• DIGITAL DETOXING

    Digital doesn't need to be toxic.

  • Latest news

    Social v anti-social updates

  • What we do

    Digital doesn't need to be toxic. But in our business and personal lives too often it is. We believe that digital is about people, not technology; and we are on a mission to help you and the business you work in be happier, healthier, more productive and more strategic in an increasingly digital world. Our approach is based on enabling you and the business to be the best version of yourselves, not the worst.

     

    Here are some of the things we do:

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    Adventures

    Business loves to talk about Return On Investment (ROI), but should also add the measurement of Return On Adventure (ROA). We take groups on one day, three day and week long adventures for teams and groups to discover new ways to look at the world, each other and ourselves. Removed from the distraction of email, phone calls and social media, we take a deep breath and dive in to big themes from creativity, to productivity, to team work, to stress and to fun. Find out more about what ROA can deliver for you.

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    Keynote speaking - online or offline

    Martin Talks of Digital Detoxing is a well known speaker on how to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Recent keynotes include

    Relate Live, with Zendesk in New York: "Emotional Intelligence in a time of Artificial Intelligence".

    Find out more.

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    Training and consultancy

    We deliver a range of workshops and webinars - online and offline - to help businesses develop an effective digital culture.

     

    Online workshops include the following, but we deliver others so please contact us to find out more:

     

    1. Digital Detoxing: How to have a healthy relationship with technology

    Technology need not be toxic, but too often it is.

    A discussion on our relationship with technology and ways of improving that relationship.

    This includes exploring why we often find it hard to have a balanced relationship with technology, how we can improve that relationship and what we can do.

     

    2. How to be productive in the Age of Distraction

    Whether we work from home or from an office, or both, our lives are full of distractions. In particular, our smartphones constantly demand our attention.

    This webinar explores how to ensure you do your best work and use the smartphone as a tool, not a driver.

     

    3. How to manage your team's wellbeing

    Burnout is becoming a real problem in many workplaces. Work/life blending can lead to negative stress, illness and resignations. In this webinar, learn how to look out for signs of negative stress, lead by example and look after your team.

     

    4. How to manage your wellbeing

    Learn to recognise signs of negative stress in yourself and how to manage stress so it is positive and not negative. This webinar with give you tips and inspiration to be healthier, more productive and happier.

     

    5. How to be creative in the Age of AI

    We hear news stories of AI technologies painting pictures, writing books and composing songs. What is the role of humans in creativity?

    How do we be more creative, without Googling the answer.

     

    6. How to manage digital stress and build resilience

    There is a new awareness that mental health is vital for our own wellbeing and for the companies for which we work.

    Understanding what stress is and how to recognise it in ourselves and others.

    Recognising the role that digital technologies play in stress.

    Understanding what resilience is and how to build it in a digital age.

     

    7. How to build digital detoxing into your life.

    Digital Detoxing adventures can be great ways to kick start a realignment of your relationship with digital, but what happens when you return to your everyday life?

    This webinar explores how to run a Digital Detoxing retreat and how to build digital detoxing into your everyday life.

    Includes mindfulness and building healthy habits.

     

    8. The future of digital detoxing

    Our world is becoming more reliant on technology.

    An exploration of future trends in technology.

    The increased role of automation in the workplace.

    What will be a human's role in the future.

    Will we still be able to find the off-switch when Society is always on?

     

    Technology should your enabler not your enslaver. We explore how to use and not use technology. We look at how to improve the collaboration, connectivity and agility that digital promises. At the same time we make sure it builds concentration, creativity, health, resilience and happiness. We teach techniques of how to build good habits that you can apply in a practical way.

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    Healthy workplace audits

    Establishing the right workplace culture and habits can make a huge difference to the health, happiness and productivity of a company.

    • We take time to understand your business aims and desired culture
    • We assess the relationship people have with technology and working practices and look at the physical as well as virtual aspects
    • We would score your company against best practice
    • We produce an infographic showing where you could improve
    • And we then make recommendations and measurements so you can see the difference that a digital detoxed workplace can deliver.

    We conduct the audits through a combination of an on-site visit and observation, interviews and a questionnaire. Ask for a quote.

     

  • Want to have an adventure?

    Return On Adventure is the new measurement that counts. Want to have an adventure?

    BBC

    We took the BBC on a Digital Detoxing Adventure.

    Channel 5

    We took Channel 5 on a Digital Detoxing Adventure.

    Sky

    We took Sky on a Digital Detoxing Adventure.

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    A to Z of Digital Detoxing

    A practical family guide - ideal for you or someone you know

  • Gaining momentum - 15 million UK internet users have undertaken a digital detox

    Plenty going on in the mission of Digital Detoxing.

    BBC Three Counties

    Could you live without your phone. Several celebrities, including Robbie Williams, Elton John and Eddie Redmayne can, Martin Talks discusses this idea with Roberto Perrone on BBC Three Counties.

    BBC Radio Leicester

    Some thoughts on how to introduce some digital detoxing into your life.

    BBC Radio Five Live

    Discussing the new French legislation giving people the right to disconnect from work emails.

    BBC Breakfast

    Discussing the Ofcom Communications Market Report 2016 on BBC Breakfast

    BBC Radio York

    A debate with Jonathan Cowap of BBC Radio York on digital detoxing following the release of Ofcom's Communications Market Report 2016 showing that 15m UK internet users have taken a digital detoxing break from technology.

  • Press

    Everyone's talking about Digital Detoxing. Be part of a movement that's making a big impact.

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    Nearly 7 million people feel depressed when they see friends’ lives on social media. See the research and some solutions.

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    Discussing whether digital and social media is a benefit or distraction at work on Woman's Hour BBC Radio 4. Listen here.

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    Workers’ after-hours emails cancel out entire annual leave allowance. Read about it here with some tips from Digital Detoxing on how to break your smartphone addiction.

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    If Christmas was a screenfest & you want your children to spend less time staring at screens, read this.

    The Telegraph

    If you obsessively check your phone, there’s a fashionable new way to screen your calls, texts and emails. And some tips on breaking your addiction to your smartphone.

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    The FT talks about tech overload consultants who encourage people to turn off their smart devices and tune into the real world. See article here.

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    We took Channel 5 and some entrepreneurs away on a Digital Detoxing Adventure to a remote location in Norfolk, UK. See what happened.

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    Redefining success beyond money and power. This is what digital detoxing means in 2015.

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    Diary of a digital detoxer. We took a Huffington Post journalist away on a Digital Detoxing adventure with some entrepreneurs looking to learn more about developing resilience. Diary of a digital detoxer.

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    Sky News came on a Digital Detoxing in 2015 - in the snow. Richard Suchet wrote an article about the day.

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    Treat digital technology like you do a diet. But don't forget the value of fasting. Digital Detoxing featured in Huffington Post.

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    'Digital Detoxing as holidaymakers try to disconnect' was an article published on Saturday 14th February 2015 in the Saturday Times. 

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    Martin Talks appeared on the John Beattie show on BBC Scotland to discuss digital detox holidays.

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    Korea is one of the most digitally saturated countries in the world. So perhaps no wonder their leading TV station was interested in learning more.

  • Vital Statistics

    Here are some facts about the Return On Investment you can get from working with Digital Detoxing.

    23 - 27%

    Reduction in feelings of stress, anxiety and of being overwhelmed that participants from a finance company felt after a four-week Digital Detoxing mindfulness course.

    8%, 11% and 6%

    Increases in work performance, leadership skills and happiness that participants from a finance company felt after a four-week Digital Detoxing mindfulness course.

    1 in 5

    Working population affected by stress

    £1.24bn annually

    Cost to UK employers of absenteeism which is primarily caused by stress

    47%

    The average time of a working day that someone's mind wanders. 'Presenteeism' has been estimated as 6x more costly to business than absenteeism.

    10 point fall in IQ

    Awareness of 1 unread email in your inbox.

  • Meet the team

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    Martin

    Martin founded Digital Detoxing in 2013 and has been involved in digital industries for nearly 20 years. Having worked in M&A and venture capital, he floated online shares information company, ADVFN, on the London Stock Exchange in 2000; founded the pioneering digital marketing agency, Blue Barracuda, in 2002 and sold it to the FCB Group; and he was then Global Digital Lead for the FCB Group. He continues to be active in advanced digital technology and teaches on digital trends for Google, but believes that digital is about people not technology.

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    Isobel

    Isobel is a Millennial and digital native, who instinctively understands digital communications, but also understands the positive and negative impact these can have. As a Masters Graduate in Gender, she has a specialist interest in digital issues relating to gender and diversity.

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    Nikki

    Nikki is an empowerment coach, community organiser, programme developer and creative events organiser. The services I provide help individuals, organisations, and communities take self leadership and bring about positive change.​ Amongst other skills Nikki offers and leads workshops in such subjects as gratitude, mindful movement, personal development and building communities. She also leads our mission to build community within the workplace.

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    Andy

    Andy is a mindfulness consultant. He started practising mindfulness out of curiosity and soon became convinced of its value as he started feeling calmer, more creative, more empathic and had more clarity of thought. He started incorporating mindfulness techniques in film production to keep people calm in front of the camera and found his relationships with his clients and colleagues greatly improved. He believes mindfulness could be the key to creating happier workplaces and more ethical businesses.

  • Digital Detoxing Blog

    News and views on how to be happier, healthier and more productive in the digital world.

    December 10, 2020
    Digital Detoxing featured in Wired discussing how to focus and get on with your work when working remotely: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/remote-work-job-time-management
    Group Chats Making You Anxious? Us, Too. Here's How To Manage Them How do you stay connected when it just feels too much? Digital Detoxing contributed to this article in the Huffington Post.
    Martin Talks of Digital Detoxing joining the discussion about managing our digital habit on BBC Radio Scotland.
  • Contact us

    We'd love to hear from you.

  • Social media

    We ditched Facebook, but still use Twitter from time to time to spread our message. But please Follow us responsibly ;-)

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    @Digitaldetoxing