It’s common for people to resolve to kick bad habits in the first few weeks of the new year. However, one company is offering $10,000 to those who can overcome one of the most common habits. Siggi’s Dairy, a yogurt brand under the Icelandic Milk and Skyr Corp., is encouraging people to quit their smartphones for 30 days as part of its digital detox program.
“We believe in the power of living a simpler life with fewer distractions,” the company stated in its announcement. “One of the biggest distractions in our lives today is our phone. In fact, the average person spends 5.4 hours on their phones each day!”
Program participants must be 18 or older, and submissions must be completed by 11:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 31. No purchase is necessary. Applicants must submit an essay of 100-500 words explaining why a digital detox is necessary and “how it will impact you in a positive way that aligns with the Siggi’s brand philosophy,” the application reads.
According to the application, 70% of the essay’s score will be determined by “how the participant will use the time during the digital detox to live a simpler life, understanding that ‘less sets you free’ also means less time spent on smartphones could lead to a more rewarding and free life.”
A further 20% of the score will be calculated based on creativity and originality, and the final 10% will be assigned for “authentic expression in the essay of commitment to the challenge.”
On Feb. 15, the yogurt brand will select a list of 10 potential winners based on the scores to participate in the no-smartphone challenge. The winners will be awarded a $10,000 check; a smartphone lockbox; a standard non-smartphone; a prepaid SIM card for the phone; and a three-month supply of Siggi’s yogurt.
Other contests sponsored by Siggi’s in the past dealt with living a simpler life as well. In 2022, the New York-based company posted a freelance position they named Chief Simplicity Offi-skyr, a play on the traditional Icelandic yogurt, Skyr. As a part of the deal, the freelancer would be compensated $50,000 for moving to Iceland and carrying out a four-day workweek, according to Business Insider.
“We’re introducing a NEW kind of ‘Dry January’ this year. Instead of abstaining from alcohol for a month, we challenge you to ditch your smartphone,” Siggi’s stated per its website.
