Costa Blanca Magazin

Digital detox - less screen, more peace and quiet in everyday life

Digital Detox – warum weniger Bildschirm uns wirklich guttut

How conscious breaks from smartphones & co. can reduce stress, improve sleep and bring real relaxation - for more balance and quality of life.

After the summer holiday, the calendar is quickly full again: work, appointments, family WhatsApp groups and the constant flood of messages. Whether in a beach café, on the street or at a nice dinner - everywhere you look you see glowing displays. The smartphone has long been our companion in every situation. But the more we look at it, the more exhausted we feel. Experts refer to this as „digital stress“.

When the mobile phone sets the tone
Many people don't even realise it: the first emails at breakfast, WhatsApp messages in between, the endless social media round in the evening. Studies show that adults unlock their phones every ten minutes on average. The brain hardly gets a chance to rest. And even if there is nothing urgent to do, the feeling of always being „on standby“ remains.

Blue light instead of evening peace
The strain is particularly noticeable in the evening. Scrolling through feeds in bed or starting the next episode on Netflix disrupts your sleep rhythm. The blue light from the displays blocks the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. The result: restless nights, heavy eyes the next morning - and less energy for the day.

Small breaks, big effect
Digital detox doesn't mean locking up your mobile phone and going back to the analogue age. It's about consciously taking breaks. Simply leave the device in your bag at lunch, mute notifications or schedule a fixed offline hour in the evening. Even small rituals create a surprising amount of peace and quiet - and make room for things that are truly relaxing.

More sea, less display
The Costa Blanca offers the best alternatives: instead of swiping through your newsfeed, take a walk along the promenade in Jávea. Instead of emails on a Sunday morning: the weekly market in Altea, with all kinds of aromas and impressions and fresh churros. Or simply enjoy the sun and tranquillity on the terrace - let yourself drift without distraction. Anyone who consciously engages in these analogue moments will quickly notice the difference: less pressure, more clarity.

Work without a permanent alarm
Taking the pressure off digitally also pays off in everyday working life. Constant availability does not make us more productive, but more distracted. Companies in northern Europe are breaking new ground: they are limiting emails after work or setting fixed offline times. This can also be adopted in the home office on the Costa Blanca - fixed work windows, then close the laptop and put the mobile phone away. This increases efficiency and reduces stress.

The healthy middle way
Nobody needs to demonise technology. It makes our lives easier, keeps us in touch with family and friends and opens doors to the world. But those who schedule fixed screen-free times sleep better, feel more focussed - and have more real encounters. In the end, it's all about balance: less screen, more life.

Digital detox is not a trend for dropouts, but a benefit for everyone. Especially after the summer, when everyday life picks up again, it's worth questioning routines. Less screen time doesn't mean doing without - it means experiencing the Costa Blanca more consciously: the people, the markets, the sea.

5 tips for less screen time in everyday life

▶ Mobile phone-free meals
The smartphone always stays in your pocket at breakfast, lunch or dinner.
▶ Offline hour in the evening
A fixed hour before going to bed without a screen ensures better sleep.
▶ Notifications reduce
Only switch on the bare minimum - fewer pings mean less stress.
▶ Use analogue time-outs
A walk along the promenade, a visit to the weekly market or simply reading a book - instead of scrolling.
▶ Conscious working
Clear time slots for mails and chats, then laptop
and put your mobile phone aside.