Lucknow: For weeks, Anubhav Sharma felt increasingly irritable, restless and unable to sleep without scrolling through his phone. The 29-year-old IT professional from Lucknow found social interactions exhausting and conversations burdensome.When the changes refused to subside, Sharma consulted a psychiatrist who traced the issue to constant digital exposure—work screens blending into private time, non-stop notifications and pressure to stay available. The advice was straightforward: cut screen time. While reading about ways to disconnect, he came across digital detox camps and meditation retreats and enrolled in one in Himalayan town Munsiyari, Uttarakhand.“We had to deposit our phones at the camp office,” he said, adding, “First few days were very tough.” Gradually, yoga sessions, meditation, quiet meals and long forest walks replaced screen time. Spending days without emails or social media initially felt strange, then calming. “That’s when I realised how dependent I had become on technology,” he said.The experience restored his emotional balance and he returned with simple habits such as mindful breathing and fixed routines. “I ensure at least one hour every day is completely gadget-free,” he said, adding that his sleep, productivity and family interactions had improved.The story mirrors growing trend among urban youth dealing with digital fatigue. They are either addicted to social media or are too dependent on the digital medium in modern work culture. At times, fatigue is due to combination of both.KGMU former faculty, Prof Adarsh Tripathi, said, “Digital media quietly reshapes human behaviour—altering sleep cycles, shrinking attention spans and deepening emotional vulnerabilities in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. We cannot escape digital media usage because of work culture today, but short and long breaks can be helpful.”Digital detox camps have multiplied across India. With no dedicated operators in Lucknow, most residents rely on Delhi-based tour companies. Lucknow-based medical students Salman Ali (25) and Talha Kidwai (26) attended a 14-day trekking-cum-digital detox programme in Pokhara, Nepal as “gadget use was affecting our studies.” Internet access was restricted, and only essential calls were allowed. Now, they say, they can concentrate better on academics.Delhi-based tour operator Aman Singh said, “We assumed people would complain about poor connectivity, but they actually enjoyed being cut off.”Mental health experts say the trend reflects a real need. “Taking a break from digital platforms helps reset brain and body. It is the same as taking a week off or going on vacation to relieve work-related stress, but avoiding unnecessary use of digital platforms should be maintained post-detox camps for better mental health,” said Dr Aleem Siddiqui.
