South Africans are in desperate need of regular digital detox because they spend up to five hours a day online on their tablets, phones or computers.And to escape this over-connected lifestyle - revealed in a study by Singapore-based We Are Social in January - more people are holidaying at off-the-grid destinations."It doesn't surprise me people are doing this," said tourism expert Martin van Niekerk. "We live such busy and overloaded lives that rest has come to mean not being connected."The study found that South Africans spend just under five hours a day on the internet using computers or tablets. Three moreare spent on smartphones, although these activities often happen simultaneously.story_article_left1Some 26.8million South Africans are online - and about 13million of them are active social media users.But many are choosing to escape by taking digital timeouts.Durban couple Roxanne Mingard and Cameron McLean often head to their "rustic 1900s cabin" in the Drakensberg, where there is no electricity, TV or cellphones."It's an escape from the craziness of urban living. We both work in pretty stressful environments, which ... can completely drain your energy," said McLean, an environmental consultant. Mingard, an entrepreneur, added: "Temporarily taking away that connectivity, reducing the decision-making pressure in a quiet, natural setting, allows you to stop, rest and enjoy what you have at that moment. It's bliss."Digital experts say taking breaks from our screens is becoming essential. Toby Shapshak, editor of tech magazine Stuff, believes society is "besieged by our digital screens"."A digital detox is taking a break from these; from the never-ending stream of e-mail, tweets, WhatsApp messages and SMSes. It clears your head."story_article_right2Shapshak said it was vital to take regular breaks - something he calls a "digital shabbus", after the word for the Jewish sabbath. "Every weekend I do a digital shabbus, where I try to minimise how much time I spend glued to my devices."Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx, said: "It's slowly penetrating people's consciousness that digital detox is good for them."And as more people are realising that time off-screen is a good idea, remote holiday locations are benefiting.Angeline Verster, of the Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve in the Cederberg, said: "The trend we have picked up is that spouses or partners are booking accommodation where they know their partner will not be distracted by electronic devices."More people are realising and becoming aware of how much time technology is stealing from their daily lives. We are being bombarded with information and digital detoxes offer us an opportunity to get away."Mariette du Toit-Hembold of tourism marketing agency Destinate said the need to switch off was driving digital detox holidays, which had grown in popularity in the past two years. Break free if you can't roam without your phone Digital experts Arthur Goldstuck and Toby Shapshak say you know you need a digital detox when:• You wake up with a desperate need to check the phone to see what came in during the night;• You can't fall asleep at night as you keep reaching for your phone in case something new has arrived;• You make more phone contact than eye contact during a social or business conversation;• You feel naked when you go from one room to another without your phone;• You constantly check your phone; and• You check Facebook first thing in the morning and last thing at night...