Record number of people take time out

Organisations representing millions of people took part in this year's Techtimeout Tuesday – the UK’s biggest digital wellbeing day.

Midlands tech boss Steph Henson wanted to raise awareness on the impact that tech has on our wellbeing and productivity.

She picked December 3 for Techtimeout Tuesday as it followed Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with brands tempting consumers online to snap up their latest deals.

Businesses representing over 2.58 million people signed up to take part. Participants included Cadbury UK who put sleeping bags for phones in their canteens, Paddle UK who had a Cake and Connect hour, Rolls-Royce who sent Time Out bars to their staff to encourage them to take a Techtimeout, Menzies who blocked a firm-wide Techtimeout hour, and Cardiff FC who took part across the academy with education slots and pledge boards.

Steph launched the annual digital wellbeing awareness day in 2020. “A few years back, I found that I was always ‘switched on’ and looking at a screen. I was replying to emails at 2am and was never more than two feet away from my smartphone - which was constantly pinging.

"My screen time was excessive - over 14 hours per day, seven days a week and it was impacting my well-being. I had headaches, my back ached, my relationships with friends and family suffered, and I had trouble concentrating, completing tasks, and on most nights, I was only sleeping for about three or four hours.

“It got worse to the point where one day, I couldn’t get out of bed, my emotions were all over the place and I just couldn’t concentrate on anything. I knew I had to make a change. After struggling to find practical advice on managing these challenges, I founded Techtimeout - a company focused on digital wellbeing.”

The company has partnered with key organisations across the UK such as Mental Health First Aid England. A partnership with screen time app, Opal saw them release a screen time report ahead of Techtimeout Tuesday which revealed that the UK is one of Europe's worst screen time offenders. Brits spend four hours 41 minutes daily on their phones, which doesn’t include time spent on laptops and computers.

Steph stressed that Techtimeout is not anti-tech, it is about being more responsible with tech use and recognising the dangers.

“Constant notifications and screen exposure can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout. Disconnecting regularly allows you to regain control over your attention, improve your overall wellbeing, and improve your productivity levels when you are on screens.”

In 2025, Techtimeout Tuesday will take place on December 2nd, 2025. In the meantime, businesses can get certification to be recognised as a digitally responsible workplace. Find out more at www.thedigitalwellbeingcompany.com.

Pictured: Steph Henson