Digital Detox in Denver: 90 Minutes Without Your Phone at Oakwell Beer Spa

Your smartphone is a source of endless entertainment, but sometimes, it can be too much. Fifty-three percent of US adults say they spend too much time on their phones. If you’ve tried to cut back, you know how hard it can be: only 25% of people say they've successfully reduced their phone use. 

You don’t have to toss your phone out the window for a digital detox. Oakwell Beer Spa gives you 90 blissful minutes to unplug while you enjoy an herbal bath, infrared sauna, rain shower, our taproom, and more. 

Talk, sip a drink, or sit in comfortable silence. For the next 90 minutes, you can enjoy the real world without the distractions of a screen.

What Does a 90-Minute Digital Detox Look Like? 

Some people planning a digital detox in Denver head for the hills—literally. Denver has no shortage of outdoor activities, but not everyone can ditch their phone for a few days. What if you want to stay in the city and relax? 

Sometimes all you need is a couple of phone-free hours to reset your brain. Oakwell is the perfect spot to put your phone down for a few hours and reconnect with the real world. Oakwell’s private spa suites give you time to slow down and enjoy amenities at your own pace. Phones are allowed as long as you respect others’ privacy, but we also encourage going phone-free. 

Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your reservation so you have time to check in, choose a beverage, and ease into the evening.

Once you’re in your private spa suite, there’s no itinerary to manage. Put your phone away with your things and enjoy the experience at your own pace:

• Warm up in the infrared sauna 
• Sink into your herbal-infused bath and either chat with your partner or enjoy the silence. The bath starts draining at the 70-minute mark, so you don’t need to check the clock
• Freshen up in the rain shower
• Keep the fun going in the taproom—and keep your phone in your pocket

Can You Take Your Phone Into a Bath or Sauna?

We don’t recommend it. Even if your phone is water-resistant, it doesn’t mean using it in a hot sauna or soaking tub is a good idea. Most phone manufacturers don’t recommend taking your phone into steamy or high-heat areas, either.

Leave your phone with your belongings. That’s the best way to keep it safe, and it gives you a break from your screen, anyway. 

Think about how often your phone tags along during downtime. It’s beside you on the couch, on the dinner table, and within reach while you’re getting ready for bed. In a private spa suite, you can put your phone away and enjoy a real experience.

How to Plan a Phone-Free Date in Denver

Have you and your partner fallen into the bad habit of checking your phones on date night? Or checking your TikTok feeds during what’s supposed to be a romantic dinner? 

If you need a true date night, put the phones away. Eighty percent of people prefer phone-free dates, anyway, so ditching the tech could help you make a better impression—whether this is a first date or you’ve been married for years. 

A phone-free date gives you time to enjoy each other’s company. Here’s how to plan yours at Oakwell:

• Agree to unplug together: Make it a shared plan so neither person has to monitor the other’s screen time.
• Choose your date-night package: Couple’s Retreat adds candles, rose petals, and artisan chocolate bonbons to your private suite experience. Oakwell Escape includes more treats, two welcome drinks, and two zero-gravity massage experiences.
• Leave work at the door: We get that you’re busy, but now’s not the time to check email. Turn on Do Not Disturb and tuck your phones away with your belongings. We promise the Slack messages can wait.
• Talk about something real: It’s tempting to use the quiet time to chat about the kids’ sports schedules or this week’s grocery list. But this is time for the two of you, so ask real questions! Ask what made your partner laugh this week or where they’d love to travel.
• Enjoy the quiet: You don’t have to fill every moment with conversation. Sip your drinks and enjoy the peaceful experience of simply being together.

Need a Solo Detox? 

Some people want to enjoy the spa suite with their partner, but the experience isn’t just for couples. You can also enjoy a phone detox at Oakwell on your own. Book our Beer Therapy Ritual and have the private suite all to yourself for 90 minutes.

There’s no need to replace scrolling with another productive task. Enjoy the sauna, settle into the herbal bath, and take your time in the rain shower.

Where Else Can You Go Phone-Free in Denver?

Want more phone-free time outside of the spa? There are plenty of things to do without your phone, whether that’s: 

• Taking a walk in the neighborhood. You can make this more exciting by playing games like I Spy or taking a different route than usual. 
• Bringing a book to a cafe. 
• Playing board games at the library with friends. 
• Enrolling in hands-on classes like pottery or painting
• Enjoying some of the many city parks in Denver. Pack a picnic or your swimsuit—our parks have a lot of amenities, and none of them require your phone

How to Plan a Digital Detox Day Without Leaving Town

Plenty of people swear by week-long retreats in the wilderness to get away from technology. That can work, but it isn’t practical for most people. 

If you’re wondering how to do a digital detox, start by setting aside a realistic stretch of time to go offline. For some people, that could be an entire day. For others, it might mean just an hour or two. 

However long you’re going without your phone, follow these tips to get more out of your DIY digital detox: 

• Give others a heads up: Let your babysitter or family know when you’ll be unavailable.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb: Nothing’s more distracting than trying to take a break from your phone only to hear the ping of your notifications. Put them on pause during your detox. You can always set up certain contacts as exceptions for emergencies, like calls from the babysitter.
• Ditch the smartwatch, too: Smartwatches are an extension of your phone. Even if you disconnect or mute your notifications, these watches make it tempting to re-engage with your phone. Store all of your tech together (ideally in another room) so you can enjoy a true break. 
• Plan another break: Who says your detox has to be a one-off? At the end of your break, schedule your next detox day. Some people do regular detoxes on certain days of the week, while others just do a once-a-month phone sabbath—your choice.

Give Your Phone the Night Off

Whether you’re planning a phone-free date with your partner or you just need to enjoy the offline world, Oakwell is the perfect spot for a digital detox. Reconnect with your partner or enjoy solo silence—the private suite is yours for 90 minutes. You can keep the fun going afterward with a zero-gravity massage or a trip to the taproom, giving you plenty to enjoy without your phone. 

Come to Oakwell and relax differently. Book a solo Beer Therapy Ritual or plan a phone-free date with the Couple’s Retreat.