Lessons from a Digital Detox Retreat
- Aug 29, 2025
- 5 min read
Whitney Locke is a certified breathwork coach, respiratory therapist, and affiliate marketing mentor. With over a decade in healthcare and a passion for helping others heal and thrive, she empowers women to find freedom, physically, spiritually, and financially.
Sometimes the only way to hear yourself again is to step away from the noise. That’s exactly what I did when I packed my journal, left my phone behind, and drove to Breitenbush Hot Springs in Detroit, Oregon. I anted a one-day personal retreat, an intentional pause to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God and myself.
Why I went
At first, my reason was simple: I needed a break from screens. The constant scrolling, pings, and glowing notifications had left me restless and distracted. But as the trip drew closer, my intention deepened. I realized I wanted more than just distance from my phone; I wanted space to surrender, to ask God the questions I’d been carrying in my heart, and to hear what He had to say back.
The experience
The moment I arrived, the forest wrapped itself around me like a prayer. The scent of pine needles, the music of crickets, the rush of water over rocks, it was as if nature had been waiting for me to notice. I wandered down to a cluster of old claw-foot bathtubs, each filled with sacred, steaming water. Choosing one marked with a painted octopus, I slid in and let the sun warm my face.
Soaking, praying, crying, listening, I let the hot water carry my questions:
Lord, how do You see me? What did you intend me to do when you made me?
The answer came not as a booming voice but as whispers in my mind: abundant, determined, fierce. A dragonfly landed beside me, then another, as if to seal the message: I was being guided.
Later, in the spiral soaking pools, something unexpected happened: an outline of bright blue light shimmered around my hands and feet underwater. Science or Spirit? Maybe both. Either way, I felt touched by mystery.
Lessons learned
The power of decision. Just saying yes to this retreat was an act of self-trust, and it reminded me that clarity often comes only after we take the step.
God speaks when we listen. My prayers turned from begging to receiving, and I left with a clearer sense of purpose: to help mothers, especially those who never had one present.
Faith is personal. I don’t need to label myself to be spiritual. I can love Jesus and still walk my unique path.
Rest restores perspective. Even the people who annoyed me became teachers when I chose to see them as human, vulnerable, and worthy of compassion.
Nature heals. From dragonflies to rushing rivers, creation reminded me I’m part of something larger, protective, and abundant.
Takeaway
If you’ve been craving clarity, peace, or just a break from screens, consider gifting yourself your own digital detox retreat. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. Find a place in nature. Bring a notebook. Leave your phone behind. Let the quiet work on you.
When I returned from Breitenbush, my phone buzzed with a notification: I had made my first business sale. A small but powerful reminder when you pause, life doesn’t fall apart. Sometimes, it actually falls into place.
How you can create your own digital detox retreat, step by step
1. Decide to go all in
The hardest part isn’t the retreat, it’s making the decision to step away. Once I committed to one day without screens, clarity started to flow. Your retreat doesn’t have to be expensive or far away; what matters most is that you say yes to yourself.
2. Choose your setting wisely
For me, it was the natural beauty of Breitenbush towering pines, crickets, rushing water, and claw-foot soaking tubs. You might choose a cabin in the woods, a local hot springs, or even a quiet Airbnb near the coast. Pick a place where nature can reach you.
3. Bring only the essentials
I carried a journal, a pen, and an open heart. No phone, no laptop, no distractions. The lighter you pack, the easier it is to drop in. Trust me, you’ll notice more dragonflies, more rushing rivers, more miracles when you’re not staring at a screen.
4. Set an intention before you arrive
At first, my intention was simple: rest from technology. But once I arrived, it deepened. I wanted to hear God’s voice more clearly. Whatever your intention, peace, clarity, healing, name it. Let it guide your day.
5. Soak, pray, listen
I spent hours rotating between hot and cold water, praying, crying, and simply being. And then the answers came not in thunder, but in whispers: abundant, determined, fierce.
Maybe for you, it won’t be words but a feeling, a release, or a vision. The key is to listen instead of fill the silence.
6. Notice the signs around you
For me, it was dragonflies landing near me, and even an unexplained glowing blue light around my hands and feet in the water. Signs remind us we’re connected, seen, and guided. Stay open. Your retreat might speak through a sunrise, a bird call, or a stranger’s smile.
7. Release judgment (of yourself and others)
Even the people who annoyed me became part of my retreat’s lesson. When I chose to see them with compassion, I softened. On retreat, let others be who they are, and give yourself permission to do the same.
8. Take one lesson home
Before leaving, I promised myself I’d stop announcing my failures and start celebrating others more often. Pick one thing you’ll carry back into daily life. It could be speaking kinder to yourself, resting without guilt, or simply being present more often.
9. Trust that life waits for you
When I returned to cell service, I discovered I had made my first sale in my business.
Proof that when you step away, the world doesn’t collapse; in fact, it sometimes blesses you in your absence.
Transform your digital detox into a soul-reset
Ready to unplug, recharge, and discover who you are beyond the screen? As your breathwork and wellness mentor, I’ll guide you in creating personalized retreats, whether it’s one day away or a full lifestyle shift. Together, we’ll craft practices that calm your nervous system, deepen your faith, and bring clarity to your next steps. With my guidance, you’ll return home more grounded, energized, and aligned. Contact me today through my website to start planning your own digital detox retreat!
Read more from Whitney Tappan Locke on her Substack.
Read more from Whitney Locke
Whitney Locke, Breathwork Coach, Respiratory Therapist, and Mentor
Whitney Tappan Locke is a certified breathwork coach, respiratory therapist, and mentor helping women reclaim their power through healing, self-awareness, and aligned entrepreneurship. With over a decade of experience in healthcare and a master’s in health informatics, she brings a grounded yet spiritual approach to wellness and financial freedom. After walking her own path of sobriety and single motherhood, she now supports others in breaking cycles, physically, emotionally, and financially. Whitney is also a successful affiliate marketing leader, guiding others to create leveraged income with purpose. Her mission: to help women breathe deeper, live freer, and rise fully into who they came here to be.
