When was the last time you went an entire day without checking your phone? Not an hour while it was charging or an afternoon when you were busy, but a full 24 hours without scrolling, notifications, emails, messages or the reflex to reach for your phone whenever there's a spare moment. On Saturday October 10, people around the world are being invited to find out what that actually feels like as The Offline Club brings back its Global 24-Hour Digital Detox Challenge for World Mental Health Day. The free virtual challenge has one very simple premise: put your phone away and spend 24 hours offline. It’s the sixth edition of the global event, which saw more than 10,000 people participate last year. This time, organisers are hoping even more people will use World Mental Health Day as an opportunity to temporarily step away from their screens and reconnect with life away from them. And yes, if the thought of going without your phone for an entire day makes you slightly uncomfortable, that's probably part of what makes the challenge interesting. Participants are encouraged to fill the time with things that can easily get squeezed out by our increasingly online lives including reading, walking, spending time with friends or family, returning to an old hobby, getting outdoors or simply having stretches of the day with nothing demanding their attention. You won't be sent off into the analogue wilderness completely unprepared, either. Those who register receive an Inspiration & Preparation Guide with practical tips for getting through the 24 hours, along with access to a global video call hosted by The Offline Club's founders ahead of the challenge. There’s no competition and no screen-time target to beat afterwards. The idea is simply to notice what changes when the constant option to check, scroll and respond disappears for a day. The Global 24-Hour Digital Detox Challenge takes place from 8am Saturday October 10 until 7:59am Sunday October 11 (AEST) and is free to join, with an optional donation available when registering. So, could you go without your phone for 24 hours?
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