Good (screen) Intentions for 2026
A winter picnic in Stockholm Sweden.
By Mia Ljungberg Nevado
2026 is here and I am so excited for this new year.
It feels like everyone is beginning to unplug a little more already and I am so grateful to all my amazing friends and colleagues at Global Day of Unplugging and to all the strong voices in this important matter from Catherine Price, Larissa May and to Jonathan Haidt and many more who are helping to get everyone from Royals to Educators, Parents to Politicians to finally wake up and understand the importance of living a more balanced life with our devices and technology.
I ended 2025 with my yearly screen-free family retreat for 19 families of 12 different nationalities in the beautiful Stockholm archipelago in Sweden. I have always believed that the best way to inspire for a positive change in our screen habits has been by giving people the actual experience of being without them. To be able to truly feel what it’s like to be in a shared environment without any digital distractions is what will create a longing for more of it and It was absolutely magical to get to spend unplugged time together as a group. I believe it is so important to show our kids (and family & friends) that we can be offline together and it’s pretty awesome to see what happens when the phones & screens are put away. Kids (and adults) become kids again, they play, they engage and they have fun:-). We replaced screens with fun activities from LEGO building, board games, crafting, nature walks, sauna, dips in the ocean, horseback riding and just being together by the fireplace enjoying good company and meaningful conversations.
Each family had to bring an empty shoebox and as a family activity they created and decorated their own Phone Box to take with them to be able to create phone-free moments at home too. I received so many lovely messages over the Holidays from the families using their boxes at home and one family even brought it with them on their trip. This yearly retreat is a reminder why I love what I do so much. I see and feel the positive change.
I am very excited for 2026 and I look forward to host many more phone and screen-free experiences and retreats. Some fun phone-free events in the planning are more artist studio visits, sunrise nature walks, museum visits, a vision board workshop and also a phone-free dog walk… yes dog owners are just as bad as parents when it comes to being on their screens :-)
Last weekend I hosted my very first LookUp experience for 2026 with a cozy phone-free nature walk with picnic in the snow for dear friends and family here in Stockholm. I asked everyone to share an intention for 2026 and my intention for this year is LOVE. To show and give love to the people I love the most means slowing down and being more present. Therefore I will continue my weekly phone-detox from every Friday eve 6pm to Sunday morning 6am, I’m extending it with 12 more hours this year. This means more time and love for myself, my family and friends and more time for reading, playing, writing, cooking and all the things I love the most
What will your intention for 2026 be?
Personalized phone boxes under the tree as well as fun activities during the Stockholm winter retreat.
