Offline is the new luxury. Probably a cliché phrase by now, but it does feel like this considering the logistics needed to spend 24 hours without my phone in the middle of the week. Before even starting, the question is when is a good time? I work, I have two small kids, a husband, an attempt at some social life, and an array of family and friends living in different parts of the world which whom I communicate with my phone on a daily basis. Deciding when to do it takes as much as logistics as actually doing it.
When I read the assignment I though I had it easy. I had a yoga retreat in the middle of that week. But, as the idea was to be phone free while continuing with my routine, I ended up taking the plunge the day before I was actually going to be able to have the luxury of going internet and phone free for the record amount of 48 hours. So, I tell a few people I won’t be reachable on my phone, and turn it off on Thursday morning at 8.54am. And it does feel good.
The first few hours are uneventful, but as I’m working in my laptop from my home office, it’s not really a big deal (I’m mostly missing WhatsApp). But the real deal start a few hours later, when I venture into the world without phone, and start the second part of the challenge going Internet free.
Few Random Things/Feeling I Experience During These 24 Hours:
+I won’t be able to take pictures
+That morning I decide to put phone out of my sight, cause when I see it there, even if off, I have the reflex to just check something.
+I cannot use the alarm for basic things such as cooking, or add events to my calendar
+Several times during the day I have the urge to send messages to friends.
+FOMO is on the rise
+I miss mindlessly scrolling and checking Instagram stories at lunchtime, or during those waiting times.
+It feels SO weird to be in the street without phone. Monkey mind thinks what if there’s an emergency, what if school bus has a problem. I feel like something is missing. I won’t be able to check work messages on the go.
+I cannot use my meditation app at night
+I really need to check the weather forecast for Friday. Like really need.
+I went to bed earlier than usual, could catch up on sleep better being scree free
+Friday, 8.55am, I turn on the phone and like an addict in withdrawal I’m back to checking on every app.
After the 24 Hour Challenge
Probably a lot of us share the idea of cutting down screen time as a good new year’s resolution. And probably a lot of us keep failing at it. I’ve read so much about this topic, and yet I keep failing (lately I’ve been exploring the approach to immunity to change to see deeper reasons and assumptions that may be working against this and other goals).
A lot of those readings keep pointing out how the phones are designed to create addiction. Yet, of course, not all people fall into this trap. As I look around, a lot of the people don’t have the same problem as I do have with my phone usage. They have a “healthier” relationship, and don’t struggle with it as an addition.
The trick is to keep trying, and to keep reflecting on how and why we use out phones. I do use it to remove myself from nasty situations (i.e. dreaded kids tantrums, bad bedtimes, boring routines). But I also use it for routine tasks (weather, alarm, photos).
But, when I read about the dangers of distracted parenting, and how our “continuous partial attention” may be harming our children, I’m reminded of how important is to keep trying to reflect on my relationship with my phone. Those 24 hours without the phone felt good overall, helped me to be more present and reduced the distractions.
I still remember when my older son was 4 years old, and was trying to tell me something while I was checking my phone. Even though I assured him I was indeed paying attention to what he said, it did not seem enough for him. He became a little guru at that moment: “Mom, you also need to listen to me with your eyes”.