Sometimes modern life feels like an endless stream of noise, pressure, and distractions.
It’s overwhelming and can end up filling you with existential dread. At a certain point, it’s tempting to dream about dropping everything and disappearing into the wilderness, but you don’t have to go full hermit to find real peace. Here are some ways to escape the modern world a little while still living your life. We all need a break sometimes, but there are healthy ways to take one.
1. Take a tech-free day once a week.
Pick one day a week to unplug completely—no social media, no news scrolling, no mindless YouTube rabbit holes. It feels weird at first, but you’ll be amazed how much calmer your mind gets without constant stimulation. Even a few hours away from your phone can reset your brain and remind you that you’re allowed to exist without being “on” all the time. It’s a small act of rebellion that feels surprisingly powerful.
2. Get outside every single day.
Nature doesn’t have to mean dramatic mountain hikes; it can be a walk around your neighbourhood, sitting under a tree, or wandering through a park. Fresh air and natural light do things for your brain that no app ever could. Stepping outside, even for ten minutes, gives you a real-world reset. It’s a reminder that life isn’t lived through screens. It’s happening around you, right now, in real time.
3. Keep your mornings slow and sacred.
How you start your day shapes everything else. Instead of immediately grabbing your phone, build a quiet morning routine—stretch, make coffee slowly, journal, read a few pages of a book, just breathe. Claiming even 30 minutes for yourself before the world rushes in can make a massive difference. It’s a way to ground yourself before the chaos of the day starts pulling at you from every direction.
4. Spend more time doing things with your hands.
Modern life is so digital that it’s easy to forget how good it feels to actually make or fix something. Cooking, painting, gardening, woodworking—anything physical reminds you that you’re more than a brain in a social media maze. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. It just has to be real, tactile, and satisfying in a way no scrolling session ever will be.
5. Plan low-key, off-the-grid getaways.
You don’t have to live in the woods to benefit from a weekend without Wi-Fi. Find a cabin, a quiet seaside village, or even just a local campsite where you can disconnect for a little while. It’s not about being antisocial; it’s about stepping out of the modern grind long enough to remember what it feels like to simply exist, without constant notifications or deadlines looming over you.
6. Curate your information intake.
Source: Unsplash You don’t have to know every piece of breaking news the second it happens. Being informed is good; being overwhelmed is not. Unfollow accounts that stress you out, limit your news-checking to once or twice a day, and give yourself permission to opt out sometimes. Managing what you allow into your brain isn’t avoidance; it’s a survival skill in an era where constant information overload is the norm.
7. Pursue real conversations over constant messaging.
Texting is convenient, but real conversations—phone calls, video chats, or best of all, face-to-face talks—nourish you in a way that emojis never will. They ground you in connection instead of endless, shallow communication. Prioritising deeper conversations over quick DMs helps you feel more human and less like just another tiny square on someone’s screen.
8. Create intentional “nothing” time.
Modern life loves busyness, but doing nothing is seriously underrated. Schedule pockets of time when you have no agenda—just sitting, daydreaming, or wandering without a goal. It feels awkward at first because it’s so rare, but letting your mind breathe without constantly producing or consuming is one of the best escapes you can give yourself.
9. Cultivate offline hobbies.
Source: Unsplash Not every hobby needs to involve a screen. Drawing, puzzles, knitting, playing an instrument, fishing, hiking—having something you love that exists purely in the real world is pure gold these days. Offline hobbies create a little bubble where you can just be present, absorbed, and free from the pull of updates, notifications, and algorithms fighting for your attention.
10. Reclaim your evenings.
After work or school, it’s tempting to collapse into endless TV binges or doomscrolling sessions. But consciously reclaiming your evenings—for reading, creating, connecting, or just resting—gives you back huge parts of your life you didn’t even realise you were giving away. Even swapping out one hour a night from mindless scrolling to something you actually enjoy makes you feel less like a passive consumer and more like an active participant in your own life.
11. Practise mindful media consumption.
Instead of binge-watching whatever’s autoplayed next, choose your entertainment on purpose. Read books that interest you, watch films you’re excited about, listen to podcasts that inspire you instead of numb you out. Being mindful about what you consume turns passive screen time into a real escape—something that fills you up instead of just passing the time until tomorrow.
12. Build spaces that feel like retreats.
Your bedroom, a cosy corner of your living room, your balcony—whatever space you can claim, make it a little sanctuary. Incorporate soft lighting, plants, books, music you love. Anything that helps you breathe easier is a good option. You don’t need to move to a cabin in the woods to feel like you’re escaping the world. Sometimes, a few intentional touches are enough to create that peace right where you are.
13. Let yourself be unreachable sometimes.
Modern life teaches us to be available 24/7—but you’re allowed to turn your phone off, mute notifications, or step away without explaining yourself. Constant accessibility is exhausting. Letting yourself be unreachable now and then reclaims your attention, your energy, and your sanity. It’s not rude; it’s necessary for long-term peace of mind.
14. Remember that small escapes matter too.
You don’t have to disappear for weeks to feel recharged. A tech-free morning, a walk in nature, a night spent writing instead of scrolling—small escapes woven into daily life keep you connected to what really matters. Little by little, these small resets create a buffer between you and the overwhelming noise of the world, and they remind you that you’re allowed to live life on your terms, not just survive it.
