Let me start by saying: I’m not anti-tech. I rely on Wi-Fi to work from the road, connect with clients, and upload these blog posts from remote corners of Europe.
But I’ve learned that staying connected doesn’t mean I have to be constantly available. There’s a quieter way.
Unplugging, for me, isn’t about abandoning the digital world — it’s about softening my relationship with it. It’s about finding that sweet spot between staying informed and staying sane.
Why I Needed Digital Boundaries
Living and working from my campervan means I’m never too far from beauty — forests, lakes, silence. But even surrounded by all of that, I found myself staring at screens more than skies.
Emails. Scrolls. Notifications. More scrolls.
Eventually, I started feeling what I now call “digital clutter.” Not just in my inbox — in my mind.
I didn’t want to delete everything and vanish. I just wanted to feel less pulled.
So I started experimenting with soft boundaries.
What Soft Digital Boundaries Look Like
I don’t use rigid rules. I use cues. Here’s how it looks for me on the road:
✧ Morning without screens
I don’t check messages until after I’ve had coffee, walked the dogs, and moved my body a little. Sometimes I journal or stretch. I let the morning be mine before the world enters.
✧ Batch-checking
I check messages and socials once or twice a day — on purpose. Not 37 tiny check-ins. Just a few mindful ones.
✧ No-scroll zones
Places like the dinner table, the front seat of the van during drives, and walks in nature are phone-free. It’s not about being perfect — just present.
✧ Offline evenings
Most nights, I close my laptop and switch to airplane mode by dinner. I read, reflect, or sit outside watching the sky shift.
The Gentle Path Isn’t About Extremes
You don’t need to delete every app or swear off streaming to feel better. You just need to notice what’s draining you — and soften it.
Here are a few simple ways you might begin:
- Turn off notifications that don’t serve you
- Move social apps off your home screen
- Choose set times to go online — and set times to log off
- Ask yourself often: Do I feel nourished or depleted right now?
Gentle boundaries don’t need to be dramatic. They just need to feel kind.
Connection That Doesn’t Consume You
Living in a van, I’ve realized I still want connection — but the kind that feels real. Conversations over DMs that matter. Emails that spark creativity.
And sometimes, silence that does the same.
Technology isn’t the enemy. Constant stimulation is.
You don’t need to go off the grid to find stillness.
You just need to choose it — again and again.
Even in a loud world, you’re allowed to move quietly.