Fancy a screen-free summer that smells of sap, freshly cut grass, and sea spray rather than the bluish light of your phone? Good news: the digital detox trend is soaring. A recent survey conducted among 2,000 people shows that a large majority dreams of putting down the scrolling thumb, reconnecting with nature, and for many, trying at least one week completely screen-free. Here are concrete ideas, inspired by popular activities, to compose your summer program: picnics, hiking, open water swimming, nights under the stars, aromatic herbs to grow, campfires, glamping, birdwatching, sandcastles… all accompanied by tips to keep your good resolutions despite a busy schedule.
Reconnect with nature
When asked what people expect from a successful summer, one answer keeps coming up: feeling grounded, outdoors, away from notifications. More than eight out of ten people say they want to spend less time in the digital world and more in the real world. And more than seven out of ten even plan to attempt a digital detox during the season. The idea is not to ban technology for life, but to reprogram your days around sensory and active experiences.
Forest bathing and breathing
The practice of forest bathing (popularized in Japan) involves strolling among the trees, listening to the rustling leaves, deeply inhaling the scent of resin. Therapists remind us that this type of immersion helps to calm anxiety, to quiet rumination, and to strengthen resilience. It’s simple: choose a woods, walk slowly, observe textures, touch the bark, breathe. Leave your phone in airplane mode: your brain, like your lungs, will thank you.
Hiking, hills, and stars
Among the most popular activities: hiking in the countryside, climbing a big hill, and stargazing (looking up at the Milky Way does more good than you might think). Even a one-hour walk at the end of the day can transform a saturated mind into a curious spirit. Bring a water bottle, a windbreaker, a paper map for charm, and promise yourself a wish for every shooting star seen.
Open water swimming
Open water swimming (sea, river, or lake) is booming. The winning trio of cool water + movement + natural scenery has a powerful impact on mood: reduced stress, a boost of energy, and a gentle feeling of euphoria. Try a quick dip in the morning for a few minutes, and the day takes on a different color. Always with caution: find out about currents, the weather, the water quality, and never go alone.
Picnics, campfires, and wild cooking
Picnicking in the park remains the favorite activity of the screen-free summer. It combines sunshine, sociability, and deliciousness. Tip: set a simple rule “phones at the bottom of the basket”, then roll out the blanket, cherry tomatoes, crispy bread, and seasonal fruits. In the late afternoon, head to an authorized campfire to roast marshmallows, play with the embers, and tell stories that sparkle as much as the sparks.
Picnic basket and aromatic herbs
To extend the pleasure, start a mini-garden: aromatic herbs on the windowsill, a few cherry tomatoes, a patch of vegetable garden if you have space. The taste of basil that you’ve grown changes everything about a sandwich. And if you dream bigger, why not consider a shared garden or a small community plot?
Campfire and marshmallows
When we say campfire, we mean marshmallow skewers, potatoes in the ashes, approximate guitar playing, and hearty laughter. Find out about the areas where it’s allowed, bring water to extinguish the fire, and learn two useful knots: the timber hitch to secure a tarp, and the simple loop to secure a bunting garland.
Jam and foraging
Summer is perfect for foraging: berries, wildflowers (identify them correctly), herbs. Turn your treasures into jam, syrups, or pressed flowers. One can’t imagine how much “jarring” a day in the sun creates tangible… and delicious memories.
Micro-adventures close to home
The main barrier to adventure? Time constraints. Micro-adventures fit into your little gaps: a sunset in the park, an evening bath at the beach, a bivouac just steps from home, or a night of glamping for comfort and escape.
Park, running, and rolling
In the morning, a short run in the park awakens ideas. In the afternoon, rediscover your childhood joy: rolling in the grass, frisbee, napping on a blanket. Without screens, minutes stretch, and creativity returns to play with us.
Inventive seaside
By the water, ideas abound: sandcastles, treasure hunts through beachcombing, surfing, crab fishing off the pier, a little sailing trip, or… burying yourself in laughter up to your shoulders. The beach is the kingdom of analog vacations.
Living observations
Grab binoculars and a notebook: beginner’s ornithology, wildflower anthology, tree species recognition (you can also hug a tree: it’s free and surprisingly comforting). Each encounter becomes a story rather than a notification.
Stepping out of your comfort zone… gently
Many admit they love the thrill of the unknown: nearly one in two people say they are excited by the idea of doing something that scares them a bit, and about one-third feel a real “boost” when they step out of their routine. The trick: aim for accessible and secure challenges.
Everyday adventurer
Try horseback riding, climb a “big hill”, learn to read a topographic map, set up a tarp before the rain. These micro-challenges reconnect self-confidence much more effectively than a day spent scrolling.
The magic of night
The night is an open-air theater: camping under the stars, listening to evening sounds, recognizing constellations. Unplug screens, plug in your senses: even a garden becomes a universe.
Organizing low-tech vacations
Nearly one-third of respondents are considering completely screen-free vacations. For inspiration, explore destinations that promote slowness and wonder. A gentle stroll through castles and vineyards? Let yourself be guided by this panorama of tourism in the south of the Loire Valley, perfect for an old-fashioned itinerary with a paper map in hand.
Choose a calming destination
The landscapes of the Loire invite leisurely wandering: stone villages, biking along the Loire, historical gardens. Without the pressure of screens, one rediscovers the pleasure of a sunlit terrace, a conversation that isn’t interrupted by anything, a notebook to scribble your stops in.
Mountain without notifications
Head to the alpine pastures: this guide for a summer in Méribel is full of ideas for breathing high and deep: hikes, alpine lakes, sunset on the ridges. Up there, airplane mode becomes a philosophy.
Unusual nature getaway
Looking for a story that goes off the beaten path? This immersion on a island populated by lemurs reminds us that there are moments of pure curiosity, ideal for feeding the imagination far from screens.
Traveling differently
Travel is reinvented between record rushes and thoughtful pauses: take a look at the travel records of the summer and this analysis on Americans abandoning their vacations. Two useful reads to decide your own pace: less FOMO, more meaning.
How to stick to it despite a busy schedule
The main obstacles mentioned? Lack of time at the forefront, followed by professional and family constraints, not forgetting the slight fear of trying something new. The solution: reduce the scope, increase the frequency. Better to spend fifteen minutes in nature every day than to have a big project indefinitely postponed.
Small anti-scroll rituals
Adopt a “digital bedtime“: one hour before sleep, put down the screens. On the weekend, block out a morning for some airplane mode to go breathe. At dinner, a basket for phones sits in the center of the table. Golden rule: if you go out, the smartphone stays at the bottom of the bag, locked.
A field kit
Prepare a ready-to-go tote bag: binoculars, pocket guide for flora and fauna, mineral sunscreen, small first aid kit, water bottle, light blanket, Swiss army knife, deck of cards, cord, trash bags. With this kit, the excuse “I don’t have the gear” evaporates.
Unplugging in a group
Plan a collective picnic, a campfire evening, a glamping session. Social commitment helps to stick to it. And if you like the idea of progressing, set a common challenge: a new hike every week, a nature bath at sunrise, or discovering three species of birds from the neighborhood. Your screen-free summer will become a series of episodes where you are the heroes.
