I’m sleeping better, I am more patient, and I feel much closer to a lasting calm.
I’ve often lied to myself about my smartphone usage. When my daughters play on our neighborhood church lawn, I use that time to check my phone, pretending it’s essential. Whether it’s online grocery orders or checking the weather, the excuses pile up. Only after cutting my phone out for 24 hours did I realize these were justifications for my addiction.
After writing about the Global Day of Unplugging, I decided to try it myself, and it changed me. Now, without my phone, I feel liberated from the constant connectivity that once felt like a necessity. My phone’s presence no longer feels like convenience but rather a burden. This reset allowed me to find calm and patience.
Initially skeptical, I thought 24-hour breaks were for those with no boundaries, yet my own independence was an illusion. My life revolved around productivity and efficiency, constantly switching between apps and tasks. Over time, I realized true freedom means embracing the present without relying on a device.
The concept of a digital sabbath, a break from technology, had always seemed pointless to me until I finally tried it. When I committed to a 12-hour fast, my husband and family joined in. For the first time since owning a smartphone, I slept with it in another room. Moving my phone to the kitchen overnight, I prepared for emergency calls while using no meditation apps. Surprisingly, I slept peacefully.
As the day went on, I found the impulse to check my phone was never about urgent needs. I didn’t need to know the exact temperature or rental rates for vacations. Not everything demands attention.
A planned outing required more effort without a phone. When running an errand, we arrived early, leading us to walk to a nearby pizzeria without a map. On the ferry to the city, I resisted taking selfies, choosing to enjoy the moment instead.
At the beach, without battle-induced stress, I felt at ease and didn’t feel compelled to check my phone again. Navigating with limited information felt like an adventure from a time before cellphones. This freedom felt akin to being a kid, exploring without a guide.
Reflecting on that day, my tech use now feels like wasted time. Learning to work without my phone is challenging, but I don’t want fragmented attention. A walk with my daughter confirmed that I no longer needed my phone as a distraction. I was fully present and engaging with the world around me.