My Digital Detox Disaster (and Maybe a Little Success?)

Why I Even Considered a Digital Detox

Okay, so, I’m usually glued to my phone. Like, REALLY glued. Scrolling through Instagram, endlessly refreshing Twitter (now X, whatever), and honestly, wasting way too much time on TikTok. It’s embarrassing to admit, but it was starting to feel like I couldn’t go five minutes without checking *something*. I knew it wasn’t healthy. I mean, my neck hurt, my eyes were strained, and I felt this weird, low-level anxiety all the time.

My friend Sarah had been raving about her recent digital detox. She said she felt more present, slept better, and actually, you know, *lived* life instead of watching other people live theirs online. So, naturally, I got curious. Was I missing out on something? Could *I* actually disconnect? The thought was terrifying, but also…intriguing. She suggested starting small, maybe just a weekend. A weekend. Seemed doable, right? Famous last words.

The Plan (That Immediately Fell Apart)

My initial plan was to be super strict. No phone, no laptop, no TV. Just me, myself, and I (and maybe a book or two) in my apartment. I even downloaded a meditation app (Headspace, I think?) thinking I’d become a zen master in 48 hours. LOL.

The reality? I lasted, maybe, three hours on Friday night before I caved. The *second* my boredom got too intense, I reached for my phone. I told myself I was just going to check my email “real quick,” but you know how that goes. One email led to Instagram, which led to a black hole of cat videos and targeted ads. Ugh, what a mess!

I did manage to read a few chapters of my book (a thriller, naturally), and I even went for a walk in the park without my phone. But the urge to constantly check in was almost unbearable. It was like an addiction I hadn’t fully acknowledged until I tried to quit cold turkey. Who even knew it could be that hard?

The Unexpected Upsides (There Were Some!)

Okay, so the detox wasn’t a complete failure. Despite my initial struggles, there were a few moments of genuine… peace? On Saturday morning, I woke up and, instead of immediately grabbing my phone, I actually *looked* out the window. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping (cliché, I know, but true!), and I felt…calm. It was such a strange sensation.

I spent the afternoon cooking a meal (something I usually avoid because, let’s be honest, ordering takeout is way easier) and listened to music on my record player. It felt… nice. Simple. Like I was actually engaging with the world around me, not just passively consuming content.

The best part? I slept like a baby on Saturday night. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve slept that soundly in months. No late-night scrolling, no blue light keeping me awake. Just pure, blissful sleep. That alone made the entire ordeal almost worth it.

My Digital Detox Regret (And a Funny Story)

Here’s the funny thing. The biggest regret I had during my (sort of) digital detox wasn’t missing out on anything online. It was missing a call from my mom. She’d tried to reach me on Saturday afternoon to tell me that my aunt was in the hospital. Of course, since I was trying to be “disconnected,” I didn’t get the message until Sunday morning.

I felt terrible. Absolutely awful. Like I’d prioritized some silly social media experiment over my family. That really brought things into perspective for me. It wasn’t about completely abandoning technology; it was about finding a balance. It’s kind of like everything else in life, right?

I learned a valuable lesson that weekend.

Finding My (Imperfect) Balance

So, where am I now? Am I completely phone-free and living off the grid? Definitely not. But I’m making more of a conscious effort to be present. I’ve started using the “screen time” feature on my phone to track my usage (it’s horrifying, by the way). And I’ve set some boundaries for myself. No phone in the bedroom. No scrolling during meals. And definitely no more doomscrolling before bed.

It’s a work in progress, for sure. I still have moments where I reach for my phone out of habit. But I’m getting better at catching myself and choosing to do something else instead. Maybe read a book, go for a walk, or, you know, actually talk to the people around me.

Was I the only one confused by this new experiment?

Who even knows what’s next?

If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into this other topic… like the Pomodoro Technique. It’s all about focus and productivity.