As the festive season arrives, it presents a perfect opportunity to step away from the relentless pace of modern digital life. Instead of screens, apps, and chatbots, the focus shifts to connecting with our nearest and dearest. With the holiday period upon us, here are some practical suggestions for unplugging from the online world as you enjoy festive meals, exchange gifts, or take time for self-reflection.
Master Your Device's Built-In Tools
Your smartphone already contains powerful features designed to minimise digital distractions. To silence the constant barrage of notifications, utilise the Focus setting on your iPhone or Android device. This mode is engineered to halt interruptions when you need to concentrate. You can customise it extensively, blocking specific apps or setting it to activate automatically during activities like sleeping or reading.
Both Android and iOS platforms also offer comprehensive screen time controls to manage your overall device usage. If you find yourself scrolling through Instagram for too long, you can impose a strict daily limit, such as 20 minutes. Another clever trick is to turn your screen to grayscale, making it visually less appealing. On iPhones and Android devices, this can be done by adjusting the colour filter or accessibility settings. Notably, activating Bedtime Mode on Android also turns the screen grey.
For those requiring stricter measures, consider deleting the apps to which you are most addicted. Removing the applications you habitually scroll through, even temporarily, is a highly effective way to break the cycle. You can always reinstall them later if withdrawal symptoms become too intense.
Embrace the Great Outdoors and Analog Alternatives
When temperatures drop, the temptation to stay indoors is strong. However, resisting the urge to remain on the couch all day is crucial for a true digital break. Make a point to head outdoors, away from Wi-Fi signals. If you have snow, engage in a snowball fight or go sledding. Remember to wear bulky mittens to keep your hands warm—they have the added benefit of making your phone's touchscreen unresponsive.
Even without snow, a walk in the woods, a local park, or along tree-lined streets can work wonders. Time spent in nature and away from screens is proven to benefit both mental health and physical well-being, a practice often referred to as forest bathing. For those who need an extra push, there's an app called Touch Grass. It requires users to go outside and take a picture of themselves physically touching grass (or snow or sand in winter) to unlock app restrictions. The free tier allows you to block two apps.
Re-engage with the analog world by putting pen to paper. Handwriting is becoming a dying art, but research indicates it has significant neurological and cognitive benefits. Use this time to write a thoughtful Christmas card, a letter to an old friend, or thank-you notes. Similarly, consider picking up a physical book. Reading long-form literature offers deeper understanding, develops empathy, and improves focus in ways short-form digital content cannot.
Consider Drastic Measures: Lockboxes and 'Brick' Phones
For a last-minute gift idea, consider a time-lock vault. These devices, available online for around $30 or £24, physically secure your smartphone for a set period—from 15 minutes up to 30 days. You set the timer, and a digital display counts down until it unlocks. Some models have portholes for charging cables. Be warned: if you lock away your phone, remember that two-factor authentication codes for services like Amazon often go to it, which could foil other online plans.
Another radical gift idea is the so-called 'brick' or feature phone. Devices from brands like Nokia cater to those seeking a back-to-basics experience without digital stimulation. These retro phones typically feature numeric keypads, no touchscreens, and classic games like Snake, limiting functionality largely to calls and texts. For a more modern minimalist approach, companies like Light, Punkt, and Balance offer sleek phones with a deliberately stripped-down experience.
The core message is clear: the Christmas holiday season, as highlighted in the original article published on Thursday 18 December 2025, is an ideal time to consciously disconnect. By employing these tech tips, from software settings to physical lockboxes, you can reclaim your time and enjoy a more meaningful, connected festive period in the real world.
