A well‑known influencer from Vancouver took a different path. She started a Sunday ritual of baking bread. No videos, no stories, no “behind the scenes.” Just flour, water, salt, and patience. She says the smell of fresh bread reminds her that real life is more satisfying than likes.
Advertorial
“Baking forces you to wait,” she explains. “You cannot rush dough. You have to be present. That waiting is the detox.”
A male influencer from Montreal, famous for adventure travel content, swears by morning “quiet hours.” For the first ninety minutes after waking, his phone stays in another room. He drinks coffee, stretches, and writes in a journal. He says those ninety minutes set the tone for the whole day.
“Before, I used to wake up and immediately check messages,” he says. “I would start my day anxious, reacting to other people’s demands. Now I start my day on my own terms.”
Their followers have embraced the message. Comments sections fill with stories of people trying their own digital detoxes — a day without Instagram, a camping trip without cell service, an evening of board games instead of Netflix.
But the influencers are also realistic. They know complete disconnection is not possible for everyone. Their advice is to start small. Put your phone in another room during dinner. Turn off notifications for all but essential apps. Set a timer for social media use.
“The goal is not to never use your phone again,” says the Toronto influencer. “The goal is to remember that your real life is the one happening outside the screen.”
As another puts it: “We are influencers. We know how powerful these platforms are. That is exactly why we need breaks. You cannot pour from an empty cup. And you cannot connect genuinely when you are always performing.”
Their message is spreading. Digital detox challenges, offline retreats, and “phone‑free Fridays” are becoming more common across Canada. Perhaps the most influential thing influencers can do is show that life exists beyond the grid.
