This article is #2 in a series about what I learned/relearned from a week in beautiful Holden Village in July 2024. Read the others here.
The average person sees 74 GB of information every day (equal to 16 movies). We also average 6 hours and 42 minutes online and 2 hours and 24 minutes on social media, and office workers receive around 121 emails. It’s no wonder we’re in information overload.
Going off the grid can restore our minds and bodies. Studies have found that reducing screen time improves your mental health, sleep, and well-being.
Holden Village is located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Washington, 3,200 feet above sea level. The village is on the grounds of a former copper and nickel mine, converted into a retreat center. To get there, we drive 5 hours to Wenatchee where we spend the night, then drive early in the morning to Lake Chelan, where we take a ferry for 2 hours. Then we board school buses to take an 11-mile gravel road through a set of 12 switchbacks into the village.
As one of the most remote, continuously inhabited places in the continental United States, Holden has no cell access, up-to-date news, or wifi. Although an old laptop in the library provides slow Internet access, I steer clear of it and embrace the chance to go off the grid.
Here are some of the benefits I got from going off the grid and into the wilderness:
Less stress
Disconnecting from news (especially politics) decreased my stress and anxiety about the future. We missed the Republican National Convention completely! Spending time in nature lowers cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate.
Improved mindfulness and mental rest
I was freed up to focus on the present, savoring time with my friends and the wilderness around me.
Enhanced creativity
Spending time in nature inspires creativity and problem solving. Each morning I went to my favorite spot on the bridge and doodle journaled. Going off the grid made me feel more creative.
Strengthened relationships
Without the distracting Internet, social media, or news, I focused on strengthening my friendships and forming new ones. Communicating face to face instead of via screens improves emotional connections.
Personal growth
A break from information overload allowed me to reflect on myself, my life, and what I want for the future. It also allowed more time for learning and risk taking.
Appreciation of my life
Getting offline reminded me of the blessings in my life in addition to my own privileges. It made me long for a simpler life with fewer possessions.
Before I left the village, I committed to spending less time on the Internet and social media and more time on creativity.
The first news we saw: President Biden had dropped out of the race and endorsed VP Harris. I had predicted this would happen while we were off the grid, so I was thrilled.
That development has made it more difficult to stick by my goal to spend less time on news and social media! And now the Olympics are on. But I’m consciously getting better with it, day by day. I’m creating a daily schedule to make sure I get creative time, as well as at least one forest walk each week.
I highly recommend going off the grid for a week (or even a day!) if you are able to.
You can even do it at home by just avoiding the Internet and news. Immersing myself in nature and community living recharged and restored my mental and physical health.
Next: why we all need more joy and play!
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