Does a digital detox on weekends actually help?

For many people yes, though the effect depends on what it replaces. A weekend without work email and feeds tends to reduce the sense of always being on, and people commonly report better sleep on Sunday night. Where it fails is when the time is simply left empty, which often produces restlessness rather than rest. Planning what the time is for — a walk, cooking, seeing people, reading — makes a substantial difference. A partial version is often more sustainable than a total one: no work apps, notifications off, phone in another room for blocks rather than the whole weekend.