Several weeks ago, it was all over social media that Vitamin Water was going to give $100K to anyone who could give up their smart phone for a year. It got me thinking about life without my iPhone, and I decided to do a little less extreme experiment myself. So last Sunday morning, I woke up, handed my phone to Brandon without looking at it, and so began my week with no iPhone.
And just so we’re clear: The only thing I used my phone for all week was for phone CALLS (and I only ended up talking to my mom and sister, once each). I deleted Instagram and Facebook. I did not text. I did not listen to Spotify. I did not look up anything on Google from my phone. I didn’t FaceTime. My phone was pretty much fully charged from non-use when it went back on the charger each night.
Here’s my thoughts and observations.
1) It was liberating.
We all think we NEED our phones. It turns out, I don’t. I actually enjoyed not having to worry about notifications, checking people’s Insta Stories, scrolling Facebook out of habit, and checking email. I didn’t have to spend one second thinking about which picture to post to IG, or come up with the words to put underneath it. No phone kind of felt like freedom.
2) I found more time to read.
I started my first Elin Hilderbrand book a couple weeks ago, and was making very slow progress. Once I had no way to waste time on social media, I ended up with more time to read and I’m almost done with my book now! I love to read…I just don’t always find a ton of time to do it. But this past week, by putting down the phone, I was able to pick up my book.
3) My Four Year Old Didn’t Even Notice
As I’m typing this, my sweet Harlyn is crafting with her daddy while Mav is napping. So I glanced up and asked her if she had noticed that until today, I hadn’t picked up my phone to use it all week. She didn’t have a clue. Now please tell me how she will call me out for anything at any time, but when I give up for my phone for a WEEK, she isn’t even aware.
4) It wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be.
The way we all act, with phones glued to our hands at all times, I figured I’d be in misery without my iPhone. But I gave it over willingly and didn’t miss it often. The biggest thing I missed was using it for Spotify in the bathroom while I get ready in the morning. I don’t like to bother Alexa in the early morning because I feel like for me to hear her in the bathroom, it will be too loud for sleeping kids. But other than that, I didn’t think about it much—work was too busy to care, and I try to keep my phone in my purse from 5-7 PM each night anyway so I can focus on my family.
5) I was more productive
This past week, I got blog posts done more easily, never took even a 3 minute texting break at work to say hi to my mom and sister, did laundry and read each night, played with Harlyn before bed, and more. I’m no slacker, I try to be present at home, and I am hyper-focused at work, but even still I felt like I got more done by giving up my phone.
6) I stay connected by text.
I definitely know that I stay in touch by text, but when I suddenly didn’t have text, I truly noticed how much I use it. I haven’t talked to my best friend in over a week, I haven’t checked in with anyone, and my mom and sister pretty much thought I was dead the first day of this whole experiment.
I think that this phone-free week was a great way for me to refocus, recharge, and reconnect. I was able to spend my time wisely, take time away from social media (which can be a great thing every once in a while!!), and get in a few extra moments of QT with my little family. I know that the never-ending list of things to do is overwhelming enough already, and that’s before we add in that we need to text someone back, keep up on Instagram, answer all the real emails and delete the junk ones. So for one week, I got rid of the extra stuff…and didn’t die doing it.
So, do you think I’m totally crazy for giving up my phone for 7 days?? Would you be able to do it? What would you miss most?
