The Digital Detox: Finding Myself Again in Bali

I sat on my house’s terrace at Ubuntu Bali, staring at my phone like it was a stranger. Three days into my wellness retreat, and my thumb still automatically reached for the Instagram icon every five minutes. The muscle memory was real.

"How many times have you checked it today?" Maya, my friend, asked gently during our morning session. I laughed nervously. Honestly? I'd lost count before breakfast.

That's when it hit me—I wasn't just scrolling mindlessly. I was avoiding something deeper. The silence. Myself.

When the Noise Became Too Loud

There was a time when my mornings started with notifications. Before my eyes fully opened, I'd already consumed fifteen stories, twenty emails, and countless updates about people I barely knew. My evening yoga practice? Interrupted by pings and buzzes that "couldn't wait."

Even I'm not immune to the digital overwhelm I help others escape from. Last month, I caught myself checking emails constantly. That's when I knew something had to change. If I couldn't be present in my own space, how could I hold space for others? I decided to practice what I teach and commit to my own digital detox, right here at the retreat I built.

The Uncomfortable First Steps

Digital detox wasn't about demonizing technology—it was about creating space. We weren't forced to surrender our phones, but we were invited to leave them in our rooms during meditation and yoga classes. Simple, right?

Wrong. The first session, I felt phantom vibrations. My hand kept reaching for my pocket. I even caught myself mentally composing Instagram captions about the beautiful rice fields instead of actually seeing them.

But then something shifted. During a silent walking meditation through Ubuntu Bali’'s gardens, I noticed the sound of wind. Really noticed it. Not to record it—just to hear it. My chest loosened. When was the last time I'd heard anything without thinking about documenting it?

Mindfulness Isn't About Perfection

Here's what nobody tells you about digital detox and mindfulness: it's messy. I didn't have some enlightened breakthrough where I suddenly became a meditation guru. Some days I still checked my phone. Some days I felt bored and restless.

But I started building small rituals. Morning pages before scrolling. Five conscious breaths before opening any app. During Ubuntu's yoga classes we are invited to practice being present with our bodies instead of planning our next post.

The instructors taught us that mindfulness isn't about emptying your mind—it's about noticing when it wanders and gently bringing it back. Like training a puppy. Patient, persistent, kind.

Coming Home to Myself

On my last evening, I sat on that same terrace. My phone was inside, and I didn't miss it. The sunset over the jungle was enough—more than enough. I realised renewal doesn't happen by force. It happens in these small moments when we choose presence over performance.

Of course, I still use social media. But I'm using it, not the other way around. I set boundaries. Phone-free mornings. No devices during meals. Regular check-ins with myself: Am I scrolling mindfully, or am I escaping?

Ubuntu Bali gave me more than a break from screens. It gave me permission to remember that my life is happening here, not in the feed. And that rejuvenation? It starts the moment we look up.

Feeling overwhelmed by the digital world? Ubuntu Bali's personalized retreats offer mindfulness training, yoga, and meditation to help you reconnect with what matters. From weekend escapes to transformative week-long programs, we design each retreat around your needs. Discover your path to renewal at Ubuntu Bali.