Digital detox at seminars: good or bad idea?

In a hyperconnected professional world, where notifications rival meetings and email sometimes replaces speech, more and more companies are considering the opportunity to offer a "digital detox" during their seminars. The principle: turn off smartphones, ban laptops, turn off screens... to regain concentration, foster human connections, and strengthen team cohesion. But is it really a good idea? What are the concrete benefits and potential risks of such an initiative in a professional context?

A cure for digital overload?

The phenomenon of digital overload is well-known. According to a study conducted by OpinionWay, more than 70% of executives report feeling stressed due to their constant connection. Seminars, meant to be a breather in employees' busy schedules, can sometimes turn into disguised extensions of the office, especially if everyone remains glued to their phones.

Proposing a digital detox during a seminar therefore offers a moment of total or partial disconnection to better reconnect with what matters most: human interaction, the natural surroundings, and ideas shared aloud. In this context, places conducive to relaxation and digital isolation—often in the countryside, such as in Burgundy, for example—allow for easier implementation and greater acceptance by participants.

Expected Benefits

1/ Foster Team Cohesion
Without digital distractions, exchanges become richer and conversations deeper. Employees step outside their usual roles to forge new, more sincere connections. This strengthens team spirit, develops collective intelligence, and creates fertile ground for long-term collaboration.

2/ Stimulate creativity
Disconnected from the constant flow of information, the mind can wander, step back, and refocus. Many companies observe an improvement in emerging ideas after digital detox sessions, particularly during seminars focused on strategy or innovation.

3/ Reduce stress
Even for a few hours or a day, digital detox reduces mental pressure. This contributes to improved team well-being and a better quality of presence during workshops, discussions, or team-building activities.

Limits not to be overlooked

But a digital detox is not without pitfalls. It cannot be improvised or imposed abruptly.

1/ A feeling of frustration or constraint
Some employees may experience disconnection as a loss of control or a source of anxiety—particularly those in managerial positions, who fear missing an urgent professional meeting. It is therefore essential to explain the objectives of the approach in advance, anticipate resistance, and offer flexible arrangements (phone-free zones or time slots rather than a total ban).

2/ Incompatible operational needs
Depending on the type of seminar (technical training, strategic work session, or sales convention), a digital disconnect can become a hindrance to productivity. In these cases, a partial digital detox—for example, during meals or informal moments—is preferable.

3/ Effectiveness depends on group buy-in
The success of a digital detox depends on collective buy-in. If it's perceived as a patronizing rule or a marketing gimmick, its effect will be ineffective, or even counterproductive. It's therefore essential to involve participants in the process and offer attractive alternatives (outdoor activities, inspiring discussions, coaching sessions, etc.).

A lasting trend, to be adapted to the corporate context

Beyond the passing fad, digital detox is finding increasing traction in workplace well-being policies. It is all the more relevant in a seminar as this moment outside of the usual context encourages experimentation. Far from advocating a rejection of digital tools, it rather encourages collective awareness: to use them better, we sometimes need to know how to free ourselves from them.

A brief overview of digital detox in seminars: a powerful tool if used correctly

Digital detox in seminars: good or bad idea? The answer depends on the event's objectives, the corporate culture, and how the approach is implemented. When well thought out, it can transform a simple seminar into a true moment of collective refocusing. When poorly calibrated, it risks fueling tensions and misunderstandings. As in chess, every move must be anticipated.