CHANDNI AGGARWAL WASN'T FAMILIAR with the phrase "digital detox" when she embarked on her first retreat into the mountains in 2013. She was camping by a river with her colleagues and their destination lacked phone reception. After many hours of chatting and marvelling at the landscape, she started to feel "the coordination between my mind and body as there was nothing to interfere with my leisure time. There were no upsetting messages to agitate my current balance. I went to bed dead tired, forgetting that I own(ed) a phone."
It was such experiences that made Aggarwal realise how digital life had trapped her, with constant notifications and the "always available" lifestyle that our phones and computers have made possible. Inspired by her experiences, she began to offer digital detox retreats as part of her travel agency, Transforming Travels.
THE RISE OF DIGITAL DISCONNECTION
More people than ever before are embarking on digital detox holidays, a period when individuals voluntarily refrain from using digital devices like smartphones and computers. These retreats often take place in remote areas and focus on relaxation, mindfulness, and reconnecting with nature, helping participants reduce stress and improve their overall wellbeing. According to Santosh Kumar, the country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia at Booking.com, "Growing mental health awareness and social media fatigue are prompting travellers to disconnect while on vacation. According to Booking.com's Travel Trends for 2024, over half (55 per cent) of Indian travellers say that giving themselves the time to relax is one of the main motivators for them to travel, and 52 per cent travel to boost their mind, followed by 38 per cent looking to take the time to mentally unwind."
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