Here's how a hot tub helps you relax offline

Fall brings shorter days, more time indoors and automatically more screen time. Whereas in summer you were still spending plenty of time outside, now you more often seek refuge in Netflix, social media and work on your laptop. A hot tub in your garden breaks this pattern and offers the ideal way to consciously go offline. The warm water, the outdoor air and the ritual of warming up make you forget your phone for a while and really live in the moment.

Fewer screens, more relaxation: why autumn is perfect for a digital detox in the hot tub

During the fall months, our screen time increases dramatically. The cold days drive us indoors, where we automatically reach for our phones more often, sit in front of our laptops longer, and binge-watch more series. This contrast between warm summer and gray autumn creates a natural need for compensation.

A hot tub breaks this pattern in a particularly effective way. The contrast between the cold outside air and the warm water of your hot tub creates an intense sensory experience that brings you completely into the moment. Your phone suddenly becomes irrelevant when you are focused on the warmth coursing through your body and the fresh air you breathe.

There's also a very practical reason why a hot tub makes for fewer screens: electronic devices and water simply don't mix. Once you're in the warm water, you literally have no way to hold your phone. This physical barrier is much more effective than all the good intentions about scrolling less.

Making conscious choices for offline moments becomes more important than ever in the fall. Whereas summer naturally draws us outside and away from screens, in the dark months we need to make conscious choices to avoid getting stuck in a digital spiral.

How a hot tub provides natural distraction from screens

A hot tub requires your full attention from the moment you decide to get into it. The ritual of warming up your hot tub, whether you choose wood-fired or electric, requires deliberate actions that pull you away from automatic screen use.

With a wood-fired hot tub, you have to gather wood, make a fire and supervise the warm-up process. This ritual requires both physical and mental attention. You are forced to get out of your head and work with your hands. Even with an electric hot tub, there is the moment of anticipation, checking the temperature and preparing for your hot tub experience.

Once in the water, a mental shift occurs. Your focus automatically moves to physical sensations: the warmth of the water, the cool air on your face, the tension draining from your muscles. This sensory experience drowns out the mental buzz normally fueled by social media and notifications.

How a hot tub in autumn helps prevent winter blues

Too much screen time is directly linked to winter depression and the well-known winter dip. The lack of daylight, combined with long hours behind screens, disrupts our natural rhythms and inhibits the production of happiness hormones such as serotonin.

A hot tub in the fall works as a preventive measure against this negative spiral. Even on gray days, you get more natural light in your hot tub than when you sit inside at your laptop. The warm water also stimulates the production of endorphins and helps regulate your temperature rhythm.

Hot water therapy has a proven effect on your serotonin balance. Whereas screens often provide a temporary dopamine boost followed by a dip, hot tub use gives a more natural and long-lasting boost to your well-being. Your body produces stress hormone-lowering substances in a healthy way.

The contrast with sitting inside and watching screens is enormous. Instead of passively consuming light from a screen, you actively experience the elements: wind, possible rain or sun, and fresh air. This keeps you connected to the natural rhythm of the seasons, something we often lose during the fall and winter months.

Want to know what a hot tub can do for your situation? Ask for an obligation-free quote and find out what possibilities there are.

Physical and mental benefits of regular hot tub use as an alternative to screen time

Whereas screen time often causes tense shoulders, neck and back pain, a hot tub does just the opposite. The warm water improves your blood circulation, relaxes cramped muscles and relieves pain often caused by sitting in the same position behind a screen for long hours.

The mental benefits are just as important. Regular hot tub use leads to:

• Significantly lower stress levels by lowering cortisol
• Improved sleep quality due to natural temperature rhythm
• Increased production of endorphins and serotonin
• Reduced muscle tension and headaches

The big difference with screen time is that hot tub use is active relaxation, while scrolling remains passive stimulation. You give your nervous system a chance to actually unwind, something that often doesn't happen with screens due to the constant stimulus flow.

The mindfulness aspect of hot tub use arises naturally. You are forced to be in the moment, feeling the water move, listening to the sounds around you. This natural meditation is more effective than many mindfulness apps because your body and mind are involved at the same time.

The science behind hot water and relaxation

Hot water activates your parasympathetic nervous system: the part of your nervous system responsible for rest and recovery. This is in stark contrast to screen use, which often activates your sympathetic nervous system and keeps you in a state of alertness.

Research shows that 15-20 minutes in warm water (between 37-40 degrees) significantly lowers your cortisol levels. Cortisol is your primary stress hormone, and lowering it has a direct impact on your sense of well-being and relaxation.

The effect on your sleep quality is particularly interesting. A hot tub session 1-2 hours before bedtime causes your body temperature to first rise and then fall. This drop in temperature signals to your body that it is time to sleep. This natural process is much more effective than the blue light from screens, which actually disrupts your sleep-wake rhythm.

Your autonomic nervous system has a chance in warm water to recover from the constant stimulation caused by modern technology. Whereas screens continuously keep your nervous system in a slight state of tension, warm water provides deep physiological relaxation.

Creating quality time: connect with yourself and your loved ones without screens

A hot tub fundamentally changes social interactions. Whereas screens often cause distractions during conversations, even when they are put away, a hot tub creates a natural phone-free zone where true connection becomes possible.

The conversations that occur in a hot tub are different from those at the kitchen table or on the couch. The relaxing effect of warm water makes people more open and vulnerable. There is no television to distract, no phones to vibrate, no visual stimuli to draw attention away.

For quality time with yourself, a hot tub is second to none. While me-time behind a screen often consists of passively consuming content, a hot tub provides space for true introspection and mental peace. Your thoughts are given the space to float without being constantly interrupted by notifications or the temptation to "just check something quickly.

Especially in the fall, when the days get shorter and we naturally turn more inward, a hot tub provides an opportunity to channel this introspective energy in a positive way. Instead of sinking into endless scrolling, use the dark months for true reflection and connection.

Why conversations in the hot tub are different

The relaxed setting of warm water promotes openness and vulnerability. Stress inhibits empathy and open communication, while relaxation does the exact opposite. In a hot tub, people are physically relaxed, which automatically carries over into their mental state.

There is complete focus on each other with no visual distractions. No screens, no books, no tasks waiting. Just the person across from you and the conversation that ensues. This level of attention has become rare in our hyper-connected world.

Eye contact comes naturally because there is simply nothing else to look at. This deepens conversations and creates real connection between people, something increasingly scarce in an age when we are used to communicating in a half-distracted way.

Why consistency and rituals around the hot tub are key to a successful digital detox

A successful digital detox is not created by occasional hot tub sessions, but by creating regular offline rituals. It is regularity that actually changes your screen habits and installs new, healthier patterns.

The ritual of lighting the hot tub, whether you are spreading wood and making a fire or simply turning on the electric heater, becomes a conscious choice against the autopilot of screen use. This ritual signals to your brain that you are switching to a different mode: offline, relaxed, present.

Fixed times work best. After your workday, before dinner, or just as a weekend morning ritual. It doesn't matter when, as long as it's consistent. Your brain needs time to form new habits, and rituals speed up this process.

Practical tips for your hot tub routine

Start small and build up slowly. Start with 2-3 set times a week when you consciously choose the hot tub over screens. Don't make this negociable, even if it's raining or you're tired.

Involve your family or roommates in the plan. Agree on phone-free times around hot tub use. Kids can be great supporters in creating offline moments if you present it as a family activity.

For fall, evening moments work best. After work but before dinner, or just to end the day. The dark days make the warm glow of your hot tub extra inviting and create a natural contrast to the cold inside.

Put down a timer instead of using your phone. Or better yet, learn to go without a timer and just feel when your hot tub session is complete. This enhances the offline effect and helps you rely on your natural sense of time again.

Ready to create your own offline ritual? Request a quote and discover how a hot tub can transform your fall and winter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time should I spend in the hot tub per day for a good digital detox?

As little as 20-30 minutes a day in the hot tub noticeably reduces stress and screen time. It's not about long sessions, but intentional offline moments that you schedule daily.

Isn't a hot tub in the fall too expensive to fire?

Modern hot tubs like Welvaere 's are well insulated and relatively economical. Plus, you can opt for wood-fired heating, which is cost-effective and sustainable, especially in the fall and winter months.

Can I also use the hot tub in the rain?

Yes, rain actually makes hot tub use extra relaxing. The contrast between warm water and cool raindrops enhances the feeling of relaxation and provides a complete disconnect from the digital world.

How do I avoid taking my phone to the hot tub anyway?

Deliberately create phone-free zones and times. Put your phone inside before going to the hot tub, or use a timer so you know when your session is over without looking at your phone.

Does a hot tub really work better than other relaxation methods?

A hot tub combines physical relaxation through warm water, mental peace through ritual and social connection without digital distractions. This combination makes it more effective than, say, meditating with an app or relaxing in front of the TV.