Unplugged

This blog was born out of one of my classes this semester all about social media.  Another assignment for this class (besides the blog) was to spend a day without our phones.  I mean, there’s nothing more uncomfortable than that so I decided to turn it into a blog post!

Now, obviously it’s kind of hard to collect content for a blog, like pictures and videos, without a phone, so I gave my phone to Will for the day and left him in charge of pictures, and making sure I don’t go on it obviously.  It actually worked perfectly that this was assigned when he was visiting because since we’re long distance a majority of our communication is done online.  I wouldn’t want to go a whole day without talking to him.  The worst part is that Will isn’t a big social media guy so he was not very good at remembering to keep up with the TikTok and pictures, or how take either of them in the first place (go check out the TikTok @comfortlessblog if you wanna see his final product). 

The weirdest part was right when I woke up.  Checking my phone is always the first thing I do in the morning and it was hard to resist when my alarm went off and I already saw text notifications from my family.  Not gonna lie, I did check the texts to make sure it wasn’t anything important from my parents, and then I fell back asleep for a little bit to restart. 

After getting up I immediately started getting ready, because what else was I going to do laying in bed if not scroll on my phone for an extra 30 minutes?  We went downstairs and the first thing I did was decorate the Halloween cookie pizza that we started the night before.  Very random start to the morning but hey it was something to do!  Then right after I started making breakfast, which was mini pumpkin shaped waffles.  I kept thinking of things to look up on my phone, like recipes, the weather, and any other random thoughts that popped into my head that I could almost always immediately find an answer to. 

Once we ate breakfast and kind of sat around for a bit, it was time to get ready and head out for our daily Dunkin’ run (because I have an obsession).  I had a nostalgic moment when trying to pick out my outfit based on the weather.  Instead of going on my phone to check the weather, I took a step outside to feel how it actually felt like I used to do when I was younger to check the weather.  I completely forgot I used to do this until I had to do it again now.  Another “to be honest” moment, I did ask Will to check the weather for us even after stepping outside because that method isn’t necessarily completely accurate…I mean neither is the weather honestly but whatever. 

On the ride to Dunkin’, we listened to the radio since I couldn’t connect my phone up to the car.  Being a radio student who wants to work in a radio station after college, I’ve always wanted to be a person who listens to radio in the car to support my passion, but it's just so hard.  Half the stations don’t come in where I live and the ones that do either play Top 40 pop or suuuuper oldies.  Also, I was constantly trying to change the station to find a song I like which honestly seemed more distracting and dangerous than when my phone is right there.  Anyway, despite the distraction of the radio, we lived and made it to Dunkin’.  My family shares an account on the Dunkin’ app so thankfully my sister, Ashley, was with us too so she could use her phone to pay.  It made me realize that when I go out for Dunkin’, Starbucks, Rook, Wawa, or other quick chains, I don’t bring anything but my phone because I can order and pay for it right from there. 

Don’t mind all the dust on my dashboard…

Luckily, there was a fair going on in our town that day so it was another way to get out and do something productive and fun rather than sitting inside.  There was really no need for my phone here and I didn’t get many urges to want to go on it because I was preoccupied from the stands set up everywhere (and also trying to dodge the crowds of people everywhere).  One time I wanted to use my phone was to send a picture of me and Ashley to our parents with the new shirts we bought.  

Another moment I noticed I would usually go on my phone was when I was waiting in a long line by myself while Ashley and Will were at another stand.  Usually when I’m in this situation anywhere else, I don’t know what I would do without my phone because I’m an awkward person and don’t know how to act when I’m just standing and waiting.  Where am I supposed to look? What do I do with my hands? Should I start a conversation with someone?  Honestly, this time wasn’t that bad.  I didn’t really think about this stuff too much and I mostly just people (and dog) watched everyone at the festival.  Although, if it wasn’t as crowded as a place I certainly would be thinking about those things.  

We wandered around the festival a little more and then headed out.  When we got back, we just relaxed a little bit but it wasn’t long before Will and I had to head out again to get dinner with his parents.  I was glad to not have my phone for this because I haven’t seen them in a while and I didn't want to even have the possibility of checking my phone at all and seeming impolite.  Even with good intentions, if I have my phone right in my pocket, chances are I’ll glance at it every now and then.  Especially because the New Jersey Devils were playing at the same time we were having dinner, which I get notifications when someone scores for every game.  

Dinner lasted quite a while since the restaurant was busy and we were all catching up on the past three months since Will and I both headed back to college for the fall.  We all took a quick walk to the beach and then headed back to Will’s house for a little to hang with his parents and his dog.  When it was time to leave, Will and I both went back to my house so we could pack up all his stuff he brought down for the week before he had to head back to school.  I folded some of our laundry that I did earlier in the day, which is still better than putting laundry away, but I usually put it off as long as possible, but what else was I going to do?  

I even did a little bit of homework on paper???  It's a rarity today to do anything on paper in college these days.  The only reason this was on paper was because I wrote out the questions from the online document the night before knowing I wouldn’t be able to use my phone or laptop all day, but still wanted to get a little head start on my homework.  I’m a paper note taker, but besides taking my own notes, I can’t remember the last time I was given an assignment to handwrite answers on. 

After finishing the laundry and homework, I got ready for bed and laid down to catch up on everything I missed on my phone today.  Technically we were only required to not use our phones and laptops for 8 hours out of the day, but I wanted to see how long I could really go.  I will admit, the distractions throughout the day made it MUCH easier to do than it would be if I were alone with nothing going on.  Maybe one day I’ll try it again when I’m alone, but no promises.  Honestly, as much as I would like to be able to, because we all know how addictive and damaging phones are, I really don’t think I’d ever be able to go a whole day without checking my phone at all.  First of all, my family and boyfriend all live miles away from me so I need my phone to keep in touch with them.  Second, being in college, especially as a media studies and production major, everything I do is online.  Also, any organizations/clubs I’m a part of all communicate through group chats and emails that I need to be checking to get important information about meetings and events.  Lastly, I'm simply just addicted.  I know the whole point is to break the addiction, but I’ll just automatically reach for my phone or computer to get out of awkward or boring situations.  

So while I never think I’ll be able to get rid of my phone addiction completely, hopefully things like this blog will help me find new hobbies to keep me apart from it more.