Digital Sabbaticals: Why Creators Are Logging Off To Grow

How Logging Off Is Helping Creators Avoid Burnout, Regain Focus, and Grow Smarter

Hello creators!

Here’s a curveball question to start your day: When was the last time you actually took a day off from being online? No stories. No emails. No scrolling. Just… off.

In this week’s TMI, we’re exploring a trend that’s gaining real traction — digital sabbaticals. Creators around the world are unplugging (literally), buying dumb phones, and logging off to find focus, protect their peace, and ironically — grow faster. This isn’t about quitting the internet. It’s about stepping back to stay sane, strategic, and actually creative.

The Rise of the “Log Off” Movement

In a world that rewards consistency and constant visibility, creators are saying: “I’ll be back. But I need a break.”

Here’s what’s driving the movement:

• Burnout is real. According to a 2024 ConvertKit report, over 61% of full-time creators admitted to feeling burnt out from content pressure.

• Screen fatigue is spiking. A Nielsen study shows that adults now average 11+ hours of screen time daily, leading to eye strain, sleep issues, and mental fatigue.

• Creativity is suffering. Research from the University of California found that uninterrupted time away from digital noise improves memory, focus, and divergent thinking (aka, creative problem-solving) .

These stats aren’t just numbers — they’re wake-up calls.

Real-World Moves: What Creators Are Actually Doing

1. Buying “Dumb Phones” to Get Smart With Time: Influencers and wellness creators worldwide have begun ditching smartphones in favor of basic feature phones (aka “dumb phones”) to limit screen time and reclaim focus.

   • Max La Manna, a zero-waste chef and sustainable living advocate with 1M+ followers, posted in early 2023 that he had switched to a Light Phone II – a minimalist, no-internet phone. He shared that it helped him be more present and reduce anxiety from constant notifications.

   • Vishnu Kaushal, Indian digital creator known for his relatable comedy and lifestyle content, has frequently spoken in interviews about needing tech breaks, and how overuse of Instagram and screen time affected his mental well-being.

   These creators aren’t anti-tech. They’re pro-boundary — using analog devices as a line of separation between work and rest.

   

2. Announcing Full Breaks from Instagram & YouTube: Some creators are going public with their sabbaticals, posting farewell videos or silent exits — and the audience is applauding.

   • Niharika NM, one of India’s biggest comedy creators (2.4M+ on IG), took a month-long break in 2023, citing burnout. She later returned with a refreshed approach to content and mentioned that the break helped her reconnect with why she started creating in the first place.

   • In 2022, Sorelle Amore, a popular YouTube creator (1M+ subs) and ethical investor, shared a video titled “I Quit Social Media (Temporarily)”. She explained how the need to constantly perform had taken a toll, and how intentional silence brought clarity

   

3. Setting Structured Offline Hours or Days: Instead of vanishing entirely, some creators now bake digital rest into their routine.

   • Matt D’Avella, the minimalism advocate and filmmaker, is known for “Screen-Free Sundays” and often shares how intentional disconnection boosts his creativity. He’s mentioned in multiple podcast interviews that no-phone weekends help him focus more deeply on writing and filming.

   • Ankur Warikoo, Indian entrepreneur and educator, has shared publicly that he keeps his mornings screen-free, reserving the first few hours for reading, reflection, or deep work before checking his phone or email. His calendar even includes protected blocks marked “Deep Work – No Phone.”

   

Why Logging Off Can Actually Fuel Growth

Taking a break from being “on” 24/7 isn’t quitting — it’s calibrating. Here’s why it works:

• Better content > more content. When creators take time to reflect, reset, and refill creatively, they produce richer, more meaningful work.

• Builds scarcity = intrigue. Ever noticed how your “I’m back” post performs like a comeback special? Absence can increase engagement.

• Promotes long-term sustainability. Digital sabbaticals reduce burnout risk and help you stay in the game — and love it — for years.

“The most productive thing you can do as a creator? Sometimes, that’s nothing.”

- Ali Abdaal

Want to Try It? Here’s a 5-Step Digital Reset Plan for Creators

You don’t need to disappear for weeks to reap the benefits of logging off. Start small, stay intentional, and build a rhythm that supports your creativity and mental clarity. Here’s a simple plan to get started 👇🏻

In a world that glorifies hustle, remember: rest is a growth strategy.

Digital sabbaticals aren’t anti-digital — they’re pro-you. For coaches and creators, logging off helps you log back into what really matters: your creativity, clarity, and long-term impact.

So go ahead. Put that phone on airplane mode. The algorithm will still be there tomorrow. But your peace of mind? That’s the real long-game.

Stay curious, stay mindful — and if you do unplug this week, we’d love to hear what comes up.

Pick Of The Week:

This week, we’re recommending “Stolen Focus” authored by Johann Hari — a revealing look at why we’re losing our ability to concentrate and how creators can reclaim focus in a world full of distractions. If you’ve been feeling creatively scattered, this book gives you the why behind it — and the how to get your focus back.

Also, here’s a powerful podcast episode where Johann Hari dives into the cost of losing our attention — from social media’s grip to sleep deprivation and how today’s culture is wired against calm, focused living! 👇🏻