There’s something magical about summer in Ontario. Warm evenings, shimmering lakes, the slow hum of cicadas make it feel like being on vacation someplace tropical. Like when I was a kid and would go visit my snowbird grandparents in Florida at Christmas. Riding around on a bike in shorts and a t-shirt while everyone back home was shoveling snow.
It’s like an open invitation to unplug.
But here’s the catch: most of us don’t.
We carry our phones from dock to deck chair, refreshing feeds between sips of iced coffee. We check our email just in case before bed. We scroll when we’re bored instead of letting our minds wander.
And slowly, we forget what it feels like to be fully here.
A real break from screens isn’t just about escaping technology, it’s about giving your nervous system the chance to reset, recharge, and drop into deeper flow.
This is your summer reminder to step away from the pings and pixels for a little while.
I’ll walk you through why it matters, what it does for your brain and body, and how to try a simple 24-hour challenge that just might change how you relate to your devices for good.
1. Digital Overload: The Hidden Flow Killer
The average person spends 6–9 hours a day looking at screens. That means your brain is taking in a firehose of information—notifications, ads, endless videos—without much downtime.
Here’s what that does to your flow:
Hijacks your attention. Every buzz tricks your brain into thinking something urgent is happening, snapping you out of deep focus.
Fuels stress chemistry. Dopamine highs and lows from constant digital hits leave you wired and tired. It’s like a sugar crash for your nervous system.
Disrupts your sleep cycles. Blue light after dark suppresses melatonin, which means less restorative deep sleep and slower recovery. And the stimulation from TV and video games at night makes it harder to wind down.
When your brain never powers down, you stay stuck in the always-on state of low-grade anxiety we call the Zone of Crap. Creativity fades. Patience shrinks. Flow becomes harder to find.
2. Why a Tech Break Feeds Flow
Think of a digital detox as active recovery for your mind.
When you step away from constant input:
Your focus returns. With fewer interruptions, your prefrontal cortex can sustain deeper, more strategic thinking.
Stress drops. Even a 48-hour social media break can measurably lower cortisol.
Mood lifts. Downtime activates the brain’s default mode network - the same one linked to creativity and insight.
Sleep deepens. Less blue light means earlier melatonin release and longer, restorative stages of sleep.
Connection improves. No notifications means more presence in conversations, more eye contact, and richer real-world moments.
3. Summer Swaps for Screen Time
The beauty of summer is that it gives you natural invitations to go analog.
Try swapping these habits:
Instead of your morning scroll in bed → Take a lakeside or park walk.
Why it works: The combination of sunlight and movement boosts serotonin and wakes you up naturally.
Instead of binge-watching after dinner → Read outside under soft string lights.
Why it works: No blue light means easier melatonin release and better sleep quality.
Instead of checking email at the cottage → Journal with your morning coffee.
Why it works: This clears mental clutter before the day begins, setting a calm tone.
4. The 24-Hour Digital Detox Challenge
Want to feel this shift yourself? Pick one 24-hour window this week (Saturday morning to Sunday morning works well) and go notification-free.
Step 1: Prep
Let friends and family know you’ll be offline.
Download anything you’ll need—music, maps, reading material.
Step 2: Switch Off
iPhone: Settings → Focus → “Do Not Disturb” (customize for emergencies).
Android: Settings → Modes → “Flip to Shhh.”
Step 3: Fill the Space
Go for a hike. Journal. Cook something new. Sit in a sauna.
Bring a real book, a puzzle, or a sketchpad.
Step 4: Reflect
End with this journal prompt: What surprised me? What felt hardest?
Decide which notifications you actually want to keep off.
Level-Up: After you’ve done one day, try a full weekend. Power down Friday night and don’t turn your devices back on until Monday morning.
5. Handling the “What If Someone Needs Me?” Fear
You can still protect against emergencies:
Allow list certain contacts so urgent calls get through.
Turn on Repeated Calls so a second call within 3 minutes still rings through.
Share your partner’s or a trusted friend’s number as a backup.
The truth? In almost every case, the world keeps turning while you return calmer, lighter, and more focused.