Digital sunset
Set a clear point for feeds and work screens to end.
The routine
- 🌙Digital sunsetClose non-essential screens and switch to a chosen offline activity.Daily · 21:00 · 5 min
Practical variants
- Two-minute version
The smallest version: close the apps that usually extend your evening, nothing more.
Daily · 21:00 · 2 min
- Tie it to brushing your teeth
Start the sunset right after you brush your teeth in the evening. Set the time to when that actually happens.
Trigger: Right after you brush your teeth. You still set and can change the exact time.
Daily · 21:00 · 5 min
- Behind-on-messages version
On a night you are behind on messages, push the cutoff to 22:00 instead of skipping it entirely.
On a hard day: Cutoff at 22:00 instead of 21:00.
Daily · 22:00 · 5 min
- First-week starter
Start the cutoff at 22:00 for the first week, then move it earlier to 21:00.
First week: 22:00 cutoff for week one, then 21:00.
Daily · 22:00 · 5 min
Why this routine works
“Less screen time” is difficult to act on because it has no edge. A 21:00 digital sunset creates one recognizable transition while leaving room for essential communication and intentional tools.
What you get out of it
- A clear cutoff is easier to follow than repeated minute-by-minute decisions
- The final part of the evening becomes available for quieter activities
- Closing work channels reduces accidental re-entry into the workday
How to make it stick
- Choose the offline replacement before the reminder appears
- Put chargers outside the bedroom when practical
- Allow defined exceptions instead of abandoning the routine after one exception
Questions people ask
Do e-readers count as screens?
Use the rule that serves your goal. A distraction-free e-reader may fit even when feeds, video and work apps do not.
What if I need my phone for family?
Keep calls from selected contacts available and hide the apps that usually extend the evening.
Related evening templates
- Complete evening reset
Close work, reset one space and prepare the next morning.
- Workday shutdown
Close the workday with a clear restart point.
- Evening gratitude reflection
Record three specific moments worth remembering.
This page was drafted with AI assistance.