Latest news with #unplugged
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
What It's Really Like to Be a Teen With a Flip Phone
Following a surprising new trend, some college-aged Gen Zers are trading in their smartphones for flip phones. It's becoming clear that many of us are getting fed up with social media and all that comes with it — and once the excitement of that first phone wears off and you realize the downsides of being tethered to modern technology, it's understandable why some older teens are tucking away their smartphones and reverting to a less-connected existence. While this new quasi-unplugged lifestyle isn't for everyone, I've watched from afar as it has transformed the life of one of my best friends. Last summer, my friend Quinn's iPhone died, and he quickly decided it would never be turned on again. For three months, he went completely off the grid, only using his MacBook when necessary to complete his freshman year of college. Soon, though, it became unrealistic as his friends and family grew anxious from the lack of communication. The solution: A $42 prepaid flip phone from Amazon that I bought him for his 19th birthday. He was granted the luxury of calling and texting, but would never have to worry about social media — or anything else that modern phone technology afforded him. A flip phone gave him all the safety and communication that comes with a regular phone — the ability to call friends, parents, and guardians — while letting him feel unplugged. More from SheKnows What Is 'Imagined Surveillance' - & How Is it Changing the Way Gen Z Is Dating? Almost a year later, he still loves it. Coming up on his first smartphone-free anniversary, I talked to Quinn about his unplugged lifestyle and the ups and downs of being a teen with a flip phone. SheKnows: As you come up on your first full year of using a flip phone, talk about why you made the switch. How did the decision to ditch your iPhone come about? Quinn: The switch started with my phone dying. I wasn't spending time on my phone for a couple of days, and then I just realized it was much better. I liked it more, so I just stopped using my phone. Me getting rid of my phone wasn't a statement about society; I just made a conscious effort to get rid of the number one stressor in my life. And now that I have, I'm living a considerably better life. I'm having a much better time. It's hard for some people to understand, but it's really not that complex. Phones aren't good for people's mental health. When you go online, you see people having fun and doing things, and more than anything, it's impossible not to compare your life with their lives, because everyone's just so connected online. You see how everyone else looks, and you can see people hanging out without you — you can track other people's locations on Snap maps — and people get FOMO that way. Not having a phone, I have a lot less of that feeling of being left out, and I don't really compare myself to people online anymore. It reduces a lot of stress. Also, checking your phone constantly, texting people, and wondering when they're going to text back? That's another stress factor. SK: What was it like going from using your phone all the time to never using it? Was that a smooth transition? Quinn: For the first two weeks, I was so sick of [my phone] that I was actually really happy not being with it. And then after a month or two, I felt like I was missing out on what I was supposed to be seeing or hearing about. But after three months, I just accepted that this — a smartphone, social media, and all that stuff — is not something that's a part of my life anymore. So now I've been completely fine without it. I don't miss it at all. SK: How does your flip phone affect your day-to-day routine? Quinn: Well, I have a lot more free time. Like, a lot more free time. It's definitely noticeable, especially during periods of the day where I have a lot of downtime, or even just a little bit of downtime. I used to spend that time on my phone, scrolling through social media or texting someone. Now I do something healthier, like make food, go to the gym, or just take a nap. SK: What's the biggest difference that you've noticed since you started using the flip phone? What are some of the benefits? Quinn: I sleep. I don't think I've ever slept better in my life, and I have no clue why. I sleep considerably better now, it's awesome. And that's probably the most noticeable thing, other than being less stressed out because of dumb social media stuff. Now I get happy about normal things. Like, just hanging out with friends is good enough. I don't need to do anything crazy anymore. I've also just been much more aware of my surroundings. When I walk to class in the morning, I don't need to listen to music; I'm just walking. SK: What do you spend your free time doing now that you don't have an iPhone? Quinn: I don't know why people think that because of my flip phone, I just have absolutely no way to entertain myself, but that's the furthest thing from true. I don't entertain myself with TikTok. I just do it with other things like watching TV or listening to music on my computer, or I can play games on a computer. I can still use technology, but without the social media aspect. It would be pretty extreme to say I'm rejecting technology, because I'm not. I use my computer all the time. But if I'm in public, my first instinct, instead of being to scroll on TikTok, is to just talk to someone or walk around, see what's going on, and be more aware of my surroundings. SK: What's the most challenging part of not having an iPhone? Quinn: I really don't like QR codes. I guess the problem is not QR codes; I mean, if it saves people time, it's good. The problem is when there's no alternative. That's really frustrating. Another big thing that is limiting with a flip phone is that I can't look things up. Go throughout your whole day and think about how many times you look something up. I can't do that at all. SK: Do you feel left out because you don't have a smartphone? Do you feel like you're missing out on the news or popular trends? Quinn: The first couple of months that I didn't have a phone, I felt like I was missing out, but now I feel like I'm in on something that everyone else isn't in on; I feel the opposite. I'm really happy that I'm missing out on news and TikTok trends. Most of the stuff I'm missing out on is things that anger people or make them sad. The stuff that I'm missing out on is not positive, so I really don't mind. SK: Would you recommend having a flip phone instead? Especially for younger teens? Quinn: I think it truly depends on who the person is. If you're a really stressed-out person, naturally, then having a flip phone could make you more stressed and wouldn't help. For me, though, it has just made me genuinely happier. For younger teens, it's so hard to say, because I switched to a flip phone after I went to college and made all my friends. Honestly, I think it would be kind of a mistake for someone to go into college or high school into a situation where they need to make new friends or whatever. One of the ways I made new friends was on big group chats where everyone communicated on apps like Snapchat. If you're really young, it's going to be so hard to network and make connections if you don't have an iPhone. I think it would be really limiting for them. SK: Do you feel like the switch was worth it? Quinn: It's very much worth it, and I don't regret anything. I think I'm having a better life, but I think that for a lot of people it wouldn't be like that. I feel like some people would just have complete breakdowns if they did what I do. I do think it's pretty crazy how reliant people are on phones now, and I think that a lot of people wouldn't be able to live without a phone. And that's a big problem. Best of SheKnows Rocky77, Aquaman, & More Unique Celebrity Baby Names How to Watch These 25 Halloween Movies on Disney+ for Summerween Antics The Dumbest (and Deadliest) TikTok Trends Targeting Teens & Tweens Solve the daily Crossword
Times
22-07-2025
- Times
22 of the best treehouse stays in the UK
There's nothing quite like climbing a ladder or crossing a rope bridge as you approach your cosy perch for the night to zhuzh up some childhood nostalgia. But there are plenty of other reasons to book a stay in a treehouse — whether it's soaking yourself in nature and birdsong, unplugging from modern technology, or admiring the way these woodland homes allow their owners' architectural and artistic creativity to flow more naturally than it would in a commercial hotel. And nowadays you don't have to sacrifice creature comforts either, as many come equipped with swanky coffee machines and sound systems. Thanks to acres of pristine woodland and a legacy of craftsmanship, the UK is one of the best places to find tranquil tree-hugging boltholes. Follow our guide to the best treehouse stays in the UK. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 8 This contemporary-styled treehouse in North Yorkshire is perfect for big families or groups of friends. It sleeps up to eight people across a three-bedroom main cabin and secret separate pod accessed via its own bridge. There's super-fast wi-fi so you can host a film night, and the kitchen, equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine, dishwasher and large fridge-freezer, could be straight out of a showroom. The little details have been considered too, like soft bath robes for stepping out of the outdoor hot tub. It's part of a wider holiday camp which offers in-cabin spa treatments, home-delivered meals and kayak or cycle hire. • Best hotels in Yorkshire £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 At this treehouse you can play act at being lord of the manor by taking your very own boat out for a row on your private lake. Inside, the property is similarly full of sweet touches and the hosts even provide milk and breakfast cereals on arrival in case you don't have time to pick some up. But if it's pure luxury you're after, be warned: this is not it. The treehouse is totally off-grid, so fresh drinking water comes from a bowser, the cooking facilities are a gas camping stove, and if you need the loo, you'll have to head to the composting loo among the trees. Oh and there's no shower. It is, however, well located with knockout views. Both Dartmoor National Park and the rugged north Devon coast are a short hop away. • Cornwall v Devon: which is better? ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 5 A country house hotel for our times, Wildhive Callow Hall, outside Ashbourne, has an indoors-outdoors approach that extends to the accommodation. As well as 15 bedrooms in the main house (appropriately decorated in soft botanical colours and leafy fabrics) there are 11 one-bedroom suites peppered through the woods. For ultimate woodland escapism, however, the ones to book are the hotel's two treehouses. They're geared more towards self-catering than the one-bedroom Hives, with open-plan sitting rooms and kitchens, outdoor copper baths, two en suite bedrooms each and a pup-friendly policy. • Lake District v Peak District: which is better? £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 10 If walkers and mountain bikers go down to the woods at Garwnant they will be in for a big surprise. As well as the kingfishers and otters they're used to spotting at Coed Taf Fawr — the large forest area that Garwnant belongs to — they will see much larger visitors; Forest Holidays opened a site here in 2023, covering 400 acres and including three Golden Oak treehouses. These four-bedroom cabins on stilts have a further treehouse suite reached via a rope bridge. Looks-wise they veer more towards Dunelm than Grand Designs, but they're an oak-solid option for multigenerational groups. • Best beaches in Wales £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 This wonky house at the top of an old oak looks like something that's been magicked together by one of the fairies in Brian Froud's paintings. Shelves built into the tree's gnarled trunk, straw-bale walls, off-kilter staircases winding up into the branches, a skylit master bedroom accessed via a steel ladder — you'll find them all here, as well as hand-carved benches, a cob fire and a wood-fired Japanese-style hot tub. It's properly off-grid, with a composting loo, solar lighting and zero wi-fi — but there are few more bewitching places near the Welsh borders. • Most luxurious places to stay in Herefordshire ££ | Sleeps 4 With its conical roof, arched windows and lofty cedar rafters, there's a hint of Harry Potter about this charming little treehouse near Mayfield. A winding boardwalk leads up to the cabin, lodged in its own area of private woodland. Inside, there's space for a lounge (with sofa and wood-burner), and a light-dappled kitchen and bathroom, while the master bedroom is just about big enough for a family of four, with a couple of extra beds in the loft (accessed by ladder). The decked terrace makes an ideal spot for breakfast, with birdsong providing a bucolic soundtrack. • Best luxury hotels in Sussex £ | Sleeps 2 The outside may whisper 'Squirrel Nutkin' but this treetop hideaway in Anglesey is surprisingly slick inside: its fitted kitchen, modern wood-burner and galaxy of downlights wouldn't look out of place in a conventional holiday cottage. Roughly circular in shape and ringed by a wooden deck, it sits overlooking fields at the end of the owners' garden. Inside, the standout feature is a central glass column that frames the branches of an oak tree: it's a handy reminder to pick up the binoculars and bird-watching guide provided and explore the local wildlife. • Best things to do in Wales £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 Tarzan would get a bit more luxury than he bargained for if he were to shimmy up the branches into this Devon treetop retreat, which has a hot tub, pizza oven and copper bath tub on wheels (soak indoors or slide out for an alfresco wallow). Set on a 20-acre estate within the Unesco-designated North Devon Biosphere reserve, the cosy timber hideout is tailor-made for parents seeking romance. As well as a king-size bed with a view, there's a second bedroom with bunk beds and a large projector screen for post-pizza cinema nights. • Best campsites in Cornwall £ | Sleeps 4 Imagine a human-sized bird box shaped a bit like ET's head and you get a pretty close picture of Living-Room's arboreal abodes. Its six two-bedroom treehouses are perched among oak, larch and Scots pine trees outside Machynlleth. There's also a separate treehouse shop. Spiral staircases have been built for five of the treehouses; their rustic style is so in keeping with the surroundings they look as though they've been woven by squirrels. Enjoy bluebell-fringed walks, spring water showers and the chance to do some dark-sky gazing just that bit closer to the stars. ££ | Sleeps 2-4 Cotswolds tree-huggers have been able go one step further and embrace their inner tree-sleeper since six treehouses opened in 2023 at Elmore Court, a sustainable wedding and events venue just west of Gloucester. Don't expect tipsy partygoers to conga through the nearest clearing late at night though. Sleeping between two and four, the high-rise cabins speckle the edge of the estate's woods, well away from wedding parties. Gaze out from your wraparound deck while you wait for your pre-ordered breakfast hamper to arrive, and you can soak up tranquil scenes of the estate's rewilded land. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 This heart-shaped treehouse perches amid Laverock Law's handful of holiday rentals, inland from Holy Island. Crafted from local wood and sheep's wool, it's peppered with low-impact luxuries like organic bedding, hand-thrown crockery and homemade cake. Romantics can wallow in sunrises, sunsets and starry skies with the help of skylights, portholes and even a little heart-shaped pane in the front door, while a bunk room and a sister business offering family-friendly activities such as cooking classes and wild walks make it a good family option too. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 10 A prow-like RIBA award-winning house, wedged into a wooded slope on the oak-lined Chevithorne Barton estate, Verte is one for those who like to enjoy the high life — in all senses. This towering larch-clad lair dispenses with whimsy in place of elegant, contemporary design and luxury fittings. A circular fireplace takes centre stage if you want to boost the building's geothermal heating, and there's a Sonos sound system. Wood is the focus, though; as well as bosky views and that larch cladding, the house's dining table and spalted stairs are both made from a storm-felled beech tree. £ | Sleeps 2 A collection of hobbit house-like burrows, summer houses and pint-sized cottages on a farm near Dunblane, Craighead is as close as Perthshire gets to Tolkien's Shire. Among its storybook rentals is Ash Tree Howf (not a Hobbitish spelling of house but a Scots word for a haunt), built into an old ash tree. While some treehouses are essentially suites on stilts this is the real deal, its hand-crafted, higgledy-piggledy form topped by little shingle-roofed turrets and embellished by viewing platforms spinning off into the tree's branches. The enchanted forest approach continues inside with a sink set on twig-like legs and a dedicated star-gazing window. • Best unusual places to stay in the UK• Best Airbnbs in the UK ££ | Sleeps 2 Herons, hares and showboating pheasants are amongst the wildlife that call Red Hurworth Farm home. There are plenty of places to spot them during a stay here; on a walk around the wildflower-bracketed reservoir as the sun dips or — perhaps more tempting — as you soak from your hot tub in one of the farm's two treehouses, Nuthatch and Wren, which overlook a natural pond. Despite being cocooned by fields as far as the eye can see, the cedar-clad treehouses are ultra-modern inside with Sonos speakers, underfloor heating and a basket of treats including popcorn and hot chocolate. Should you wish to overlook the reservoir you can also book one of the lakeside lodges — complete with hot tubs and swish, suspended log burners — instead. ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 Treading a neat line between blingy and bucolic, this two-bedroom treehouse may be off-grid, but solar power and bottled-gas heating mean it's not short on frills; on the decking there's a wood-fired hot tub and a zellige-tiled outdoor shower, while inside you'll find a huge stone bath, Minirig speakers and even a Nutribullet blender. Decorated in soft, muted tones, it has pops of colour to add a playful element, especially in the first floor 'tent' bedroom, which was designed by the interiors company Côte de Folk. It's accessed via a hatch and comes with billowing colour-block curtains and candy-striped bed linen. ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 Near Gargunnock, on the fringes of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the four treehouses at Leckie may be clean-lined and contemporary in style but the big idea is minimal impact on the surrounding landscape as it transitions from traditional sporting and farming estate to a more wildlife-focused setting. Each treehouse is built into the canopies of sycamore or oak trees, using timber sourced from the estate, and air-source heat pumps provide heating and hot water. For an alternative warm-up, try a hike around the estate's Leckie Broch and waterfalls. • Most beautiful places in Scotland £ | Sleeps 2 You don't need a particularly good head for heights to stay at this new tin-roofed treehouse a few miles northwest of Penrith. Set on a working farm on the fringes of the Lake District, its position part-way up a hillside means you can walk in at ground level but enjoy sweeping views from its lofty front decking as the land drops away below sturdy birch balustrades. There's a homely, handmade feel to the furnishings: an outdoor bathtub is filled from taps upcycled from copper piping and kitchen cupboards are colourfully mismatched. • Best campsites in the Lake District ££ | Sleeps 2 They've taken the arboreal theme and run with it at the Treehouse at Bainland Lodge Retreats. One of more than 30 different accommodation options in an upmarket 45-acre holiday park, it's a true dendrophile's den with cosy timber walls, a hot tub with a view of the park's lake and trees, and the rustic good looks of a kind of souped-up Swiss Family Robinson homestead. You'll find a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, gym, farm shop and range of bookable activities on the site, which is within walking distance of Woodhall Spa; for a night out on terra firma, take in a screening at the village's legendary Kinema in the Woods. ££ | Sleeps 2 One for those who grew up reading about the mice in the Brambly Hedge children's books, whose multi-storey country houses were hewn into the trunks of old trees. The Old Oak is built around the boughs of a mighty old Essex oak tree, with some of those boughs snaking up through the floors and walls, and staying here is as close as you'll get to a visit to the Old Oak Palace of Lord and Lady Woodmouse. There may not be pantries stuffed with acorns or thistledown carpets, but there is a roof terrace for stargazing, a bath with a view and twin hammocks on the balcony for gazing up at spinning leaves. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 Exeter may be within 40 minutes' drive, but city life feels magically far away when you gaze from the balcony of this small treehouse cabin just south of Exmoor. Overlooking 24 acres of woodland, it's perched on the edge of what was once a quarry. In the 200 years since they stopped extracting iron here, nature has reclaimed the land, turning the tumbling landscape below into a rainbow of dappled greens: a view best soaked up from the outdoor bath. One other important feature is the cabin's accessibility. Unlike many treehouses, this one is fully wheelchair-friendly; there's even a hoist for that outdoor bath. £££ | Sleeps 2 It's all about the thoughtful details at this simple A-framed treehouse, surrounded by two acres of private woodland. Featured on Channel 4's Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig, a barrel sauna, outdoor bath and cocktail trolley set a celebratory tone while the mezzanine bedroom's ceiling-to-floor window allows for easy leaf-peeping, or bird-watching, from bed. Home-made sloe gin and shortbread are provided, and breakfast hampers and BBQ boxes can be ordered in advance. Go wild swimming in the Wye, visit nearby Tintern Abbey or light the floating fire and snuggle into the green velvet sofa to gaze at the flames. ££ | Sleeps 2 The chic, minimalist Pinwheel is a treat for architecture lovers with a layout designed to mimic a child's pinwheel toy. It's in an area of outstanding natural beauty and one-way glass allows guests to appreciate wildlife up close without scaring animals off. The compact space ticks plenty of boxes, including shard-like floor-to-ceiling windows that give views onto the leafy surroundings while maintaining privacy, as well as a wood-fired pizza oven, a terrace with a swing and a hot tub. You can reach the Jurassic Coast in 25 minutes by car; and if you fancy a change from self-catering, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage is a 20-minute drive away. Additional reporting by Marianna Hunt, Yasmin Choudhury and Lucy Perrin • Best luxury glamping in the UK• Best romantic weekend breaks with a hot tub in the UK• Best campsites in the Cotswolds What's your favourite UK treehouse stay? Please share in the comments below
New York Times
21-06-2025
- New York Times
How Far Would You Go (and How Much Would You Pay) to Get Away From It All?
Market turmoil. Digital overload. Scary headlines. On the travel front, it's no wonder 'off grid' and 'unplugged' vacations are trending. A recent survey revealed that 56 percent of global travelers were seeking 'off the beaten path' destinations to escape from the drama of daily life. 'Our clients are taking sabbaticals or going on long trips to faraway places, where they are completely unreachable, no Wi-Fi, no cell service,' said Erica Jackowitz, a co-founder of New York-based Rêve Travel Club, which caters to busy professionals. She notes that many of her clients have recently chosen far-flung destinations like Mongolia, Peru and the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Does going to the ends of the earth yield peace and restoration, or exhilaration and adventure? At many remote resorts, both. Whether you want a timeout from the collective chaos, or are focusing on a more personal unplugging, here are six spots where you can leave the noise behind. Ontario, Canada Sunnd Eco Resort 'When people disconnect from the grid,' said Ann Marie Barry, the owner of Sunnd Eco Resort, 'they actually reconnect with themselves, and with each other, and with the land.' That's the premise of the small resort she opened with her husband last year in a quiet wooded expanse near Lake Superior in Northern Ontario, in Canada. The nearest town has two seasonal gas stations-convenience stores and a population of 450. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Province's response to pause in EV production coming to Alliston
Honda says the plan is being unplugged for roughly two years. As CTV's Queens Park Bureau Chief Siobhan Morris reports, the premier says he will hold the company accountable.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bride and groom raise eyebrows over major mistake on wedding invitation: 'We're doing WHAT at 3:30pm?'
A bride and groom have raised eyebrows over a major mistake on their wedding invitation - and it's not the technology-free ceremony that's got everyone talking. Couple Theresa and Jason sent out their invitations detailing the schedule - from the 3pm ceremony to the 5.30pm dinner reception, followed by 'party time' starting at 6.30pm. 'Welcome to our unplugged wedding. We invite you to be fully present with us during our ceremony. With this in mind, please - pretty please - turn off your cell phones and cameras at the 3pm ceremony,' the invitation read. At 3.30pm, guests are invited to enjoy hors d'oeuvres, otherwise known as canapés, as the newlyweds are expected to personally greet them in the receiving line. However, it seems an unfortunate auto-correct mishap was missed during the printing process - the invitation came out with 'Horse Ovaries' instead of hors d'oeuvres. The turquoise wedding invitation was re-shared in a Wedding Shaming Facebook group, with many laughing hysterically at the typo. 'Just because it's unplugged doesn't mean you shouldn't Google how to spell "hors d'oeuvres",' one said. 'We're doing WHAT at 3:30pm?' another screamed. 'I'm sitting here crying laughing. I wouldn't have even GUESSED they meant hors d'oeuvres. I was like, "Damn Ye Olde Horse Ovaries - same place Mee Maw and Pop Pop got married",' one revealed. 'Horse ovaries, huh? Do you think they'll have vegetarian options?' another added. Many poked fun at the couple for making such a big deal about their unplugged ceremony, yet forgetting to address 'Horse Ovaries'. 'Great explanation of the "no tech" ceremony... ZERO explanation of the HORSE OVARIES?' one joked. 'Is it a wedding or a vet convention,' another added. 'Everyone's talking about the typo, but no one blasting how the ovaries go on for two damn hours,' one pointed out. Some confessed they didn't realise what was 'wrong' with the invitation until they took a closer look at the schedule. 'My brain skimmed quickly so at first I was like, "There's nothing wrong with this though, what's the problem?" And then I saw it,' one said. 'For a second I was confused why we were against unplugged ceremonies and then I saw the real problem,' another shared. However, some were convinced the bride and groom purposely wrote 'horse ovaries' as an 'inside joke'. 'My boomer dad says this, but as a joke. This has to be on purpose right? RIGHT?!' one pointed out. 'I really just hope they were trying to be funny,' another said. 'I feel like I've seen this spelling before as a joke. Kind of like "bone-apple-teeth",' one added. While one joked: 'When you trust AI to make your wedding invites.' Meanwhile, many suggested you're better off writing 'appetisers' if you want to avoid making a similar mistake. 'Just use appetisers if you can't spell hors d'oeuvres,' one said. 'Appetisers works just fine if you don't know how to spell the French word,' another added, laughing.
