24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection (A Guide to Unplugging)

24/6 is not just a book, it’s an empowering guide to living better.Life is so frenetic I often feel like there’s no time to slow down, no chance to escape all the noise coming from our screens that scream nonstop for our attention—the apps, the texts, the posts, the emails, the alerts. It’s overwhelming. And then I read this book (in print form) that tells me it doesn’t have to be like that. Reading it was like taking a long, deep breath, something I don’t do nearly often enough.The author, Tiffany Shlain, explains not only why it’s important to slow down but also how to do so. She knows what she’s talking about. She and her family have been turning off their screens 1 day a week for the past 10 years, what they call a Technology Shabbat (day of rest), when they spend time with each other or on their own without any screens. Even her high schooler and middle schooler participate—and apparently love it!Shlain goes through the history, science, philosophy and value of a day of rest and reveals the addictive nature of the screens that dominate so much of our lives. She even addresses how to deal with FOMO (fear of missing out) that a lot of us feel (I know I do) when trying to imagine a day without our phones!But she’s not preachy. She’s not even anti-technology. She founded the Webby Awards and has made many short films (which are also really good!) demonstrating the wonder of technology and its intersection with humanity. Her writing style (like her films) is convincing and accessible—even when describing what happens to our brains and our bodies when we take a day of rest. And, she’s very funny.The book includes a step-by-step guide for not only taking but actually enjoying a day without screens. And, she demonstrates the benefits of unplugging, which include strengthening our thinking, creativity and connections with friends and family, nature and ourselves.24/6 is brilliant in its wisdom and simplicity. It would be a really good holiday gift for anyone you love who you think spend too much time on their phones. This book is like an antidote to the assault of technology in our lives, a way to put us back in control. I’m so glad I slowed down enough to read it.

I loved this book so much for so many reasons! It's insightful, personal, helpful, practical, well written and completely entertaining to read. It's loaded with SOLUTIONS, real ideas and activities that you can actually implement and practice, and super-interesting science-based information about the human brain and behavior. But most of all it addresses head on one of the most current and pressing issues of our modern world -- the decline in human connection as screens have increasingly impacted simple human behaviors like in-person conversations and eye contact. For me reading this was not just theoretical, it was personal - my family has been impacted directly and I didn't even realize how hungry we all were for a BREAK FROM OUR SCREENS until we read this book!! I read my husband a few chapters, and then the following week we went on a trip and he left his phone in our hotel room for 3 days while we were on vacation - it was a complete GAME CHANGER!!! OMG, we talked, we laughed, we didn't google anything in between sentences... we just experienced life together and had an amazing, bonding family trip. Don't get me wrong - we love our technology and would never get rid of it completely. But this book has really helped us see the power in just taking a break from it on a regular basis. We haven't been able to successfully have a tech shabbat every week yet, but we are working our way up to it! :)

I really enjoyed this, the author is also the reader so there is passion in her points. Currently brain storming how our family is going to implement her strategies and cut the cord 1x per week.

Exceptional book. It's practical, beautifully written with warm, lively stories that bring the practices to life (and help you see how one can actually achieve this ritual even with a family), and it's full of research. She's thought of everything for you - the why, your hesitations and challenges, how to do it, reflect, and more. I have a young family, 3 kids under 5 and while we don't have them with any screens except for the occasional movie as a family I can already see them getting addicted to just the sound of my phone when it receives a text message. My daughter wants me to check it more than I want to check my own phone! It's sad and scary. I want to make sure we can set them up for success given we know that more and more technology is only going to be a part of the future. I appreciate the author's candidness and non-judgment. She does NOT hate technology, very much the contrary --- she simply has experienced the benefits of setting healthy boundaries for her and her family and she's sharing that beautiful gift with the world.Read this. Give it a try. Start this beautiful ritual of bringing more to you and your family's time together (it's not about taking away) - you won't regret it!

It is OK.

Tiffany's book was easy to read. It was digestible with great examples of how she and her family, as well as others, are living 24/6. The research, the real-life stories, her style of writing... love!I also have the book Digital Minimalism. I love it too but reached a point where it's just so much information. I'm looking forward to completing DM yet haven't picked up where I left off in nearly a year. I read 24/6 in two evenings and am inspired to implement it now.I've been craving a life with less technology and more engagement with life. With the holidays and family visiting, I haven't committed to what day I'll be unplugging but I have already been putting my phone away throughout the day. I plan on kicking off my tech shabbat with girlfriends most weeks—engaging in community, connection, and joy.I can't thank Tiffany enough for writing this book! If you are craving more connection to nature, yourself, community and the world we live in, sans technology, treat yourself to this book.Not to mention, I haven't even checked out the 24sixlife.com site yet - which I hear is full of resources.

Tiffany does a great job of sharing how disconnecting one day a week has benefits all backed up by science. When taking the advice to the task I found I enjoyed many of the benefits she discussed. Even finding out I like my teenager daughters again when we share a space without distractions. The concept is one that everyone can make work for their own situations. Reading about the benefits others got from the practice was insightful and I'll be trying my hands at baking some homemade challah bread. There are helpful tips on how to get support for the practice from those around you, even the partner who doesn't jump on board right away.

could not put this book down!!!! loved it so much! ive recommend to alllllll my friends! so important for those of us with young children who are addicted to our phones! thank you for opening my eyes! ♥️

Compelling and timely. Could probably have been condensed somewhat. I got bogged down in explanations long after I was completely convinced of it's importance.

Bought for a friend, she said she loved it!

Disappointed... I was hoping for some useful info on unplugging, instead I get a sales pitch for becoming Jewish and observing the sabbath. Bait and switch with a fancy cover... do not recommend.