Disconnected Days: Reclaim Your Nervous System, Creativity & Sanity

Did you know your nervous system is about 200,000 years old? That’s right—your body’s communication center was designed for birdsong, berry gathering, and the occasional saber-toothed tiger... not constant Slack pings and Instagram reels.

Meanwhile, cell phones? They’ve been around for barely 20 years—and they’re in our faces every single day.

No wonder we’re fried.

As a highly sensitive, neurodiverse woman in the third stage of life, I’ve found one powerful practice that helps me come back to myself: Disconnected Days.

What Is a Disconnected Day?

A Disconnected Day is a full day where I intentionally step away from digital devices—phone, laptop, apps, and all the noise that comes with them.

It can be:

• A restful, in-bed-under-the-covers day
• A deep dive into a creative project
• A long hike with no phone
• A day of play, journaling, or just being
  

It’s my day. It’s sacred. It’s mine to shape.

Why We Need Them

Let’s face it: Our 200,000-year-old nervous systems are being bombarded by the sheer volume and speed of modern digital life. That level of constant input is dysregulating—especially for sensitive systems like ours.

When we disconnect:

• Our nervous systems settle
• Our natural intuition resurfaces
• Our creativity reboots
• Our attention becomes whole again
  

I think of it like shaking an Etch A Sketch. All the mental residue from emails, videos, posts, constant context switching and to-do lists? Gone. And I can finally see what I’m really thinking, feeling, and wanting.

How to Do a Disconnected Day

Start where you are. Here are some simple steps:

1. Plan Ahead
   Choose your date. Sundays are great for beginners. Block it on your calendar.
   
2. Notify Your People
   Let your family, clients, or team know. Use an autoresponder if needed.
   
3. Set a Backup
   If needed, let someone close to you be your emergency contact.
   
4. Prep Your Offline Life
   
• Pick a physical book
  
• Set up art supplies or your journal
  
• Plan a walk, a nap, or a pot of soup
  
5. Experiment & Adjust
   Try a morning off. Or an evening. Or a half-day. Build your disconnected muscles gradually.
   
   

A Personal Story

I remember getting my first cell phone in Chicago. I was on a familiar bus route... or so I thought. I looked up from my new “magical device” and realized I had missed my stop—by miles. That’s how powerful and distracting this tech can be.

Now, I choose when I let it in.

Your Nervous System Will Thank You

If you’re feeling:

• Uninspired
• Burned out
• Foggy
• Stuck
  

Try putting your phone away. Let your mind exhale. Let your body recalibrate.

The Challenge:

• Try 10 Disconnected Days in the next 30 days
• Or imagine 100 Disconnected Days in a year—that’s just weekends!
  

Better yet? Partner with a friend or colleague. Align your Disconnected Days. Watch what blooms.

Ready to reclaim your energy and focus?

Drop a comment with your commitment to try a Disconnected Day—or subscribe to get more insights like this, especially designed for sensitive women in the third stage of life.

Watch the video here.

Looking for support with Disconnected Days and more? We’d love to have you in The Crone’s Nest! Details here.