When I Tried Living Without My Phone for 72 Hours

 The first hour felt like I was missing a limb. I kept reaching into my pocket, only to remember I’d locked my phone in a drawer. I had no notifications. No scrolling. No camera to capture the moment.


Day one dragged. I went for a walk and realized how much I normally use my phone as a shield. Without it, I made more eye contact. I noticed the way sunlight hit the leaves. I heard birds. My brain, instead of being stimulated every 20 seconds, began to slow down.


Day two felt like detox. I picked up an old sketchbook and drew nonsense. I read. I sat with boredom and didn’t try to escape it. I also got anxious—what if someone needed me? What if something happened and I didn’t know?


By day three, I was floating. I had long conversations. I wasn’t checking the time every few minutes. I ate slower. I listened more deeply.


When I finally turned my phone back on, I had 62 messages, 9 missed calls, and a dozen app notifications. But the world hadn’t burned down. I hadn’t missed anything that couldn’t wait.


And I had found a little part of myself I’d forgotten.


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