaxation\u201d, says chef and bestselling author Cherie Denham<\/a>. \u201cA cookbook comes with heart and soul; a recipe from a Google search does not. I find they bring great comfort and relaxation, particularly at night-time. When I leaf through those pages, and gaze at those photos and read introductions to the recipes, it brings me to a happy place that a computer simply can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u00a0\u2018Stop saying yes\u2019: Over 50 ways you can make your life easier in 2026Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Swimming<\/p>\n There are just a few environments left in this world that are completely inhospitable to phones. Swimming pools are one of them. For child protection, phones, tablets and any device capable of photography are typically prohibited poolside. In the water, whether you\u2019re floating, paddling or doing laps, there is total freedom from technology and from the outside world. Being in water is a chance to reset and recalibrate. Wild swimming has a similar appeal, a silky, salty release that is hard to find elsewhere. As Bonnie Tsui, the author of Why We Swim, observes, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be a great swimmer to appreciate the benefits of sensory solitude and the equilibrium the water can bring.\u201d<\/p>\n SoulOffgrid stays \u201cDigital detox\u201d, offgrid stays are on the rise, offering the opportunity for a real break and a real rest. In south Donegal, Lough Mardal Eco Lodge<\/a> is one such tech and gadget-free zone. On entering, guests leave their devices in lockboxes in the lobby and \u201cfind themselves chatting to one another, rather than disappearing into their screens\u201d, says Clare Tindal, who owns and runs Lough Mardal with her husband Marcus Tindal. \u201cThe natural environment draws us out of ourselves. You will feel your shoulders drop, your mind declutter and ultimately the immense relief to have separated yourself from your tech devices and their shallow stimulations.\u201d<\/p>\n Music meditation<\/p>\n Any practice where you give all of your attention to a single object or activity is a form of meditation. Research has shown that listening to live music during meditation may help focus an active mind, decrease heart rate, anxiety and pain, and guide you to a deeper relaxation. Taking all of this into account, musician Danny Forde<\/a> created his piano meditation offering. He chooses cosy places in beautiful natural surroundings to play piano for groups, who can lie down and rest. \u201cI like to call it \u2018pure listening\u2019, where you practice staying with each note as it\u2019s played, without analysis or judgment,\u201d Forde says. Improvised and beautiful, it is a soothing lullaby in a manic world and can be replicated at home with a CD or RT\u00c9\u2019s LyricFM.<\/p>\n Journaling<\/p>\n The Artist\u2019s Way is a cult book cum self-help course, passed between friends and creatives for three decades. Written by Julia Cameron, it has been credited by celebrities including Elizabeth Gilbert, Alicia Keys and Reese Witherspoon, alongside millions of others, for helping them rediscover and embrace their individual creative spark. Alongside different weekly exercises, Cameron asks that the first thing you do each morning on waking is write out three pages longhand. These are called Morning Pages. They are private, not to be shown to anyone. \u201cThere is no wrong way to do Morning Pages,\u201d Cameron writes in The Artist\u2019s Way<\/a>, meaning you can write anything you like, nothing is too petty, too banal or too ambitious. It\u2019s a way to start the day fresh, and although Cameron introduced the practice decades before the first smartphone, it can seamlessly replace the morning scroll.<\/p>\n Playing an instrument <\/p>\n Music feeds our soul, and picking up a new instrument or rediscovering one long cast aside can be an entirely absorbing activity and open up many new doors. Rionach O\u2019Callaghan, a retired teacher who took up the ukulele through a term of night classes in Blackrock Further Education<\/a> in Dublin after the pandemic, says it lifts her spirits being able to play music in a group. \u201cMy youngest son played the ukulele when he was very small, and l always thought it sounded like a happy instrument. I played the piano in my youth, but l wanted to play an instrument that was portable and fun. Ukulele is both of these things. Playing it with a group lifts my spirits, and l try never to miss our weekly sessions or the parties.\u201d<\/p>\n Volunteering<\/p>\n Our time is the most valuable resource we have, so why not donate it and make a difference? The National Volunteering Database<\/a> has thousands of varied opportunities across the country to get involved in, depending on your interests. There\u2019s openings to plant native Irish trees with ReWild Wicklow, write letters to people in nursing homes, volunteer at Dublin Zoo, take part in a beach clean-up, become a court and forensic accompaniment volunteer, a driver for autism assistance dogs, or to join the Pachamama project to sew reusable period pads for girls in developing countries so they can stay in school or work. <\/p>\n Free-diving<\/p>\n The pull of free-diving, where you dive in open water without oxygen, for many people is the opportunity for silence, to look inside yourself. It may sound extreme, but it\u2019s building a following among swimmers and non-swimmers in Ireland. \u201cIt\u2019s like you\u2019re grounded and limitless at the same time,\u201d says Julia Guziuk, who runs Freediving Aran<\/a> off Inis M\u00f3r. \u201cIt\u2019s meditation wrapped in adventure, a quiet space where the only \u2018noise\u2019 is your own mind and learning to soften that is very powerful.\u201d Divers here can see cliff walls, kelp forests, soft corals, jellyfish and dolphins in this private slice of the Atlantic, which has depths of 20 to 30 metres for beginners to more experienced freedivers.<\/p>\n Birding There are more than 450 species of birds on Birdwatch Ireland<\/a>\u2019s list, and many are rare or unusual or migratory birds. Learning to identify even our most common garden birds deepens every experience of being outside. Hang a bird feeder in your garden or attach a suction feeder to your window and watch the birds come. If you want to level up your twitching, Birdwatch Ireland runs a citizen science survey open to everyone between December and February. By taking part, you can help provide information on how bird populations fare during the harsh winter months each year.<\/p>\n Dark sky observatories<\/p>\n One way to put pinging notifications into perspective is to look up, as far as the eye can see and farther still. Stars, planets and the mysteries of the cosmos can make the screens we spend so much time staring into seem dull. Ireland was once a leader in astronomical research, and for seven decades between 1845 and 1914, the observatory at Birr, Co Offaly, had the largest telescope in the world. Birr\u2019s giant \u201cLeviathan\u201d telescope is no longer operational, but there are opportunities to stargaze through super-powerful telescopes at Ireland\u2019s two other historical astronomical observatories at Dunsink Observatory<\/a>, Dublin and Armagh Observatory<\/a>, Armagh.<\/p>\n![\"Lock](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/B5FO6OGK7JEPDIEVWUVVKVC6OY.jpg\")
Conventionally seen as a solitary way to experience the world, reading can also be a social pursuit. Illustration: Fuchsia MacAree <\/p>\n![\"Lock](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Q6KDBQ5IONDHBDDTK5MPEBIYHA.jpg\")
Try going to one in-person event a month. Illustration: Fuchsia MacAree <\/p>\n![\"Lock](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ZJVRZY3YIJCDJFCZW6MHC6SDOI.jpg\")
Growing plants and vegetables takes time, patience and care. Illustration: Fuchsia MacAree <\/p>\n![\"Lock](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PW4X4J4LD5CI5D3XJARHD3QHEU.jpg\")
Offgrid days are on the rise. Illustration: Fuchsia MacAree <\/p>\n![\"Lock](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Q6TWPCOBKNDRRE5SBLFMZIKYTA.jpg\")
Learning to identify even our most common garden birds deepens every experience of being outside. Illustration: Fuchsia MacAree <\/p>\n