Unplugged Cyprus: the phone free movement bringing real connection back
We have all done it. We open our phone for one message and suddenly it is twenty minutes later. One more scroll becomes an hour. We sit with friends and half the table is “just replying quickly”. We get home tired, open Netflix, and the evening disappears.
It is not because we lack willpower. Screens are designed to keep our attention. But most of us are not actually looking for more content. We are looking for something that has become surprisingly rare: real presence. A conversation that flows. A laugh that is not interrupted. A meal where everyone is actually there.
That is the idea behind Unplugged Cyprus, a local movement creating phone free pockets of time where people can reconnect with each other and with themselves. It is not anti technology. It is pro connection. It is about choosing moments where we put the phone away so life can come forward again.
Unplugged Cyprus runs monthly phone free community events, including unplugged brunches, dinners, and family gatherings. You arrive, you put your phone away, and connection becomes easier. There is no pressure, no forced sharing, and no awkward networking. Just simple, fun ways to go beyond small talk, through conversation cards, icebreakers, and board games.
And it works. People often say afterwards, with genuine surprise, that they did not miss their phone at all. One guest put it perfectly: “Not only I didn’t miss my phone at all (or my vape), the event ended and I wanted more.”
For those who want a deeper reset, Unplugged Cyprus also runs retreats. The second Unplugged Retreat is coming up from Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2026 in the Troodos mountains at Pine View Boutique Hotel. It is a warm, grounded weekend away from constant stimulation, with plenty of opportunities to connect with others and with ourselves.
Expect board games and conversation corners, light hiking in the mountain air, and a stargazing outing that brings back awe and a sense of spaciousness. For deeper restoration, there are optional wellness experiences including sauna, cold plunge, jacuzzi, reflexology sessions, and one to one life coaching, all included in the price.
The retreat is also full board, with all meals and refreshments included across the weekend. Everything is covered in the price except alcohol, so you can simply arrive and be looked after.
I founded Unplugged Cyprus as an educator and trainer in Conscious Communication, after years of seeing how digital overload affects attention, stress, and relationships. Phones are not the enemy, but mindless habits can quietly erode closeness, wellbeing, and our sense of belonging.
Unplugged Cyprus exists for anyone who values real connection and wants more intentional moments of presence in everyday life.
Tickets, detailed schedule, and further retreat details:
https://buytickets.at/consciouscommunicationltd/2025276
Find Unplugged Cyprus:
Instagram: @unpluggedcyprus
Facebook: Unplugged Cyprus
Get in touch:
Email: eglishiakalli@gmail.com
Instagram: @eglishiakalli
