Gen Z's Guide to Detoxing: Cleanse or Minimalism?

The Great Log-Off: Gen Z Is Rewriting the Rules of Digital Detox

Let’s be honest: we’re tired. Not the cute, need a coffee and a nap kind of tired. We’re talking deep, soul-level burnout from living life through screens — notifications popping off, doomscrolling at 2 AM, and that weird thumb cramp you get after switching between TikTok, Discord, and BeReal for three straight hours.

So what’s Gen Z doing about it?
We’re detoxing. But not in the same way everyone else tells us to. Forget the boomer advice about throwing your phone in a drawer or going off-grid like it’s 2005. We’re making the digital detox ours — and it’s coming in two distinct flavors: Digital Cleanse and Digital Minimalism.

🌿 Digital Cleanse: The Full Stop

Think of a digital cleanse like a social media juice fast. You go cold turkey — log off all platforms, delete your apps, turn your phone into a glorified calculator.

What it looks like:

• No Instagram. No TikTok. No notifications.
• You might set an “away” message on DMs or just go ghost.
• Most folks do this for a weekend, a week, or (if they’re brave) a whole month.

Real Talk from the Gen Z Cleanse Crowd:

“I went off socials for two weeks after I realized I was checking my phone like 90 times a day. At first, I felt super twitchy. But by day four, I actually felt calm again. Like, I remembered I have hobbies?”
— Tanya, 22, Toronto

Mental Health Impact:

• Short-term anxiety (fear of missing out is real)
• Big clarity gains after a few days
• Better sleep, less screen fatigue
• Feels like a brain reset — even if it’s just temporary

Best for you if:
You’re feeling burnt the heck out by your phone and need a hard reset. You want to reconnect with IRL life and just breathe.

✂️ Digital Minimalism: The Chill Trim

This is for the folks who aren’t ready to ghost everyone, but know they need to scale it back. Digital minimalism is less about quitting and more about curating. It’s a lifestyle, not a crash course.

What it looks like:

• Turning off all non-essential notifications
• Deleting apps you never use (RIP the random photo editor from 2020)
• Setting “no phone” zones (like the bedroom or during meals)
• Using tools like:
  • Grayscale mode to make your phone less addictive
  • App timers for social media (thanks, Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing)
  • Notification bundles (so your phone doesn’t buzz every 30 seconds)
  • “Do Not Disturb” mode on a schedule

Real Talk from the Minimalist Gen Z Crew:

“I still scroll TikTok, but only between 6-7PM. Sounds wild, but it actually makes me enjoy it more. Like, it’s a treat instead of a reflex.”
— Luca, 20, Brooklyn

Mental Health Impact:

• Slower improvements but more sustainable
• Reduces anxiety from constant pings
• Encourages intentional phone use
• Less dopamine crash from endless scrolling

Best for you if:
You’re not about extreme moves but want to feel less controlled by your tech. You’re aiming for balance, not a blackout.

🔍 So… Which One Works Better?

Honestly? It depends on your vibe.

Pro Tip: A lot of Gen Z’ers are doing both — a full cleanse once in a while and minimalism as their default mode. Think of it like doing a weekend retreat, then living a chill life after.

🧠 What We Learned From Trying Both

Before & After Feels:

• Before: Constant stress, scattered focus, muscle memory scrolls
• After Cleanse: Clarity, rest, but hard to maintain
• After Minimalism: Fewer distractions, better sleep, more “you time” moments

We found that digital minimalism works better for the long haul. It’s a lifestyle shift, not just a break. But digital cleanses? They're like mental spa days — ideal when you’re really on the edge.

We grew up online, but we don’t have to be owned by our screens. Whether you're deleting all your apps or just muting your notifications, the goal is the same: feel better. And that’s what this whole digital detox thing is really about.

You don’t need to disappear to disconnect. You just need to be intentional — and that’s the kind of energy Gen Z is bringing into 2025.

Stay connected to your real self (and just the right amount of screen time) with Woke Waves Magazine.

#DigitalDetox #SoftLifeGenZ #DigitalMinimalism #MentalWellness #WokeWavesLifestyle

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