I accidentally lost WhatsApp and had a Digital Detox at Kalukanda House

This week, I lost WhatsApp. It was a shock. I was shocked. By my reaction. I had no idea until then exactly how tethered I had become to this app. I obsessed, wondering about all the threads and chats left hanging. I lost count of the number of ways Google told me to try to retrieve it. This all happened within 24 hours of landing at Kalukanda House and I was still operating at London speed. It made me realise, even as a yoga lover and someone into mindful activities, in today’s always-on world, WhatsApp messages, work emails, family updates, and social notifications demand our attention around the clock.

Once upon a time, you could finish work and actually be done. You could lose touch — gloriously, deliciously — and no one would panic. Fast forward to now, and everything, everywhere, all at once… is on your phone. Especially on WhatsApp.

The app that started out as a simple messaging tool has quietly become the nerve center of our lives. Work groups, family updates, school announcements, wedding invites, government alerts, gossip threads, spiritual affirmations, grocery lists, memes — they all now live side-by-side on one green-and-white screen. WhatsApp is a brilliant connector. But when everything lives in one little icon, from grief to groceries to God, it becomes harder to hold our center. The constant buzz, the invisible obligations, the never-ending scroll — they tether us – and this has crept up on us by stealth.

I can’t quite blame WhatsApp or my phone. I realised the embarrassing truth, I’ve trained myself to believe that if I’m not reachable, I’m somehow missing out, falling behind, or failing.

This emotional pressure isn’t just tiring — it’s burn out.

BUT, when I realised the app was not returning anytime soon, I moved into acceptance. I remembered that if I really needed to, I still have email and phone to hand. Don’t get me wrong, I was still panicking about all the lost chat threads, but as I allowed myself to surrender to the loss, and walked through our gardens towards the yoga shala for some slow and delicious movement, I felt myself….UN-tethering. I realised I was actually craving peace, clarity, and just a moment without notifications. I watched our abundant birds flit through the tall swaying trees, felt the warm wind on my skin, smiled with every chirrup, coo’d at the Langur Monkeys and rested my eyes on every bright flower. WOW.

It might be time for a digital detox retreat at Kalukanda House, where the jungle meets the sea, and my screens finally went quiet.

🧠 The Myth of Productivity

One of the great lies of constant connectivity is that it makes us more productive. But studies show the opposite: multitasking and frequent interruptions actually reduce focus, creativity, and memory. The very tools meant to help us get more done are fragmenting our minds. I can attest to this.

🌿 The Quiet Power of Trees: Indigenous Wisdom & Coming Home to Nature

One way to reclaim our mental and physical space is to look deep into the healing properties of “forest”. Not just physically, but spiritually, culturally, and scientifically. Nicknamed “forest bathing” it is a powerful tool for healing, creativity, and connection.

To explore this, I sat down with Susan Joachim, a Sri Lankan living in Australia and the President and Founding Member of the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance. With roots in both Sri Lankan and Aboriginal traditions, Susan brings a rare blend of indigenous knowledge and contemporary science to the practice of forest therapy. Our conversation in In episode 7 of Series 2 of our podcast (link at end of post), left me grounded, hopeful, and even more in love with the ancient wisdom nestled in the canopy above us.

🌳 Known as Shinrin-Yoku in Japan

…forest bathing is the act of immersing yourself in nature with intention and awareness. But unlike a hike or a jog, forest bathing isn’t about distance or exertion — it’s about presence. You slow down, breathe deeply, and let the forest come to you.

It’s simple, but not easy. In a world that glorifies busyness, standing still can feel radical. But science is catching up with what indigenous cultures have known for millennia: nature heals.

🍃 Nature as Medicine And Memory

During our conversation, Susan spoke about how forest therapy is more than just a “wellness trend”,  it’s a reconnection with ancestral practices, both Aboriginal and Sri Lankan. In these cultures, the forest is not an escape,  it’s home, teacher, and mirror.

She also reminded us that healing is not always linear. Sometimes, it’s about remembering  who we are, where we come from, and what we’ve forgotten in our modern lives. Sitting under a tree, touching the earth, hearing the rustle of leaves –  these are not just calming experiences, they are deeply restorative acts of cultural and personal remembrance.

🌱 The Sri Lankan Context

Sri Lanka, an island so often marketed for its beaches and tea plantations, has a rich and under-celebrated relationship with its forests. The connection between people and trees runs deep here.

Yet, like many places, this wisdom risks being lost in the noise of development and digital disconnection.

Susan believes Shin Rin Yoku could change the way Sri Lankans and travellers interact with the island’s natural beauty. “It’s not just about hiking,” she said. “It’s about how we allow the land to hold us. There’s deep reverence in that.”

💬 We Need a Digital Detox

When you’re always available, it’s easy to lose your sense of presence, purpose, and peace. That’s where a wellness retreat at Kalukanda House offers more than just relaxation — it offers a complete nervous system reset.

• Reduces cortisol levels (stress hormone)
• Enhance immune function
• Improve your mood and creativity
• Increase mindfulness and inner peace

🍃 Reclaim Your Attention: Disconnect to Reconnect

Combining yoga and forest bathing creates a powerful synergy. One anchors you in your body; the other returns you to nature. Together, they help untangle you from digital overwhelm.

Here, you remember:

• That stillness is not laziness
• That nature is medicine
• That you are more than your inbox

Kalukanda House invites you to log out and tune in — not just for a few hours, but in a way that shifts your perspective long after you leave.

 

🌿 Plan Your Digital Detox Retreat at Kalukanda House

Experience the power of off-grid luxury. Whether you’re booking a yoga retreat in Sri Lanka, a solo getaway, or a wellness weekend with friends, Kalukanda House offers curated experiences that balance modern comfort with ancient wisdom. You don’t need a dense forest. You don’t need gear. You just need a patch of green, an open mind, and a willingness to listen

 Retreats include:

• Daily yoga and meditation within our forested, landscaped gardens
• Plant-based meals
• Ayurvedic spa treatments (on request)
• Personalised wellness guidance

In a world that glorifies being busy and reachable, the ultimate luxury is to be present. Kalukanda House isn’t just a destination — it’s a reminder of what it feels like to come home to yourself.

If you’re looking for a meaningful escape that blends mindfulness, movement, and nature, this is your invitation.

🔗 Book Your Digital Detox Retreat at Kalukanda House Now

Email: stay@kalukandahouse.com

🌺 Final Word

There’s nothing wrong with loving your phone. Connection is beautiful. But it’s even more beautiful when it’s balanced by intention, stillness, and space.

So maybe it’s time.

To log out.
To lie under a tree.
To breathe deeply.
And to finally — finally — hear yourself again.

Podcast ” Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot” can be found on Spotify / Apple / and other platforms. Episode link here