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What happened when my family quit screens for a month

When I floated the idea of a screen-free experiment to my family, I wasn't sure what to expect. As someone who's followed Cal Newport's work on digital minimalism, I've been increasingly curious about our relationship with screens - especially after experiencing freedom from WhatsApp during travels last year.


We took a gentle approach:

  • Disconnected internet from the main TV (leaving only Freeview, which holds zero interest for the kids)

  • Kept the family iPad but with new boundaries

  • Offered a significant motivation - a new trampoline after three months screen-free

  • Let the kids (8 and 11) choose between one month on/off or going all-in


Why now?


The timing felt right:

  • The kids are old enough to understand and engage

  • I have more headspace to be present (no Masters degree alongside work now!)

  • They're at a pivotal age for forming relaxation habits

  • Our previous boundaries (no screens until 4pm weekends) weren't quite working


The personal challenge of going screen-free


For me, it's been revealing. Without evening TV as a numbing tool (alongside choosing not to drink), I've found myself facing some feelings I'd been avoiding. As Cal Newport points out, screens can give us just enough sense of connection that we don't address our deeper needs for meaningful relationships.


How no screens became a relationship game-changer


The biggest shift? We're spending more natural time together as a family - not big planned outings, but spontaneous card games or table tennis matches. I'm not craving "me time" anymore because there's plenty of it. Instead, I'm seeking more meaningful connections.


The science behind screen addiction


I shared with the kids that the first two weeks of any addiction withdrawal are typically the hardest. But children are wonderfully adaptable - once they understood the boundaries, they adjusted more easily than expected.


How long will our screen-free lives last?


We're aiming for three months. While it hasn't been a dreamy, perfect January, it's been transformative for our family dynamics. Sometimes the most meaningful connections happen when there's "nothing better to do."


I shared more about our first month as a screen-free family on this week’s episode of The Executive Coach Podcast. You can catch up with it Apple Podcasts or Spotify


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