Touch Grass

How city people are ditching their phones
to beat digital burnout

Angel Afemikhe

A young man holding his head, overwhelmed in front of glowing screens

You suddenly remember that one WhatsApp message. You unlock your phone to reply to it, but forty-five minutes later, you've wandered the streets of Instagram, watched comedy skits, argued with strangers in the comment section, checked ten people's stories, and completely forgotten that you picked up your phone to reply to just one message.

Almost everyone can relate to this. We spend hours with our faces glued to our screens, and somehow the day disappears. But things may just be changing. Several months ago, what sounded like an internet jab began making the rounds: "Touch grass." At first, it felt like another random Gen Z phrase. But "touch grass" is more than slang. What started as a dismissive comment has gradually become lifestyle advice: log off, step outside, and reconnect with the world happening beyond your screen.

Isn't that cool? The internet telling us how to stay off the internet. It's ironic that the very thing that entertains us can also be the thing that wears us out. And inevitably so. Endless scrolling leaves many feeling mentally fagged out. Notifications never seem to stop, group chats are constantly buzzing, and there's always another video to watch or another post to react to. It's no surprise that many Gen Zs now mute notifications simply because they can't keep up with the noise. Somewhere between replying messages and watching one more reel, our minds become exhausted. That's the feeling many now describe as digital burnout.

However, the internet has always been just one version of reality. Perhaps that's why many young people are creating an offline shift.

Instead of another hour on TikTok, they're reaching for physical books. Instead of reacting to an influencer's reel, they're planning picnics with friends. Journaling, nature walks, café conversations, game nights, and quiet evenings without screens are slowly becoming ways to reconnect, not just with other people, but with themselves.

We've seen girls organise sleepovers and guys host board game nights. Some people wonder what all the fuss is about when you could simply FaceTime. But maybe it has never really been about the information overload. The reset we need may begin by paying attention to the world right in front of us.

That is where creativity slowly returns. We feel lighter, more present, and less trapped in digital illusions. So, when people say, "Touch grass," they aren't asking us to abandon our phones. They're simply reminding us that life exists beyond the screen, and beyond the screen, there's still joy waiting to be experienced.

The amazing thing is that there are establishments created specifically to help you touch grass. From the calm, green surroundings of Whispering Palms Resort in Lagos to the playful atmosphere of Art Tech District in Wuse, Abuja, you can swap endless scrolling for something more physical. Salamander Cafe in Abuja, Abraka Turf and Country Club in Oria, Delta State, and Godaïf Village in Ikoyi, Lagos are some options to consider.

Touching grass doesn't have to mean literally sitting on the grass. It can mean finding a place where your phone becomes the least interesting thing in the room.

Touch Grass

How city people are ditching their phones
to beat digital burnout

Angel Afemikhe

However, the internet has always been just one version of reality. Perhaps that's why many young people are creating an offline shift.

Touching grass doesn't have to mean literally sitting on the grass. It can mean finding a place where your phone becomes the least interesting thing in the room.