Alright, buckle up, because I’m about to spill about something you and I are guilty of and yes, I said ‘and I’ because this is not a finger pointing post. I am just as guilty, but I learnt some great lessons and I will be a terrible person if I do not share with you all. It is THAT important.
Alright, for a week, I went through something that could make almost any Gen-Z go crazy: going 100% phone-free. Yup, you read that right. No texts, no TikToks, nada and it wasn’t by choice. A little background story to how I got into this. My phone fell into water and got spoilt, I took it to the repairer, and he told me to come back the next day. I went back the next day, but he wasn’t around, even after I had informed him, I needed to travel that day. (so annoying!). I could not wait so I travelled and left my phone with him. I will not lie, for the first few hours of my journey I was good but when my taxi started the long inter-state ride, I started feeling the boredom and emptiness. As someone who uses their phone for literally everything, it was crazy but looking back now, I am grateful for it. It was a roller-coaster ride of self-discovery. So grab a snack, settle in, and let me walk you through what I learnt from my experience.
1. I had less noise and more peace
Picture this: no more constant notifications pulling you in a million different directions. It’s just you and the sound of, well, nothing. At first, it felt weird, like I was missing out on something big. But then, something magical happened. I realized that all that noise was just that—noise. Without it, I felt lighter, calmer, more present. It was like I had finally found the off switch for the chaos in my brain.
2. I started having quality conversations
Okay, so without my phone, I had to get creative with how I stayed connected. And you know what? It was a game-changer. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through endless chats on different apps like I usually did, I started having real, meaningful conversations. And let me tell you, it felt good. Like, really good. Suddenly, catching up with friends wasn’t just about the latest gossip—it was about deepening our connections and lifting each other up.You might be wondering how I was able to connect without a phone. Let me answer that by saying phones are not the only devices that connect to the internet.
3. My self-care improved
With all this newfound free time on my hands, I found myself strolling into the world of self-care. I’m talking meditation, journaling, and even talking to myself. And you know what? It was exactly what I needed. Without the constant distraction of my phone, I was able to tune into myself in a way I never had before. I discovered a sense of peace and clarity that I didn’t even know was possible. Turns out, sometimes the best way to find yourself is to disconnect from everything else.
4. I started appreciating life
Okay, real talk: smartphones are great and all, but they can seriously dampen your real life experiences. Without my phone constantly glued to my hand, I started noticing things I had been missing out on for way too long. The way the sunlight filters through my window and makes shadow arts on the wall, the sound of laughter echoing down the street—it was like seeing and hearing the world in full HD for the first time. And let me tell you, it was beautiful.
5.I felt less anxious
Let’s talk about the news for a second. I used to be all about staying informed, but somewhere along the line, it started to feel like I was drowning in a sea of negativity. But guess what? It doesn’t have to be that way. When I did not scroll through news pages on social media or have my phone constantly bombarding me with bad news, I was able to take a step back and focus on the good stuff. Suddenly, my head was filled with stories of hope and resilience, not doom and gloom. And you know what? It made all the difference. I even found myself being less anxious about the future because I was not online to see what others were doing and subconsciously compare myself with them.
6. OMG, I slept so good!
Last but definitely not least, let’s talk about sleep. Turns out, scrolling through Instagram until 2 a.m. isn’t exactly great for your sleep hygiene. Who knew, right? But without my phone to tempt me into late-night scrolling sessions, I found myself drifting off to dreamland way more easily. And let me tell you, waking up feeling rested and refreshed? It’s the best gift you could give yourself for a long day ahead.
So there you have it, dear readers: How my life views changed because I had no phone for a few days. Was it easy? Heck no. But was it worth it? Absolutely. I just want to say, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, I think it might be a great idea to unplug for a bit and see what life has to offer beyond the screen. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
My week without a phone was more than just a digital detox; it was a journey of self-discovery and renewal. As I am bringing my phone back into my life, I do so with a newfound appreciation for balance and mindfulness. You see while technology has earned a place in our lives, I believe it is only by disconnecting that we can truly reconnect with ourselves and the world around us.
Have you ever gone without your phone before? How did you feel?
Even being away from my phone for half a day already works wonders! The truth is, with my love for writing, I can't let go of my phone. Especially that I use Hive on a regular basis.
I reason this to myself with the thought that I don't use apps that are "algorithm-driven".
What usually gets us hooked are Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok feeds that are "designed" to drain your focus energy and keep you reeled in for more dopamine.
I use Hive on a daily basis but I rarely have to check on it every minute! That's the beauty of limitations like resource credits and upvote mana. It reminds you that nothing in this world is unlimited!
Thanks for sharing and kudos to your improvement!
Thank you for your insightful comment! It's refreshing to hear someone else recognize the value of stepping away from our phones occasionally. I completely agree that apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are designed to keep us hooked with their endless feeds and dopamine hits. To be honest, I think it is something I will also need to be more conscious of and work on.
Hive, on the other hand, offers a different experience. I appreciate how it reminds us of the importance of moderation and the finite nature of our resources. It's great to hear that you use Hive regularly without feeling the need to constantly check it. Thanks once again for sharing your perspectie
Wow, this was really fascinating to read to be honest. I enjoyed really it all, and yes, I have gone through a similar situation! My phone was almost snatched and in the process, fell so hard against a well tarred road, on motion. My phone was in a critical situation and I had to take it for repair and we parted for about two weeks.
It was very refreshing, although it was hard at first. I also felt like I was missing out of a lot of things, but I adjusted. It was a beautiful experience and as much I would want to experience this again, I can't 🥺. There is a lot I do with my gadgets which can not allow me to stay away from it for long. I guess an alternative is to be away from it for few hours in a day, it could change a lot.
You're absolutely right about the difficulty of staying away from our gadgets for extended periods, given how important they've become to our daily routines. Your suggestion of taking short breaks from technology each day is spot on – even a few hours of disconnection can work wonders for our well-being and productivity. Sorry about your phone mishap, glad you were able to get through it. Thanks for sharing your perspectie
Oh yes, that was a long time ago. Thank you very much.
There is a lot we would discover about ourselves if we can do away with our phone for a while. I once stayed without phone for about 17 days, at first it was as though life was too hard but after a week, I found myself doing other things that was worth doing well
Like you, I was able to have quality conversation with my friends. It felt as if our phones limits our potential because we spend more time on it than exploring other things.