Participating in DETOX BOX project in Chalkidiki, Greece, was truly one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Alongside participants from Slovakia, Italy, Romania, and Greece, we lived together in the White Rabbit Hostel, embracing a community-style life. One of the most powerful aspects of the project was, that we handed in our phones to a box and let it be there sealed for 5 days. This allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the present moment. Disconnecting from technology also led us to truly
relax and enjoy the beauty of life simplicity.
The absence of phones and social media heightened our awareness of how much digital devices impact our daily lives. It gave us a rare opportunity to disconnect from the virtual world and reconnect with ourselves and the people around us. And it is so golden to interact with these people around us! There, they were from different countries, so it was exciting and an eye-opening journey.
We shared everything from traditions to our life stories and that deepened our understanding of each other’s cultures, forging lifelong friendships along the way.
Without the constant distractions of digital communication conversations became more genuine, and our sense of community grew stronger every day. Group activities that fostered a sense of community were central to the experience. We were cleaning together, taking photos, making coffee, eating and talking together. It was the collective spirit of the group, that was so healing and empowering. Also we were encouraged to tap into our creative sides, which was so much fun. We engaged in artistic expression through activities like painting, writing, improvisation and theater storytelling, which allowed us to explore new forms of self-expression and also helped to break some ices between participants. Lot of these activities were held outdoor and fresh air plus Greek sun really supports mental well-being and reduces stress. Being surrounded by the stunning landscapes
of Chalkidiki, we cultivated a closer connection to the natural world. Whether swimming, sitting by the sea or in a garden, park, nature became our playground and our teacher.
Overall DETOX BOX was a journey of self-discovery, connection, and growth. Living a community-style life in the White Rabbit Hostel, free from the distractions of digital devices, was really healing and restarting. It was such a transformative experience that will continue to influence how I approach life. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
P.S. If you ever will have opportunity to try project as DETOX BOX, please, don´t be scared! I was very scared and stressed out about it… But I tried it and it was the high-light of my year 2024! I would 10000% recommend this project to anyone. But there is a warning: The hardest part of the DETOX BOX wasn´t the act of putting the phone away. The hardest thing to do was actually taking the phone back from the box and saying goodbye to new friends at the end of the project. (But don´t worry, social media has got one advantage after all – you can always be connected to your friends even if they are from far away…)
