When I first decided to detox from my phone for 24 hours, I thought it would be low-stress and somewhat liberating. I was going to be mindful and productive. I felt great going into this challenge, envisioning myself getting my homework done before 10 p.m. and maybe even finding time to read a book!
But six hours in, I found myself frantically reaching for my phone – which I didn’t have. I was having a serious allergic reaction. I had no clue what was happening, but my face was turning purple and my throat was closing. I still don’t know what from. And at this moment, I pathetically realized one thing: How dependent I am on my phone.
Throughout the entire day, I felt like I was constantly missing something. My phone is like a third arm, it felt strange not holding it in my hand. Even my teachers were suspicious when I didn’t have a phone to slot because 98% of high schoolers have access to a phone.
So, you might be asking, why am I doing this?
I am so reliant on my phone, and I really didn’t realize it until I didn’t have it. 76% of people get nervous when they do not have their phone.
Ask yourself this: would you be able to go through your daily routine without your phone? When I think about it, I wouldn’t be able to. My phone is what wakes me up in the morning, it’s how I text my friends for rides, and ask if we had homework the night before.
We have become so accustomed to our phones as a tool rather than using it for social media. We take advantage of things like our phone calculator, flashlight, camera and alarm because we don’t realize how important they are. No one’s going to go around carrying a flashlight when you can click a button on your phone.
But through this experiment, I also learned that I don’t always have to be on it. Within these 24 hours – I learned how productive I can be without my phone next to me; how grounded and calm I felt without the constant buzzing and notifications.
Without my phone, I was able to go to bed at a reasonable time, and I even started a new book before going to bed. The next morning, I woke up refreshed and with ease, and maybe it’s because I didn’t end my night with a bright light glowing in my face.
In the quiet moments that I usually fill my time scrolling through TikTok or Instagram Reels – inevitably wasting my time – I decided to be productive and finish my homework before it got dark out, something I’ve never done before.
The sad thing was, I was definitely feeling a little bit of FOMO – just from 24 hours without it. I was constantly wondering: What am I missing? Are people texting me? Does anyone even know that I’m ‘off the grid’?
The funny thing is, I had no way of communicating with anyone. We rely so much on our phones to connect us, which can both be good and bad. We have shifted from having face to face conversations to communicating over a screen.
I’m used to the instant gratification my phone gives me. If I have a question, it can answer it in seconds. If I need to call my mom, I can with the push of a button. Without this, I felt disconnected from everyone else.
Having my phone around me at home was definitely tempting. Lucky for me, my mom bought me a “Brick” for Christmas. If you have trouble “locking in” while doing homework or are constantly being distracted by your phone doing day to day tasks, the brick has been extremely helpful. It allows you to lock certain apps so you’re not able to use them.
The next morning, when I powered on my phone once again my notifications buzzed in, and I hate to admit it, but I felt some sort of relief — and a tad bit of regret. Throughout these 24 hours, I learned that I don’t know if I’d be able to give up my phone forever, but I can try to learn to live without it by taking breaks and creating some boundaries.
