How to Take a Tech Detox (Even Just for a Weekend) When You Work on Screens All Day

How to Take a Tech Detox as a Small Biz Owner When Screens Are Your Livelihood

Let me paint you a picture: It's Friday afternoon, your eyeballs feel like they're melting out of your skull, you've got seventeen browser tabs open (and at least five of them are duplicates), your neck is permanently stuck at a 37-degree angle, and the idea of looking at one more pixel makes you want to run away to a cabin in the woods. Sound familiar?

Welcome to the glamorous life of the screen-addicted, work-from-home entrepreneur.

Now, don't get me wrong— our laptops are basically our lifelines. They're how we serve our clients, run our businesses, and order sushi at 9 pm when we forgot to eat dinner (again). But every once in a while, your body, your brain, and your soul need a break from the digital hamster wheel.

And that's where a little thing called a tech detox comes in. Even just a weekend can work wonders. I know, I know. You're thinking: "But my biz will collapse if I'm not online for 48 hours!" First of all, no, it won’t. Second, you might actually come back with a clearer head, better ideas, and a spine that isn’t shaped like a shrimp.

So if you’ve been flirting with the idea of stepping away from the screen (but aren’t ready to go full Amish), here’s how to take a low-pressure, high-reward tech detox— even when your business depends on the internet.

Step 1: Pick a Window That Makes Sense

If your client work is deadline-heavy or you have a launch coming up, maybe don’t pick that weekend. But otherwise? Pick a stretch— Saturday and Sunday are great, to be mostly screen-free. This isn’t about rules, it’s about rest. And if you need to leave your phone on for emergencies (or to play music while you clean), that's fine. You’re detoxing, not disappearing.

Step 2: Set Expectations Ahead of Time

Post on your IG stories. Set your email autoresponder. Tell your clients. Let your biz bestie know. You don’t need to explain yourself to everyone, but giving people a heads-up helps you stick to it. It also subtly reminds your audience that boundaries are a thing, and healthy business owners have them.

Step 3: Hide Your Devices Like They're Haunted

Out of sight, out of scroll... Literally. Put your phone in a drawer. Tuck your laptop under the bed. Log out of apps. Delete your browser shortcuts. If your screen is staring at you, you’re going to reach for it like it owes you money. Create a little friction and give your future self a chance to chill.

Step 4: Fill the Space With Something That Feeds You

Now this is the fun part. Make a list ahead of time: go on a hike, bake something ridiculous, deep clean your kitchen (weirdly therapeutic), read that book you keep pretending you’ve read. Go thrifting. Wander through a farmers market. Get bored on purpose. Your creativity thrives in the space between distractions.

Step 5: Observe What You Notice (Without Judgment)

You might feel anxious. Fidgety. Like you’re missing out. That’s normal. You’re literally detoxing. But you might also feel calm. Present. Less twitchy. More human. Take note of what feels good— and what doesn’t. This is data you can use to build a better, less burnout-prone relationship with tech going forward.

Step 6: Ease Back in With Intention

Don’t go from zen garden to inbox chaos. Maybe start your Monday with a slow morning, or only open the apps that actually move the needle. See what habits you want to leave behind. Maybe that morning scroll gets replaced with journaling. Or you turn off Slack notifications after 5 pm.

A tech detox isn’t about shame. It’s about space. Space to remember that you’re not just a content machine, you're a creative human with ideas and depth and a brain that works better when it's not constantly being pinged by pixels.

So the next time your nervous system feels like it’s had five too many lattes, give yourself permission to unplug... Even just for the weekend. Your clients, your creativity, and your spine will thank you.