European survey says 1 in 3 Germans do digital detoxes

Many people are looking to take life at a slower pace. How-to articles, workshops and hundreds of thousands of social media hashtags demonstrate as much. Some people are slowing down by using the digital detox method. In other words, by temporarily giving up their computers, tablets and, most importantly, their smartphones. But in a world where our mobile phones are almost always within reach, many people struggle to go without them.

So, how often do people in Europe consciously take time out from the digital world? What motivates them to do it? And what challenges and strategies play a part in a digital detox? Over 1,000 people from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy and France have answered these questions as part of a representative survey conducted by market researcher YouGov Switzerland on behalf of online retailer Galaxus.

Many Germans don’t do digital detoxes

Three out of ten people surveyed in Germany said they never took time away from their digital devices. One in four people, meanwhile, do it rarely. In France and Austria, on the other hand, one in four respondents go offline for a while every day, while just under half do so at least once a month. In Switzerland, the urge to be constantly available and to access entertainment and information is particularly pronounced. Four out of ten respondents there say they never consciously take a break from their phone or other devices.

Age also factors into the decision to do a digital detox, with young people in particular proving more likely to do so. While more than half of 45- to 79-year-olds say they rarely or never give up their digital devices, one in four over-60s deliberately take a break from the digital world each day.

In Europe, around seven out of ten people carve more than an hour of device-free time out of their day. One in three respondents surveyed in Germany occasionally take short breaks from their devices. Meanwhile, half of digital detox-ers go all out, ditching their devices for several hours at a time. The tendency towards digital detoxes lasting several hours increases with age, with young people generally taking shorter breaks from their devices than older people. What’s more, the less frequent the breaks, the longer they tend to be.

Making time for friends, family and hobbies

The motivations behind the decision to do a digital detox vary, but people everywhere are driven by the same primary reasons. For many people, temporarily giving up their digital devices allows them to spend more time with their families and friends, or on their interests. Survey respondents in Germany also say they want to curb their digital device use in order to sleep better and beat stress. In Austria and France, many respondents are ditching their devices in the hope that it’ll improve their sleep and concentration.

Respondents across all generations cited having more time for family, friends and hobbies as the most important reason for doing a digital detox. Young people also mentioned wanting to sleep better, be less stressed, reduce digital consumption and improve productivity as motivating factors.

Out of sight, out of mind

What strategies do people in Europe use for a successful digital detox? In Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy, most respondents simply put their phone to one side or lock it away. Meanwhile, in France, more than a third of people switch off their devices completely. In Germany, one in four people schedule fixed «offline times», choosing, for instance, not to use their devices as much in the evening. In Austria, on the other hand, people prefer «offline zones», which involve banning digital devices from certain rooms.

Between FOMO and family

However, doing a digital detox also has its pitfalls. In Germany, many people are plagued by FOMO (fear of missing out) when they’re offline. Meanwhile, one in three people in France and Italy find digital time-outs difficult because they want friends and family to be able to reach them. In German-speaking countries, one in five people say they lack the discipline to really switch off, while around four in ten say they have no trouble taking digital downtime.

Respondents aged 15–44 also say wanting to be available for friends and family is the main challenge presented by digital detoxes. Around one in four lack the willpower to do one, while one in five admit they find it difficult to fill their time without digital devices. The same number of respondents report not wanting to miss anything as an obstacle to ditching their devices. In contrast, the over 60s feel more relaxed about being away from their phones. Half of those surveyed have no problem taking time out from the constant buzz of the digital world. When they do struggle, it’s mostly because they want their loved ones to be able to reach them.

Incidentally, people who say they never take time away from their devices say that this is mostly down to a lack of motivation.

What about you? Do you regularly take time away from your digital devices? Or do you find it hard to put your phone or tablet to one side? Share your experiences, tips or challenges in the comments. We’re looking forward to reading them!