The great British switch-off: how floating retreats, mobile-free pubs and sauna book groups are freeing people from their smartphones
Sick of doomscrolling? From venues with smartphone swear jars to cabins with absolutely no signal, here are the fun and freeing ways to ditch your device There’s a ritual at the start of every event hosted by the Offline Project . Run by Pelé Zachariah, the activities vary – it could be a group walk, a collage‑making class or a supper club – but each one begins in the same way, *with an…
There's an emerging trend in Britain aimed at liberating individuals from their smartphones. The Offline Project, spearheaded by Pelé Zachariah, offers a range of screen-free activities to help attendees disconnect and reconnect with their surroundings. Whether it's a group walk, art class, or supper club, each event begins with the same ritual: participants hand over their phones to a lockbox.
Zachariah emphasizes the importance of participants physically placing their devices in the box, as it fosters a sense of personal commitment to the screen-free experience. While some may initially feel uncomfortable without their phones, many report feeling liberated after a few hours, acknowledging the extent to which their devices have become integral to their lives.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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