I’ve often fantasized about tossing my phone into Puget Sound. Sometimes, I just want a life free from constant notifications and bad news. But in our hyper-connected world, going completely off-grid would be more like self-sabotage than liberation. I do make conscious efforts to set my phone aside and steer clear of social media.

The Global Day of Unplugging, organized by Unplug Collaborative, has taken place every first Saturday of March for the past decade. This year, it’s today, March 7, at sundown to sundown on March 8. Sounds like a good idea, right? The movement encourages people worldwide to disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with the world around them.

And there’s a solid case for it. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called attention to an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” affecting public health. Research shows that weak social connections can have the same impact on life expectancy as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, while stronger connections improve both mental and physical health.

One in three U.S. adults report that they are online “almost constantly.” For ages 15-24, time spent in-person with friends has dropped nearly 70% over the past two decades. This sounds about right. My kids certainly have less sleepovers and friend hangouts than I did at their age. 

Seattle, with its natural beauty, arts, sports, and city life, makes it easy to unplug without overthinking it. Take a walk around Green Lake, browse a farmers market, see a play, catch a game, or just hang out in your neighborhood. Take a class. Bake something. Finally get around to that book you’ve been meaning to read. Maybe even turn this into a weekly or monthly ritual. How many of you are already doing that? I think I’m going to bring it up with my family.

The Global Day of Unplugging website offers more than 200 ideas to help plan your unplugged day.

Unplug Collaborative is a nonprofit that helps educators and community leaders prioritize real-life connections over screen time year-round.