The All Saints School Break — A Week Without Macbook for an iOS Dev

No code, no screens — just an Apple Watch, the sun, and a rediscovery of time itself.

During my digital detox, this watch face became more than a widget — it became a reminder of daylight, rhythm, and presence.

Before the holidays, I asked myself a simple question: what could I do during a week off that would still connect, in some way, to my work as an iOS developer?

I ended up finding more than I expected — learning about hidden iPhone settings, writing notes and retrospectives by hand, and even diving into astronomy and time measurement.

At first, those things might seem unrelated to professional life. But they’re not. Time, time zones, and synchronization are at the heart of what we build as developers — the invisible fabric connecting every device, every app, and every experience.

During the All Saints school holidays here in France — the vacances de la Toussaint — my wife, our kids, and I spent a full week camping in the south of France.

This time, we went all in: no devices for the kids, no iPads, no screens.

The kids adapted faster than I did. Within hours they were outside, joining the camping’s activities and animations, meeting new friends, and inventing games of their own.

I slowed down too — taking notes and reflections on paper, while my wife read books under the sun.

I limited my iPhone to the bare minimum and explored how far I could go relying only on my Apple Watch with GSM. It handled calls and audio messages surprisingly well. I now call it my Digital Detox Companion — more capable than a dumb phone, yet small enough to resist distraction.

Along the way, I learned more about my iPhone’s deeper configurations and finally took time to understand the Apple Watch’s Solar Dial face — the difference between astronomical, nautical, and civil dawn and twilight. Knowing it adds a quiet rhythm to the day.

On the very last day, I finally looked at the news — and saw that Apple had just announced Swift for Android. Huge news. And yes, for a moment, it felt stressful. Did I lose a week by disconnecting right when something big happened? Not at all.

I gained a week full of life.

It turned out to be more than a break — it was a reset.

A week without code, but full of curiosity, reflection, and real presence.

And now, I’m fully recharged. ⚡️