The rules: six whole days without telly, iPad or internet for the whole family. Screens for texts, phone calls, work or school are permitted, but only during designated hours. A life unplugged – how would it be?

Day one The first day was oddly easy. In fact, I was the one who found it hardest, forever twitching to see what was going on in the world. I also craved my after-lunch sit on the sofa with a cuppa and the (online) paper while my daughter watched telly. We had to play hide and seek instead which required much more effort. Our grown-up evening was relaxing. Normally, it feels like a race to get everything done so we can collapse and stare at a screen. Without that option, it somehow mattered less that we weren't done with dinner and tidying up until 9.30pm. Then we sat and chatted!

Day two We've had no clamouring or nagging to access a screen, and behaviour has been better than average. Is this the answer to my parenting woes? I've also realised that many of my emails make me want to spend money. They are from firms I have bought from in the past, updating on products and offering special deals, all calculated to make me want unnecessary 'stuff'.

Day three We are enjoying more time outside. Following some chilly gardening, we went to watch a city centre starling murmuration. This nature spectacle was far more exciting than telly (although the TV doesn't poo on you when you are watching it).

Day four Today was a bit of a low as my youngest was tired and TV would have been handy. My son also wanted to research Argentina for a project, and the book I found at the library wasn't a decent substitute for the masses of kid-friendly info online. On the plus side, my evening with my husband was very peaceful and felt more like our life before kids (which was also a time without so much constantly available technology).

Day five I had to go to a bank to arrange some transactions. I felt very silly not doing it online.

Day six The last day of a life unplugged. We all agreed that it has been positive, so have declared that Wednesday will be forever more our screen-free day.

Day seven The big switch-on. At last, a chance to catch up with Facebook gossip and to let the children zone out in front of the television for longer than normal as their reward. Then, coincidence, or not, we were all really grumpy and narky with each other for the rest of the day. This wasn't a scientific experiment, of course, but I can report that screens seem to make my family more consumerist, more sedentary, more argumentative, and result in us spending less time outside or actually communicating.

A life unplugged would be unfeasible, but I'd recommend an eye-opening week to everyone.

Kate Blincoe is a freelance writer covering conservation, environment, countryside and agricultural issues. Follow Kate on Twitter @kateblincoe.