The 2 Hour Screen Time Challenge
A guide to slowing down, looking up and making the most of solo travel
It’s so easy to spend half your day glued to your phone, especially when you’re travelling solo. Whether it's checking maps, replying to messages, scrolling social feeds, or just filling the quiet moments, it adds up fast.
But here’s the thing: the best parts of travelling are often the ones you don’t plan. The unexpected conversations, the quiet cafés, the side streets, the stillness. So, we’re challenging you to something simple but powerful:
Keep your screen time to under 2 hours a day.
It's a challenge, hence the name. But it’s totally doable and actually makes travelling feel so much richer. Here are 5 simple ways to do it:
1. Pick your check-in times
Instead of responding to every message the moment it pings, choose one or two set times a day to check and reply. Mealtimes work well, especially if you feel a bit awkward dining alone. That way you stay connected, but you’re not constantly pulled back into the screen.
2. When you relax, actually relax
Scrolling doesn’t really help your brain switch off. Find a bench with a view, a sunny terrace, a warm corner indoors. Breathe, look around, take your time. Giving yourself proper pauses helps break the habit of reaching for your phone out of boredom or stress.
3. Time your social media posts
Think about when you post. If it’s early in the day, will you be checking notifications all afternoon? Sometimes it’s better to wait till the evening, or even the end of your trip when you’ve got a moment to reflect and aren’t chasing those dopamine hits from likes.
4. Go a bit old school
Books, magazines, music on a little speaker... these are your best travel companions. They don’t eat up your screen time, and they slow your pace right down. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about turning real pages or letting a full album play while you look out at a new city.
5. Notepad at dinner
Bring a small notebook and pen out with you. It’s a relaxing way to reflect on your day or plan tomorrow. If you feel self conscious sitting alone, it gives your hands something to do (without the mindless scroll).
Bonus tip: Have a plan before you leave the hotel
Searching for places to eat, walk or explore can eat up loads of screen time. That’s where Go So Local comes in. We curate personalised local recommendations from cafés, restaurants, spots for a drink, to things to visit and explore, so you can spend less time scrolling and more time going.
Phone in your pocket. City all around you. That’s the real magic.
