I think it’s worth noting that I tried doing this assignment 4 times before I finally succeeded. I finally succeeded on Feb 17 to Feb 18 (Tuesday before this was due…I cut it close). I kept feeling the need to text or message or call about a thing, order a Lyft or look up directions, etc — all things that broke the cycle in previous attempts.
I wanted to do a full 24 hours, so I gave up my phone at 1pm on Monday and was going to turn it back on again Tuesday night at 7pm (just over 24 hours since there was a sleeping aspect here).
By 2:45 I had already missed a message and felt bad about it. Because I didn’t get a push notification on my watch that is linked to my phone. With my phone off my Apple Watch is just a watch and pedometer. So I was definitely not going to be getting messages as fast as I would not always be on my laptop.
I left lab and went grocery shopping. I struggled at the grocery store, unable to remember everything on my list or look at ingredients for the recipe I had wanted to make. I forgot two ingredients. I got home and found myself very rapidly checking everything on my laptop as soon as I did.
The evening was difficult for me as I use my phone to help unwind and fall asleep. I usually watch videos and then when I’m sleepy and unwound I put on a sleeping mix on Spotify and go to bed. I also use it as an alarm clock in the morning and a chance to prolong my sleep in the morning and getting out of bed by answering emails and notifications.
So instead I used an old alarm clock from my roommate, which was unfortunate as I not only didn’t sleep as well but also couldn’t find a snooze feature on his clock. So I woke up still sleepy and groggy and cold and got stressed and checked my email, the weather, and my commute on my laptop before I left the house.
Not having music or my social media on my commute was not fun. I usually spend my walk/train ride on my phone on social media, the news, and communication. Getting into work I found myself again check emails as soon as I got my computer up and running.
I will say the thing that made it easier was that I had a lot of meetings and class on Tuesday. I had class from 9:30 to 12:30 and and a meeting at 3 and another meeting at 4 and a social engagement at 5. After that I went home and was very very happy to turn my phone on at 10pm.
Overall, going without my phone was inconvenient but not horrible. Having packed days definitely makes them go faster. And in meetings and class I am less drawn to my phone than when I am just at home or in my office working or relaxing (for example, I even use my phone while watching TV).
I felt slower and the accommodations I had to make were mostly due to communication and directions and scheduling. But I found myself able to do it all on my laptop, just not as fast and also not on the move as I can on my phone. In our digital world losing one device can just make you rely more on others.
I wouldn’t see my phone as addiction to its content but rather a tether to the speed and efficiency that I have grown accustomed to living. I pride myself on always being available and in communication with others. I also do some organizing around my department in terms of events and ordering. Messaging and email make up more of my phone usage than social media and even on Instagram I am constantly chatting with friends. The anxiety and need to have my device is tied to this — its ability to be an extension of me in the digital space to leverage all the things I can do on it.
