Picture it. Late 2023.

I was drowning in screens.

Four monitors at my desk. Two phones. An iPad. I work in tech, so I know exactly how all this stuff is designed to keep you hooked. Didn't help. I was still entrapped.

Every time I needed a break, I'd just... switch screens. Phone to laptop. Laptop to TV. TV back to phone. I wasn't resting. I was screen hopping.

I needed something that didn't glow.

---

So I did what anyone does: I googled it.

"Digital detox tips," "screen-free activities," that kind of thing.

Word search puzzles kept coming up. Apparently there's real science behind it—something about focus without overstimulation. Skeptical? Sure. But curious enough to try.

I bought one.

Skeptically, it worked. My brain actually quieted down. For the first time in years, I wasn't bouncing between screens—computer, phone, TV, back to phone. I was just... there. Focused. Present.

But here's the thing: the puzzle was boring as hell.

Then it hit me: What if word search puzzles had more to them? What if every puzzle had its own mini story to tell? What if they were genuinely immersive—something interesting enough that you'd want to keep going?

That's when I thought: "Did You Know..." trivia-facts. What if I add them to every page?

So I did.

And I needed a name. Something that captured the whole point—stepping away from screens without making it sound like a life intervention.

Unscreen Yourself.

Yeah. That's it, that's the one.

I'm Emilio, by the way—and this is how it all started.

---

December 16, 2023.

I hit publish on the first puzzle book, "Worldly Wonders."

No more random grids—themed puzzles with trivia that'll make you the most interesting person at trivia night.

Every page has a "Did You Know..." trivia-facts. Worldly Wonders gives you those "I can't believe I didn't know that" moments—facts about cultures, landmarks, and natural wonders that make you want to grab someone and say, "Did you know...?"

You're not just passing time. You're learning something. And your brain stays immersed in the moment without your phone demanding attention like a needy toddler every 90 seconds.

---

Then people started telling us stuff.

---

So yeah—that's us.

No apps. No notifications. No algorithm deciding what comes next.

Just good puzzles, interesting trivia, and a break from the screen that your brain didn't know it needed.

---

🇺🇸 Made in Virginia with tons of love ❤️ and probably obscene amounts of caffeine ☕ but that's a problem for another day.