Source: Public Domain Pictures

With most of the day regularly consumed online, passing the time without the presence of technology can be surprisingly difficult, even with kids. So what can you do? Take a look at the following ways you can get quality time offline and who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself turning off your devices more often!

Drive Without a Map

When was the last time you jumped in the car and just let the roads take you where they will? You could end up finding a nature trail, exploring a new store or accidentally stumbling on an unmissable event like an outdoor Shakespeare play. With petrol in the UK averaging £1.01 pounds a litre - or £1 for every six miles (based on a 20-gallon tank) - £20 worth of fuel can take you anywhere in a 60-mile radius and back. With such favourable conditions, you can afford to ask yourself if you’ve truly explored every neighbourhood, park and path in your precinct without a map to distract you from chance encounters. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

Get Sociable with Old-School Games

Source: Wikimedia

Remember that deck of cards and the old board games that have been gathering dust on the shelf? Those old friends are in fact the antidote to social awkwardness and the best means of ensuring that guests with differing interests don’t retire to corners of your living room with their eyes glued to a smartphone. However, being the host, you can't expect to have a good knowledge of such games having played them once over a decade ago. One of the best ways to get yourself and others interested in traditional games again is by finding new ones to play. Just about every inch of the world has an interesting type of game to offer, from poker to Nepalese Bagh Chal. Teach yourself, family and friends how to play a round of Gorodki – Russian for "little cities" – and the knack of wagering you learn as part of that game will once serve to enhance those you play closer to home. One thing’s for sure - you and a bunch of friends could definitely have an interesting non-digital experience learning a brand new activity out in the garden or over a glass of wine.

Get Back into Books

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Literature can open the mind more than film and differently than music – and if you have the time to spare for reading, the discombobulated noise of social media is no competition by comparison. Fancy a good read? Head to your nearest bookstore and grab a copy of ”Lilith” by George MacDonald. This 19^th century fantasy novel is approximately 200 pages and according to critics stands out a strange and inspiring read, while not being extremely well-known. Fans of American Gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe will not be disappointed! Another idea is to look for a book club in your local area: in an age where Meet-Ups are ten-a-penny, community book clubs are surprisingly common. They are a fantastic way to share stimulating ideas and develop personal opinions - that are leagues away from any dependency on the “all-knowing” Google.

Try The Whole Menu

All too often, people get bogged down with "favourites" – and why not go outside your comfort zone, just a little? When your craving a quick bite on the run, it won’t put a dent in your pocket to eat at some of the new restaurants that abound in town that you’ve probably never tried. Skip the ubiquitous junk food staples and check out newly launched Five Guys, the highly acclaimed Byron Burgers or the smaller restaurant chains currently enjoying a lot of commercial success in the U.K.. If the food on the menu doesn't contain allergens that might repeat on you, there's no reason not to venture and try something a little unfamiliar. Maybe that specialty burger with pineapple? Or, you can go all out and try even more exotic cuisine. Check out what’s available in your area.

Source: Flickr

Get a Pet

The experience of pet ownership is unparalleled to any other. Although looking after pets around the clock has its ups and downs, all in all, having another member of the family is possibly one of the most enriching and emotionally satisfying experiences that can be enjoyed offline and on a daily basis. Walking the dog is also a fantastic way to make friends – if you pass by the same places at roughly the same times, you’ll see a few regular faces with their own pooch. However, before you rush into anything, it is important to ensure that you find a pet that is right for your home and fits into your lifestyle. Alternatively, you can check out your local shelter for abandoned animals: most are crying out for volunteers, so even if you don’t have quite the right spot for a pet at home, you can devote some time to caring for many!

Source: Pexels

Even though most of us are online by default, it’s important for both our well-being and personal development to turn off devices and get away from the screen for at least a good few waking hours per week. Sometimes this may be easier said than done with phones beeping and emails pinging left, right and centre, but rather than just switching off your device with no plans in mind, try and build an offline culture into your life so that as much as you need to be online for your job or social life, make it a need to spend time offline as well. You'll be better off for it.