Why I Decided to Live Without My Phone for a Week
Who would have thought what life without a phone would be like? My grandmother had always been on my neck about how the phone is destroying the younger generation until she turned 82. I then decided to do away with my phone for seven days, and it was so surprising how I had for so long never realized how much of my life revolved around my phone. I decided to challenge myself for a week, and that gave me one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life.
I did not experience any form of frequent notifications; there was no continuous scrolling and watching of videos, and I did not feel obliged to reply to any message. It was just me, the world around me, and my thoughts that very week.
Back in the days, our forefathers listened to the cockcrow at dawn as a form of alarm, but recently, it feels like the cocks never crow. In our time today, we wake up to alerts and fall asleep with phone screens glowing on our faces. What I discovered during those seven days taught me how life can be meaningful than I expected. In this post, I will take my time and share with you in detail the experience I had for those seven days.
1. Silence Is Beautiful and Not Boring
When I started, the first two days were very tough. You know, I had friends, families, and relatives, and those first two days felt so long. I kept reaching for my phone, though it was not around me. Waiting in line, eating alone, or sitting in traffic felt strangely empty. It felt so lonely for a while, but on the three, the silence started feeling different. I would wake up early in the morning and have a nature walk. There was no noise around me and nothing to distract me. I began to feel this peace of mind, and I had the space to think clearly. I realized that silence was not boring after all, but beautiful.
2. My Productivity Skyrocketed
Since my phone was not around to keep me distracted, I had extra hours, which I made good use of. I was able to finish a book which I had been reading for months, I tidied up my room, and I wouldn't wait for my old lady to speak before I did the dishes. I would finish assignments on time, and I was able to wake up early and get ready for the next day. I got to know that yes, what my grandmother has been saying was through. A lot of time is wasted sometimes when on the phone all day, doing nothing beneficial.
3. Real Conversations Felt Different
Having one-on-one conversations with friends in my neighborhood, instead of chatting online, was an experience I will always remember. The feeling is different when talking to friends face-to-face instead of using the phone. I will meet my friends in person. We talked, laughed and listened truly to one another. There was nothing like delayed responses to messages, no blueticks, and no missed video calls.
4. I Slept Better and Was More Calm
Unlike the days when I had my phone by my side and slept but woke up with headaches, this one was different. Before I put myself to this challenge, I often scrolled through social media before bed. Sometimes it is so bad to the extent that, knowing very well I will be going to work the next day and have to rest early, I will be up all night and sleep just two or three hours before work. Putting my phone away gave me more time to rest.
5. I Became More Present
With my phone always with me initially, my attention was divided. I will ignore the petty conversations I was having with friends and spend more time on my phone. This time with my phone away, I became fully aware of the situations around me due to no distractions. It gave me the opportunity to make memories of my daily experiences, which I never thought for once will benefit me greatly.
6. The World Didn't End Without My Phone
Many still feel that without a phone around them, the world around them was going to end. Before starting this experience, I was always afraid of missing out on messages, news and social media updates. I always felt that I wouldn't be current and everything was going to change within moments. But guess what, life went on and you stop living because you hear little of the bad things happening elsewhere.
What happened in the end?
In the end, after my one-week phone strike, I learned a lot of things. You see, the phone is not bad; it is very helpful. But the only issue with some people is the failure to realize how much time they waste on their phones sometimes. Do you know you can actually turn that screen time into income? Check this post.
After going back for my phone after a week, I found out I had fewer messages to even reply to. I realized how a phone can take away the precious time we have. I learned that the too much time we spend with phones can be used to build connections with family. Now I allocate time to my phone and other things around me that I have to do. I can't do away with the phone forever and you can't too. If you realize it is being too much of a distraction and taking away your precious time, then do your best to make it be less of a distraction.
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