Various U.S. Cities, June 22, 2025 — In 2025, a growing number of Americans are choosing to unplug. This deliberate shift away from digital saturation has been dubbed the “Great Logging Off,” a national trend fueled by rising anxiety over screen time, mental fatigue, and digital burnout. From nature retreats to low-tech living spaces, the digital detox movement is rapidly evolving from fringe wellness practice to mainstream lifestyle shift.
Analysts and mental health professionals attribute the trend to mounting evidence linking excessive device use to stress, disrupted sleep, and diminished interpersonal connection. With constant connectivity through work emails, social media, and AI-powered platforms, many individuals are experiencing cognitive overload and a desire to reclaim focus and calm.
The antidote to digital overload is proving refreshingly analog. In cities from Portland to Philadelphia, residents are flocking to hands-on experiences like ceramics workshops, book salons, knitting circles, and forest bathing retreats. Interest in screen-free getaways has surged, with digital detox lodges, hike-in cabins, and no-WiFi hotels now booked months in advance.
A report by Vogue highlighted a 27% increase in bookings for luxury wellness resorts offering tech-free experiences. Similarly, niche platforms like Retreat Guru report record demand for silent retreats, off-grid nature experiences, and mindfulness immersions. The goal isn’t just relaxation—it’s psychological reset.
In response to changing consumer priorities, companies are adapting. The term “calm-tech”—coined to describe technology designed to be non-intrusive and respectful of user attention—is gaining traction. Calm-tech tools include minimalist smartwatches, ambient wellness monitors, and distraction-free mobile settings.
Many employers are also reconsidering the expectations placed on remote workers. Following the lead of several European countries, where “right to disconnect” laws restrict employers from contacting employees outside business hours, U.S.-based firms are experimenting with voluntary no-email-after-6-p.m. policies. According to a Microsoft workplace survey, over 70% of American executives now support time-bound digital boundaries to combat burnout and turnover.
Some companies, especially in the tech and wellness sectors, are going further—integrating screen-free zones in office design, providing stipends for digital detox retreats, and building quiet rooms for meditation and offline decompression.
In the residential space, interior design is evolving to support mindful living. Wellness-forward architecture now favors open-air reading nooks, device-free bedrooms, and “dumb home” elements—spaces intentionally stripped of smart speakers, TVs, or phone docks.
Brands like Muji, Parachute, and Floyd are embracing low-tech aesthetics with furnishings that prioritize tactile engagement over digital integration. Home planners are also carving out tech-free areas where occupants can disconnect and recharge—whether through journaling, yoga, or creative expression.
Emerging research underscores the psychological benefits of reduced screen time. Studies cited by the American Psychological Association show that structured digital breaks can improve mood, enhance cognitive focus, and even elevate sleep quality. Social connection also benefits: when people unplug during shared meals or group activities, the depth and quality of interactions measurably improve.
Anecdotal reports from digital detox retreat participants echo these findings. Attendees often describe renewed mental clarity, improved relationships, and a sense of reconnection with both themselves and their environment. “It felt like I remembered how to be a human again,” one participant noted following a three-day phone-free retreat in the Adirondacks.
Critics caution that not everyone can easily unplug—low-income individuals and gig workers often lack the flexibility to take breaks. Experts argue that for the movement to be equitable, access to calm spaces and screen-free time must become structurally supported, not just a luxury for the privileged.
The Great Logging Off of 2025 marks a profound cultural rebalancing. As Americans reevaluate the role of technology in daily life, the message is clear: constant connection is not synonymous with productivity or wellness. Instead, many are discovering that strategic disconnection can be the key to mental health, creativity, and more authentic human connection.
