Digital detoxes don't really work... but they’re still worth doing.

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📌 August 2021. Lisbon, Portugal.

As a non-traditional business school graduate student, I wasn’t at Nova School of Business and Economics to chase consulting gigs or investment banking dreams.

So when I saw ‘Evidence-Based Practices for Well-being’ in the course catalog, it felt like it was shouting my name.

There was a bidding system and I didn’t want to miss out, so I threw most of my points at it. And boom, nailed a seat in the class.

In Week 3 of the course, we were offered to take part in a 5-day Mobile Unplugging Challenge. Here’s what that looked like:

As you can see, it gets harder by the day, with #5 pushing life into hard mode. But anyone who knows me knows I live for a good challenge.

It was the perfect timing, too. I’d been more online than usual, after making a return to social media.

So I took it ON.

What I Learned About Detoxes

Detoxes don’t fix the real problem.

They feel big and dramatic, but the effects rarely last. You slide right back into the same patterns the next day.

Why? Because they pause the habit, they don’t rewire it. Real change comes from tiny, consistent actions, NOT grand resets.

But there’s something to be gained from a digital detox. It can be a very powerful tool for clarity.

It yanks you out of autopilot. It forces you to confront your reality. And that shift in perspective can be profound.

I was one of the few, if not the only one, who actually made it through all five days. Here are my greatest takeaways:

7 Lessons That Made Me Rethink My Digital Behaviors

The best way to explore is with my head up, not my phone out

No phone outside meant no Google Maps. I had to memorize my routes: street names, turns, landmarks.

As someone who prides himself on a good sense of direction, I weirdly loved the challenge. It forced me to pay attention. I finally began to appreciate Lisbon’s beauty and feel more at home.

People are always willing to help

On Day 5, I was invited to a party. I was able to find the building without GPS, but no one answered the buzzer. Without a phone, I had no way to text “hey, im here.”

It was just me, standing there awkwardly 😄 until the doorman showed up. We struck a mini-conversation and we shared a laugh. It was wholesome.

I never would’ve had that moment if I’d called or texted the host to open up.

Over-reliance on tech creates fragile systems

NOVA’s on-campus super market is high-tech. You need your phone to enter, scan, and pay. Without it? I couldn’t even step inside. The gym? Same story. During this challenge, I couldn’t work out or shop!

Locking people without a phone out isn’t inclusive. A world that only works for the digitally connected is a world that doesn’t work for everyone!

Kindness thrives when we give it space

One day, I couldn’t pay for lunch (no access to the store). A colleague offered to cover me without hesitation. It was a simple act of generosity that reminded me how kind people can be.

Plans don’t need micromanaging

Another day, I had a beach outing planned and told my friend the day before: “Let’s meet at platform 3 in Cais do Sodré at 8:00am.”

I was so anxious that we’d miss each other. No texts. No ‘Where are you?’ messages. No live location sharing.

But it went so smooth… It reminded me of my childhood when I’d wait and wait and wait for my friends to show up.

Attention is the doorway to beauty

During my morning commute on the train to Carcavelos, I actually noticed the coastline, the buildings, the people.

It hit me how blind I’d become to the beauty around me. I saw it all again with a fresh set of eyes.

Real presence changes the energy in the room

I started observing people more. (Any people watchers in the house? 😄)

Some groups laughed and shared stories. Others sat side-by-side, each glued to their phones.

The difference in energy was huge. It made me realize how rare real presence is today and how much I want more of it in my life.

The Detox Paradox

So if detoxes don’t lead to lasting change, why bother doing them?

Because if you’re mindful enough, they’re sorta like holding a magnifying glass up to your life.

They reveal your habits, dependencies, and blind spots. They zoom in on all the ways your relationship with tech might be off, and all the moments you could be missing.

My experience taught me that I wasn’t missing anything online, but I had been missing everything offline.

In some strange, cosmic way, those 5 days helped shape the person I’ve become, and the kind of work I choose to do today.

Since then, I’ve done a handful of no-phone days. Every time, I feel more peaceful and less eager to reconnect.

What about you? Can you go a weekend without your phone? Hit reply. I’d love to hear from you.

See you next week,
George

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