About Break Free from the Internet
Break Free from the Internet is an exploration of how to reclaim control of our attention and lives in a world increasingly dominated by digital noise. Through thoughtful essays and a proven digital detox course, Break Free questions the relentless pursuit of online engagement and offers solutions for finding fulfillment beyond the screen.
You belong here if:
You feel uneasy about how much you use your phone
You find yourself scrolling more than you’d like to
You’re curious about how to use your phone as a tool more than as an entertainment device
You’re intrigued by the idea of digital minimalism
You want to learn more about how technology has reshaped our bodies and minds over the years
You’re looking for a community of support when embarking on your own journey
Does any of this sound familiar?
Maybe you’ve recognized that your relationship with technology is not working, and you’re ready for a change.
Maybe you are simply curious about the topic — you want to learn more about digital minimalism, about how technology has evolved and the effects it has on our mind and body.
Maybe you’re not ready to make any major changes in your life, but you know you don’t want to maintain your current relationship with technology in the long-term.
You might not be ready for any major changes in your life, and that’s okay. I am here to help you learn, to widen your perspective, to help you shift the way you think about modern technology.
If you are ready to transform your life, I’m here to help you learn, to share tools that can evolve your habits, and to motivate you to stay on track (or get back on track!).
Why should I subscribe to another newsletter?
I’m not here to add more junk to your inbox. Since launching last year, I’ve scaled back significantly. You won’t get a biweekly email from me or even a weekly email. I’ll share a new essay when I have something important to say. No filler. No crap. Less is more.
All subscribers, free and paid, have access to everything:
Full archive of essays
Q&A posts
Community Chat
All future content
There is no longer exclusive content behind the paywall. If you want to become a paid subscriber to support my work, I sincerely thank you.
What about the Digital Detox course?
The Digital Detox course has evolved and moved onto a new platform!
What Digital Detox course, you ask?
I developed a unique course program designed to help you coexist with the technology in your life. I will help you detox from your unhealthy habits, take back control of your devices, and learn to use your phone as a tool. If you’re looking to make a real change and reshape your relationship with technology, you can learn more about the program below.
A note on terminology.
There are a lot of buzz words around this subject: digital detox, digital minimalism, dumb phones, dopamine loop, habit stacking, etc.
I use a lot of these words interchangeably. At the core, they’re all aiming to get at the same thing.
Phone = smartphones = iPhones = Android phones. Digital minimalism, dopamine detox, digital detox, these phrases can all get at the same idea.
And let’s take the name of this Substack – Break Free from the Internet. This is hyperbole. The goal here is to reshape your relationship with technology. For the majority of people, completely breaking free of the internet is, frankly, impossible.
What I’m trying to say is this: Don’t overthink it.
Lastly, an important note.
If you find that your relationship with technology has reached a crisis point, resources for digital addition do exist. I mostly avoid adjacent topics like online gambling and porn consumption because I know they can teeter into the addiction space, and I am not an addiction professional. Please do not hesitate to get the help you need. Some places to start are below.
Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous
https://internetaddictsanonymous.org/
The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction
https://virtual-addiction.com/
SAMHSA’s National Helpline – Call or text 988
