Back in 2018, I recorded my first episode about the Week of Disconnection. Since then, this practice has become one of the cornerstones of my nomadic journey, and today feels like the right moment to revisit it.

I began experimenting with these weeks in 2016. As I write this, I’ve completed 26 of them. And I can tell you something remarkable: I remember each one vividly. They stand apart in memory in a way that most other weeks of nomadic travel simply don’t. Each week of disconnection becomes its own story, full of clarity and reflection.

Why Disconnect?

Like many nomads, I once believed I was completely free. After all, I could move to any country at will. But there was a catch: I couldn’t disconnect. I never had a stretch of even a few days without emails, Slack messages, or work demands.

That’s when I realized: the ability to move does not equal the ability to be free. Digital tools sustain our lifestyle, but they can also trap us. What began as a means to freedom often becomes the goal itself, keeping us glued to our businesses and stories instead of living in the world around us.

The week of disconnection is my way of reclaiming the purity of nomadism: the backpacking spirit, immersion in life, and the ability to simply be.

More Than Just Vacation

Vacations are a natural part of life, but a week of disconnection goes further. The Week of Disconnection is a structured, disciplined vacation. It is built on two essential pillars: the vacation element, which means setting aside real time off away from the daily grind, and digital disconnection rules, strict boundaries to regain balance and sanity. When combined, these two forces create an experience that feels closer to a detox than a holiday. It isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about creating a container that forces both rest and renewal.

What Happens During Disconnection?

After practicing this for several years, certain patterns begin to emerge. Each week of disconnection becomes vivid in memory, standing out in sharp contrast to the blur of endless workweeks. They are memorable, restorative, and, in unexpected ways, surprisingly productive. One of the most evident benefits is business resilience: if your work cannot survive a week without you, it reveals fragility, and the pause quietly tests the sustainability of systems, teams, and clients. For those who manage others, it naturally encourages delegation and autonomy, since stepping away creates space for different people to take decisions.

On a more personal level, disconnection helps break addictive behaviors by removing apps, browsers, and communication tools, exposing just how deeply ingrained those habits are. Although noticing this dependence can feel uncomfortable, it is also liberating. Another crucial effect is the prevention of burnout; without structured breaks, energy and efficiency eventually collapse, but a week away helps restore both. At the same time, fresh ideas often surface precisely because there is no pressure—insights appear while walking in nature, reading, or simply resting. Finally, this pause creates room to experiment with new habits, whether it is cutting sugar, leaving the phone behind, or trying something new, and these small changes often outlast the week itself.

Preparation Matters

If you don’t prepare, the week won’t happen, or it’ll fall apart halfway through.

• Build excitement by listening to podcasts, reading guides, and learning about the destination.
• Wrap up loose ends.
• Inform your team and clients.
• Block the calendar.
• Set autoresponders.
• Delete apps and put away the laptop.

Best Practices

• Limit yourself to two locations in one week. Avoid rushing.
• If the location doesn’t feel right, leave.
• Know what brings you joy and prioritize it. For me: nature and, when possible, community.
• Choose small towns under 100,000 people. Avoid high-rises and business districts.
• Travel light. Leave the suitcase behind.
• Spend more than usual—this is not the week to cut corners.

Final Thoughts

Weeks of disconnection don’t just refresh. They create moments of deep presence, those rare flashes where time slows down and everything feels aligned. Whether that happens while sitting by a lake, walking through a small town, or simply breathing without the weight of constant updates, it’s worth protecting.

Maybe it’s not easy at first. The first few days can feel strange, even unsettling. But stick with it, and the payoff is undeniable: a week that stands out in memory, recharges the mind, and restores balance between the digital and the real.

My next goals:

• Extend into two consecutive weeks.
• Commit to more than four disconnection weeks per year.

It’s not easy. Discipline is hard. But the rewards are immense. Every week of disconnection has been unforgettable, and each one has given me clarity, resilience, and joy that regular life rarely offers.

So here’s the invitation: mark the calendar, set the rules, and take that step back. Not forever, just a week. And see how much changes when you truly disconnect.

Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcast | Spotify