Our Presence Not Presents Christmas digital detox campaign challenged twelve bloggers to put down their phones for two days, to experience logging-off and focusing on family and friends. We hope that their stories about their experiences inspire you to try a digital detox of your own. Next up in the series is …

Domesstique’s Christmas digital detox

Melody runs the blog, domesstique. Previously an export manager and married to the self proclaimed ‘tickle monster’ she has spent most of her life outside of the UK. Arriving in 2012 her daughter Olivia was only 14 months old. Previously living in Thailand for 9 years, Melody is well traveled and has connections she maintains around the world, through her digital devices. This makes the digital detox challenge a lot tougher for her.

“I blog and I am constantly on a social media. I do my business through emails and phone calls. Being away from my home country, the internet is a godsend.”

Like many of us Melody is almost completely reliant on the internet and her digital devices “I can speak to and see my family through internet and see what my friends are up to through social media. I shop online and even get my groceries online. The internet is part of my day-to-day life.” Melody understands that she has a reliance on the internet as she needs it to communicate with friends and family outside the UK, but she also understands how it pushes away the people around her.”But, where does the internet lead us with the people around us? You see the irony there? I can see and continue my good relationship with families and friends far away from me but, how about the people around me?”

The digital detox challenge allowed Melody time for her daughter, however it was a challenge being a blogger as well.”Family time for me is very important.  I love doing things and being outdoors with Olivia.  BUT. There is a downside of me being a blogger too. As I mentioned above, I am constantly on my phone or laptop. You know the game.” So to deal with her automatic impulse to want to be blogging Melody turned to the digital detox kit we provided.

“The Punkt MP01 phone takes you back to the basics, but with a funky looking phone. No internet access. No camera and not even a snake game.”

With the help of her Punkt phone she managed to keep her hands from itching for her smartphone. She even went above and beyond and extended her digital detox! “I was up for the challenge and even extended my digital detox until Monday mid-day. I took Olivia to her Performing Arts club on Saturday while my husband and I enjoyed a walk at the Christmas market. We had coffee with a proper conversation, without me being rude checking my notifications from social media”.

“We spent time together without any disruptions. I also finished some of my DIY Christmas decor and made Olivia’s advent calendar.”

Not only did she gain some time she thought she didn’t have, she also managed to a do some DIY and, most importantly, learned how to manage her time and get in habit of scheduling her blog posts, allowing for more time to spend with her family. “I felt refreshed and I realised how important it is for me, as a blogger to schedule my blog posts and set a time when to go on social media. So that, when everyone gets home, it will be just me spending time with them.”

If you think you can take on the digital detox challenge like Melody did,  why not try a digital detox retreat and see if you can last even longer!