Member-only story
As a social media manager, I’m plugged into technology from sun up to sun down. I realized I hadn’t gone a single day without constant texts, emails, and social media in years.
Even vacations meant just switching devices to my phone instead of laptop. When the concept of a “digital detox” entered the zeitgeist — completely abandoning technology for a set period — I’ll admit I scoffed.
No way could I pull that off in today’s hyper-connected world. But the idea didn’t leave my mind. Could I survive a month without technology? Was I too addicted to screens to live normally offline? I decided to find out.
Withdrawal Symptoms Were Real
I boxed up my devices, set an away message, and purged most apps from my phone except basic functions. The first 72 hours were brutal. I compulsively reached for a phone that wasn’t there and felt anxious without constant stimulation.
But I stuck to my goal of 30 full days tech-free. I filled time with books, in-person meetings, and pursuits I used to enjoy BC (before computers) like painting. Eventually I adjusted to a slower pace focusing on one task at a time instead of digital multitasking.
