Picture yourself in the heart of the Sonoran desert: the warm glow of the early evening sun on your skin, the rustling of palm trees and the gentle lapping of natural hot springs setting the soundtrack, the… buzz of a smartphone in your pocket?
One of these things is decidedly not like the other. The conditioned urgency of a new notification (or five) can pull us out of even the most peaceful moment, and watching the sun dip below the horizon through the screen of a smartphone simply doesn’t stack up to the wonder of experiencing a sunset sans Instagram. It’s ironic that these devices and platforms designed to connect us have us feeling more disconnected than ever — from nature, from each other and from ourselves.
Here at Castle Hot Springs, we invite you to break the pattern and unplug during your time in our serene desert oasis with a “digital detox.” The phrase has become a buzzy term in recent years, but it’s more than just a trend: It’s a wake-up call to experience the moment as it truly is, without stressing over what you’re missing elsewhere. Here’s how to get and stay present during your stay and beyond.
The Benefits of a Digital Detox
Aside from the pure freedom of stashing your laptop, smartphone and tablet away, and not having the temptation of a TV in the room, there are a number of benefits to taking a mindful and intentional break from your tech. Research suggests that the habit of checking your phone increases stress levels, so taking a digital detox can help you chill out (especially when paired with the natural surroundings of Castle Hot Springs). Scrolling social media has also been linked with poor mood thanks to the social comparison and FOMO it elicits, giving you another reason to take a smartphone break.
Constantly refreshing your email and checking your Slack or Teams messages has also been identified as a determinant of how you perceive your work-life balance, so being over-connected to the office while trying to unplug is a surefire road to burnout. Finally, tech screens are notorious for disrupting sleep, so a digital detox can help you catch higher-quality shut eye.
The bottom line: While technology can do many wonderful things for us, the occasional break can help you feel less stressed, better rested and more content.
How to Do a Digital Detox
Of course, breaking the pattern is easier said than done. The good news? The beauty of a digital detox is that you can design it around what works for you. If you want to go cold turkey, you can choose to forego all tech devices for a few days; however, you can still reap the benefits with a less extreme version of a digital detox.
Perhaps you want to only check your email one time each morning on vacation, or only use your phone for listening to music or podcasts. Maybe phone calls with close friends are on the table, but you’re going to skip out on social media and texting. It’s all about setting boundaries that feel refreshing and realistic for your lifestyle.
Once you’ve decided when you’re going to do your digital detox and which devices or apps you’re going to refrain from, set yourself up for success by removing temptations. While WiFi is of course available to all of our guests at Castle Hot Springs, you may choose not to connect and turn on airplane mode during your retreat. You may also decide to delete specific apps that you’re trying to avoid, turn off all notifications, stash your laptop in your accommodations’ safe or tuck the TV remote in your drawer.
Finally, to avoid feelings of tech withdrawal, think about what you’re going to do with the time you’d normally be looking at a screen. A few of our favorite things to do here are settle in with a good book, unwind with a spa treatment, exhale in a yoga or meditation class, hike among the Bradshaw Mountains, embark on our heart-pumping Via Ferrata course, enjoy mindful farm-to-table dining at Harvest Restaurant and, of course, soak in the natural hot springs. It’s the perfect place to reset, exhale, and enjoy your digital detox with no stress and no regrets.