It all began during an especially rough patch in my recent exam period (It was at the point where I had no nails left, and my diet consisted exclusively of Dafgårds Färdigrätter). A friend pitched the idea of deleting all forms of entertainment from our phones, in the pursuit of getting the most studying possible out of the day and resisting the temptation of getting stuck scrolling. I was eager to join, as I had for long questioned my relationship with my phone, and how much of my waking time was accompanied by its looming blue light.
My wake-up call came when Dune 2 premiered, and I realised that I dreaded the prospect of spending three hours in the cinema to watch it, Since the required constant focus on one big screen felt monotonous and excessive. The notion that I found Cinema, once the highest form of entertainment, tiresome absolutely terrified me. And when the possibility of looking at Timothee Chalamet for three hours straight does not interest you, you know that you have an issue. I sensed that my tendency to pick up the phone for entertainment as soon as boredom struck was to blame for my now fried attention span and fear of boredom. I had become addicted to constant and quick entertainment, and the phone was my enabler.
The insight that I had turned into a full-grown iPad kid, though appalling and unflattering, had yet to spur me into action. But the incentive of good grades, a Valborg free from re-exams and peer pressure really got the ball rolling. Said and done, my friends and I deleted all social media, streaming services, and games from our phones. The timing was ideal as the piling workload easily kept us occupied. Eventually, the exams were handed in, and I found myself on the train home for a well-deserved Easter break. However, the urge to pick up my phone to pass the time never came. I had unlearned a habit of mine that I strongly disliked, and encouraged by the realisation, I thought that I might as well just continue.
Now a month and a half has passed and I have managed to stick to my detox. I have continuously used some of the platforms on my computer, since in this day and age it would be social suicide to go completely off the grid. One has to be humble and acknowledge that a monthly streak might be classified as a fairly small victory. The threat of a relapse might be lurking just around the corner, however, the unexpectedly immediate and tangible benefits of cutting back on screen time continue to motivate me.
My focus improved almost instantly, and the boredom put an end to any procrastination (suddenly my wardrobe was cleaned out, next week’s meal prep sat in the fridge and the pile of unread books started to shrink). The increased productivity resulted in more time for leisure which I started to spend more intently. This allowed me to feel reenergized by resting, and I began to experience a newfound appreciation for the entertainment I actually consumed. Since the amount now is limited, what I consume is chosen with caution, and is granted my undivided attention. Additionally, I noticed an improvement in my sleep, probably as a result that I no longer use screens in bed before going to sleep. Overall, life feels enjoyable as the awareness of my surroundings, and the people in it has expanded.
That being said, reducing screen time might not be a magic cure, even though I may be portraying it as the solution to all your issues. Also, some of my experienced benefits might be attributed to the placebo effect. However, one undeniably real benefit of a phone detox is the superiority complex that comes from telling all your friends about it. Fortunately, all those hours of staring down at my phone have prepared my neck to carry the massive head I get from telling everyone (who is misfortune enough to stand too close) how well my phone cleanse treats me.
Nevertheless, I’ve encountered drawbacks from this detox. Given the central role social media plays in our society, the absence of easy access to these platforms occasionally leaves me feeling somewhat disconnected. In today’s digital age, where parts of our social interaction exclusively occur online, I sometimes find myself feeling uninformed about trends, culture, and even the people around me. This has proven to be the most significant challenge of my cleanse. However, since I have not imposed any restrictions on the usage of my computer, it has always felt manageable. Surprisingly, the smallest issue has been the lack of entertainment; the brain’s process of getting used to boredom and starting to entertain itself was remarkably swift.
Currently writing, I wonder if the readers who have gotten this far might view me as one of those, slightly obnoxious individuals alarmingly concerned with self-improvement. Believe me, I am not. This article owes its existence to luck, as well as my lack of self-control and tendency for overindulgence. What I mean to convey is this: a phone detox is entirely within reach for anyone, regardless of their initial interest. How far you take it is entirely up to you, but I’m convinced that everyone stands to gain from reassessing their relationship with their phone and making moderate cutbacks. If you possess enough discipline, phone-free hours or the phone’s built-in screen time limit might be the way to go. My aim, after all, was always for this to be a temporary cleanse, not a complete breakup. Therefore, I will likely redownload some platforms to my phone in the foreseeable future, but this time, I will be aiming for a better balance.
