We live in an age that demands our attention. Each moment urges us to respond, plan, and achieve. We may long for quiet — yet when it comes, it can feel oddly uninhabitable. The mind keeps ticking, chasing tasks, replaying scenes, anticipating what’s next. We’ve come to mistake stillness for emptiness — but 'switching off' isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about meeting everything differently — letting some thoughts drift by, and setting certain burdens down, if only for a while. | | | We’ve partnered with Unyoked — the off-grid cabin company dedicated to helping people reconnect with nature — to co-author How to Switch Off, a philosophical and practical Guide to rest, presence, and perspective. It’s a gentle companion for time away, offering prompts and small rituals to help us slow down, do less, and reconnect with what truly matters. | | | What thoughts, worries, or obligations keep tugging at your attention — even when you wish they wouldn’t? Share your reflections with us, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win: - Four restorative stays over 12 months at Unyoked’s off-grid cabins
- A bundle of The School of Life’s bestselling books and tools
- One year's access to The School of Life App
All entries close at midnight (BST) on 5 September, 2025. Read the full terms & conditions on the competition page. | | | | | The Importance of Staring Out The Window
Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is stare out of the window - letting the noise fade, so the quieter, more important thoughts have space to emerge.
| | | | | The Difficulty of Being in the Present
Why we often struggle to inhabit the now - and how we might begin to do so with more kindness and clarity.
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