Going offline without guilt: your starter kit

That longing to be unreachable for a while. To put every list of things "that still need doing" on pause. Does that sound familiar?

You want to just breathe and let the clock tick on, without guilt weighing on your chest. But as soon as you try to make it happen, the thoughts arrive that convince you this is not the right moment. A project for later, when...

... the children are a bit older.
... caring for my ageing parents becomes a little less intense.
... I retire.
... that important project at work is finished.

And yet we know how important it is to be allowed to be "unreachable". In Belgium, the right to disconnect has even been part of the law since 2023. As an employee, you have the right not to be digitally connected to work outside working hours. The aim: less stress and less burnout.

The digital world is changing at lightning speed. It is getting harder and harder not to hand the wheel of our lives to that little computer. Just ask a search engine how many hours a day the average person spends looking at a screen. You will be amazed.

What if you gave yourself the chance, or maybe even the challenge, to go offline for a while? And turned it into a moment to recharge?

Play along. How can you give yourself a moment to disconnect?

Maybe you are a big dreamer. Then try to think a little smaller. Or are you a cautious dreamer? Then try thinking bigger.

Ask yourself: what might actually be possible for me, right now?

Could you manage a few hours? Or maybe even a few days?
Because we know it is harder to start from 0, I have put together two "starter kits" for you. A beginning you can make completely your own and build on. I think along with you about how to make this work in practice, so you can disconnect without feeling guilty.

The few-hours formula: the disconnection dip

For anyone who can only free up a few hours and wants a short but powerful reconnection.

Phone

• Commit to not touching your phone. If you can, leave it at home. If that is not possible, put it away during your moment of disconnection.
• Let your closest friends and family know you are going offline. If it gives you peace of mind, you can tell them where to find you.

Alternatives

• Most people use their phone to check the time. So remember to bring a watch or a small clock.
• If you want to be able to buy something, do not forget your physical bank card or some cash.

Ready for the dip, now what?

• Choose a place where you feel good. That could be outdoors in nature, but also at home or on your favourite square in town.
• Think in advance about what you would like to do during these hours. Prepare for it. Bring a good book, pencils, paper, a pen, knitting needles, a pack of cards or nothing at all.
• Make it cosy and comfortable. That soft blanket might well come along!

The few-days formula: the disconnection deep dive

For anyone who can free up a few days and really wants to reset.

Use the preparations for the "disconnection dip" above and add the following:

Make a plan

• How do you want to spend these days?
  Will you rent a treehouse somewhere in nature? Or would you rather go on a city trip? Do you like to keep moving with a multi-day hike, or have you always wanted to try bikepacking?

Getting there and staying reachable

• Now that you have chosen a plan and a place, the next step is transport. How will you get to the place where you are going to disconnect? Print the bus timetable or your plane tickets, buy a road map or draw a little map.
• If you want to be sure you can be reached during those days if needed, think about which emergency number you can give to friends or family.

Make it your own

• Think for a moment about which phone features matter most to you. Can you replace them, and do you want to? For example, consider whether you need an alternative for your playlist.

Extra tip

• Give yourself the chance to let the hours pass "uselessly" too. Do not fill your schedule.

Next steps

Build on these "starter kits" and make them your own, tailored to who you are.
If you find it hard to take a moment of disconnection alone, think about who you could bring along for the experience.

Or are a few hours really too much? Then why not start with half an hour?

Make it something fun and allow yourself this. Move from a 'virtual' focus to 'physical' reality, from disconnecting to reconnecting with yourself. Enjoy!

Could you use a little more support with this? Book a conversation with a psychologist using the button below.

Are you seeing (signs of) burnout or dropout more and more often in your organization? We are happy to think along about how organizations can pick up these signals early and support employees in good time. Book a conversation for your organization via this link.