There is a growing trend towards wholesome, natural lifestyles that include more time outdoors and less time with technology.
While smartphone penetration in Australia is at 65%, it appears many people have reached a technology saturation point.
Research has shown the average smartphone user checks their phone 150 times a day, while Australians specifically have been found to spend an average of 18 hours connected to the internet across devices.
Regardless of the justifications people could make, or the conveniences that greater connectivity and technological aides offer, a smaller group is pulling back from the tangled web it’s weaved around society.
Taking a break from Facebook, for example, is now a common and fairly accepted option – you can even opt to “suspend” your account for a while.
Similarly, restaurants as far as LA, New York and Birmingham have banned phone use.
While a range of reasons are cited for these decisions, one of the most prominent is that dining without a phone allows people to enjoy the experience more.
“It is our intention that you enjoy your time with us, savoring both your meal and your company,” the website of LA eatery Bucato says.
“We kindly ask that you refrain from using your mobile device within the dining area.”
Meanwhile, outdoor gyms are also popping up all around Australia, with popular and well-used options in Bondi, Liverpool, Albert Park and new options in Wollongong, Kalgoorlie and Brisbane.
Paying To Switch Off
While people can simply decide to switch off their devices and spend more time outdoors, the trend away from technology has also led to a rise in the number of businesses offering “getaways” and fast-tracked solutions to our “busy lifestyles”.
Startup company 80Pct Solutions, for example, have developed Anti-Social – a software solution for Windows and Mac devices that can block access to certain social media types for a fixed amount of time “so you’re forced to get work done”.
“You know when you’re trying get work done, but end up wasting time on Facebook and Twitter,” the website asks, “Anti-Social solves that problem.” And all for just US$15-$20.
Digital Detox, on the other hand, is an entire organisation dedicated to “creating balance in the digital age”.
“We produce device-free events, lead workshops, host retreats and summer camps, run corporate trainings + seminars and bridge the gap between disconnecting and connecting,” the website says.
Weekend retreats with the organisation range from US$405 to US$1750 and include things like daily yoga sessions, guided meditation, hiking, healthy meals and juicing and “serenity and bliss”.
But even established companies are building on the desire to switch off. The Westin in Dublin, for example, now offers a Digital Detox Package of its own.
For €175.00 per person, guests can “let The Westin Dublin give you the chance to escape from all that electronic chatter.
“Liberate yourself from your smartphone, laptop and gadgets and replacing all that digital clutter with relaxation, renewal and a few thoughtful touches,” the hotel says.
The package even comes with a “handy Detox Survival Kit” that includes a walking map of Dublin, a white tea candle, a board game and a take-home tree planting kit to help people deal with the downtime.
Other businesses have taken a more incentivised approach to shifting the focus from screens to the present.
Eva Restaurant in LA made headlines earlier in 2013 by offering 5% off the total bill for diners who choose to leave their phones at the door.
Catching onto the controversy surrounding dining with and without digital devices, New York restaurant Eat has opened its doors to a monthly “silent supper”.
“People’s experience of food can be so clouded by noise. Food anxiety is real. I wanted to provide people with an opportunity to be quiet and eat. It might be a beautiful time, and the food will be delicious,” Eat’s managing chef and events planner, Nicholas Nauman told MailOnline.
The news report, however, did go on to note that esteemed Wall Street Journal reporter Richard Morgan had “coughed up $40 for the pleasure of not uttering a word while sampling plates of calamari and pasta at Eat.”
Responses to Eat’s strategy have been varied, but with organic, local fare on the menu, there is no doubt many people hoping for a more holistic approach will find peace there.
While technology is definitely here to stay, it is clear that there are people looking to pare back dependence in an increasingly plastic world. The rise of businesses catering to this desire means that there are more ways to get away – even if it means spending more money to get experiences and services that could have once been free.
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