The festive season arrives with colour, music, noise, family, expectations and, increasingly, screens. What once was a time of slowing down has quietly transformed into a period of scrolling down. Many of us enter the holidays exhausted, not from work alone but from the constant digital buzz that clings to our minds like static electricity. A digital detox during this season is not a punishment; it is a gift you give yourself. It is a deliberate decision to reclaim presence, stillness and connection when the world is pulling you in every direction.
To step back from the digital world, you must first acknowledge its grip. Phones vibrate even when they haven’t. Notifications blink even when they don’t. You reach for your device without thinking, just to fill a few seconds of silence. The holiday season amplifies this behaviour because everything around you seems worth capturing or posting. The food, the gatherings, the trips, the outfits, the gifts – the temptation to document every moment can steal the very experience you are trying to enjoy. A digital detox begins by noticing how easily the screen becomes the lens through which we interpret our lives instead of the tool it was meant to be.
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The festive season offers a rare opportunity to break this cycle because it is one of the few times when society gives you permission to slow down. Schools close, offices reduce pressure, travel increases and family members gather. Use this natural pause to reconnect with yourself and the people around you. Put your phone away during meals and conversations. Choose to be fully present in the laughter, the stories and even the quiet moments. At first, the stillness may feel strange, as if something is missing. That “something” is simply the noise you have grown used to. When it fades, clarity emerges.
A digital detox does not have to be dramatic. You do not need to disappear from the online world entirely. Start small and build gradually. Set specific times when you are offline – perhaps mornings when you wake up, afternoons when the sun is warm or evenings when the house settles. During these times, resist the urge to check anything. You will be surprised how much mental space opens up when you are not constantly reacting to updates. For many people, mornings are the most powerful place to begin. Waking up without reaching for your phone changes the tone of your entire day. Instead of beginning with other people’s opinions, demands or crises, you begin with your own thoughts.
If you are travelling, let the journey itself be part of the detox. Instead of scrolling in a car, bus or plane, watch the landscape shift. Listen to the chatter around you. Allow your mind to wander freely without digital interruption. These small acts of attentiveness rebuild your ability to focus – something constant screen exposure weakens over time. When you arrive at your destination, give yourself permission to take fewer photos than usual. Capture a few memories and then allow the rest to live in your heart, not in your gallery.
Family gatherings are another perfect place for a digital break. Many people claim to visit loved ones during Christmas only to spend most of the time staring at their screens. Imagine how much richer the time would be if conversations replaced scrolling. Play games together, revisit old family stories, cook meals side by side, take evening walks, or simply sit and talk. These moments become priceless because they are rare. When your attention is undivided, relationships deepen effortlessly.
The festive season is also a time for reflection. Taking a digital detox gives your mind the calmness it needs to process the year – its lessons, its disappointments, its joys. Screens fill every moment with stimulation, leaving little space for contemplation. When you step away from them, thoughts settle and patterns become clear. You gain the emotional distance needed to understand what has shaped you and what you want to change. Some people find this quietness uncomfortable because it forces them to face themselves without distraction. But growth begins in silence, not in noise.
A digital detox also helps you reconnect with simple pleasures. Read a physical book. Write in a journal. Sit outside and watch the sky change colours. Prepare a meal slowly and intentionally. Visit neighbours. Listen to music without simultaneously checking something else. These acts remind you that joy doesn’t always come from entertainment; sometimes it comes from presence and mindfulness. When screens stop competing for your attention, the world reveals details you normally overlook.
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You may worry that people will think you are ignoring them or that you will miss something important. Communicate your intentions early. Tell your friends, colleagues or online followers that you are taking a short digital break for your well-being. Most people will understand – many will even admire your decision. Once you reduce the pressure to be constantly available, you will realise that most things can wait. The world does not collapse when you step away from it.
Another benefit of a digital detox during the holidays is rediscovering sleep. The blue light from screens interferes with your natural sleep cycle, making it harder to rest deeply. Reducing screen time, especially in the evenings, improves your sleep quality almost immediately. Better sleep makes the entire holiday season feel lighter, calmer and more enjoyable.
A digital detox during the festive season is not about abandoning technology. It is about reclaiming your time, attention and peace. It is about living fully in the moments that matter and giving your mind a break from constant stimulation. When January comes and life speeds up again, you will feel more refreshed, more grounded and more intentional. Instead of beginning the new year drained, you begin it renewed.
In the end, a digital detox is not a trend; it is an act of self-care. And the festive season – with its warmth, rest and human connection – is the perfect time to practise.
By Ashford Kimani
Ashford teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub-county and serves as Dean of Studies.
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