The Tech-Free Challenge: What 72 Hours Taught Me

It Started as a Joke

A few weeks ago, during a beer-fueled conversation with a few mates, someone dropped the idea: “What if we ditched screens for a weekend?”

No phone. No laptop. No smartwatch. No GPS. No tablet. No Kindle. No Bluetooth speaker. You name it. Just you, your gear, and whatever nature throws your way.

It sounded extreme. And pointless. Until I realized how tired I was — not from work or workouts — but from being plugged in 24/7. Emails at midnight. Group chats buzzing while hiking. Screens even in the bathroom.

So I packed up and headed into South African nature for 72 hours, screen-free.

The First 12 Hours: Withdrawal Is Real

You don't notice how many times you reach for your phone — until it’s not there.

First morning, I found myself instinctively tapping my pocket every 15 minutes.

No screen to check. No weather app. No map. No Spotify.

Just the sound of boots on gravel and my thoughts — unfiltered and loud.

I kept looking at the horizon, hoping it would distract me. It didn’t.

24 Hours In: My Brain Starts to Defrag

By the second morning, something clicked.

Without notifications or news feeds, my brain started to settle. I noticed birdsong I’d usually miss. The smell of pine and damp earth became more vivid. I wasn’t just moving — I was present.

And then something weird happened: I started solving problems.

Not tech problems. Life problems — like that unfinished garage project, a conversation I’d been avoiding with my brother, and a nagging thought about whether I’m spending enough time with my kid.

Screens give us distractions. Without them, we have to face the important stuff.

48 Hours In: Rediscovering Boredom (and Loving It)

Sometime during the 48 hours of the challenge, I got bored. And I mean really bored.

There were no podcasts to listen to. No texts to reply to. No photo to take of that cool twisted tree.

So I did what I hadn’t done in years: I sat still and did nothing.

And then I picked up a stick and carved something into the beach sand— no idea why. It just felt good to make something with my hands.

We spend so much time consuming, we forget how fulfilling it is to just create, even if it’s pointless.

72 Hours Later: Coming Back Different

When I powered my phone back on, I had 64 unread messages, 3 voicemails, and two missed Zoom invites. I didn’t feel anxious. I didn’t feel behind.

I felt clear.

I realized I don’t need to check my phone every 6 minutes. I don’t need a screen to validate my experience.

And you know what? I slept better that weekend than I had in months. My mind wasn’t racing with headlines or emails. It just… rested.

What I Learned (So You Don’t Have to Unplug for 72 Hours… But Maybe Should)

• You reach for your phone out of habit, not need.
  Once the habit breaks, the cravings fade.

• Nature is underrated.
  Not just for scenery — but for mental clarity, silence, and reset.

• Boredom is a gateway to creativity.
  We fill every moment with screens to avoid being bored. But boredom can lead to breakthroughs.

• We’ve confused connectivity with connection.
  I felt more connected to myself and the world around me when I stepped away from the digital world.

• You don’t need to go full monk.
  But even 1–2 days off screens monthly could change how you live the rest of the week.

Final Thought

I encourage you to ask yourself: "Do your screens serve you? Or do they own you?"

You don’t need to quit tech forever. But sometimes, hitting pause is the best way to reset.

Try it. Even if just for a day. 

You might be surprised who you meet when there’s no screen between you and your thoughts.

And then once you're ready to come back to tech, check out our rugged range suitable for outdoor adventures.