Take a phone detox

liam-walsh

There’s a great piece in the New Yorker by Scaachi Koul where she lists things that will happen if she doesn’t take her phone out. For example:

1. Someone will post a photo of a brunch sandwich—like, a really great brunch sandwich, one with bacon and avocado—and I won’t get to comment, “omg where.”

2. I’ll come up with a great idea—a tampon that is also a mild antidepressant—and won’t have a way to write it down.

3. Someone will send me an e-mail marked “URGENT” and it will, for once, actually be quite urgent (probably about free food), and I won’t see it until it’s too late (all the free food is gone).

4. Ignoring texts that I don’t want to answer will suddenly become unintentional and therefore meaningless.

You can see the full list HERE.

But it got me thinking, I seriously need a phone detox. I’m glued to my phone. Sometimes, I’ll have my phone, iPad and laptop on the go at the same time. Technology overload much? 

Our phones are making us sick. REALLY. Not in a woo-woo all the radio waves are damaging our brains (although they probably are) way, but actual symptoms. Such as tendinitis aka texting thumb and sleep deprivation because our smartphone addictions mean that we can’t resist a cheeky check in on our phones when we should be snoozing. Read this piece in the NY Mag for more information on how your smartphone is causing your body damage.

So this weekend, I’m going to take a little phone detox – why don’t you join me? I’m going to ease myself gently into it and try to take it forward throughout the week too.

Here’s the plan…

FRIDAY

  • Unfollow/Unfriend anyone whose not really on my wave length. No point in reading unnecessary updates.
  • Delete any apps I don’t use.
  • Unsubscribe from newsletters I no longer read.

SATURDAY

  • Resist the urge to pick my phone up as the first thing I do in the morning.
  • Charge my phone outside the bedroom so it makes it a little more difficult to pick up the phone as a first action.
  • Go out and leave my phone at home. (note to self: you will survive).

SUNDAY

  • Turn my phone off for the whole day!
  • Resist checking emails and social media – ALL DAY!

Whose joining me? Especially for Sunday!

Author: Rachael

I'm a journalist and creative consultant. I write about how busy women (just like you) can live, work and eat - better.

23 thoughts on “Take a phone detox”

  1. Good luck with this! Phone checking is addictive especially with all the social media apps we can get these days

  2. Oh my! I’ve been thinking of how much I actually use my phone but give it up? So hard! But I started leaving it in my handbag when I go to visit my friends so I don’t keep checking it. Next step is not taking it out of the bag when I’m in a restaurant! Good luck with your plan, I’m having all my fingers crossed for ou!

    Dash xx

    Mode Lily

  3. I’m so addicted to my phone, it’s crazy! With blogging and with social media, i’m constantly browsing! Think I need a detox myself!

    thebroughblog.weebly.com

  4. That sounds like a great detox, I’ve already started to unsubscribe from newsletters and my twitter/facebook feed is next.

  5. Great detox for a second – I couldn’t do it for even a day and I’m a real technophobe. Good luck 🙂

  6. I really need to try this! I look at my phone too often, it’s such a distraction. I can’t even leave the house without it unless I’m just going up the road!

  7. That’s easy!! It can be done.
    However, I only ever turn my phone off when I’m in the cinema or on a plane.
    I got my phone when I was 18, still have the same number, and the reason I got a phone was because I started driving. You see…..you had to be 18 and have a bank account to actually get a phone, and then some plonk suggested pay as you go, and then all of a sudden everyone had a phone, even 10 year olds.
    I always have my phone on for emergencies, but, I don’t necessarily look at it all day on social media.

    You can do it!!!

  8. I do sometimes think what it would be like if the internet just… broke. You know, just disappeared from the face of the planet for an hour or something. Would I cope like I used to? I very much doubt it and that prospect is scary!

  9. I’m like you and often have many gadgets around me. I could do with a detox, perhaps when I go on holiday so I can psych myself up to it

  10. I am terrible for checking my phone all the time. I need to do a bit of a detox – I like the idea of cleaning out apps I don’t use. I started charging my phone downstairs a couple of years ago and it really helps me to not check it as I was falling asleep

  11. Great post! I need to try this. Im constantly on my phone when I’m not looking after the kids. Whether it be on instagram, facebook or twitter I’m pretty bad! xx

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