Again, we are on the same wavelength as I am planning to write about a technology free vacation (9 days--not totally tech free, but many days were.) Scary, right? I survived and can now tell the tale.
The first 24-48 hours were the hardest. Each day felt better and better. I became engrossed in nature and detached and spared from reading the terrible news.
Your digital detox wasn't long enough
It's like the first mile of a run--the hardest. Once you get moving and settle into a pace, it feels better. Okay, maybe not quite like that, but you get what I mean.
Stay tuned for my post (assuming I actually write it or just stay away from technology even longer).
I can't wait to read it, and also I've been missing you, I definitely noticed your absence:). I'm glad for you. You took the detox, but I'm glad for me you're back. And you are right I definitely didn't do it for long enough. I never got past the DT's:).
Aw, thank you. it was hard. I wanted to keep up with my "favs" writings, but not only did I not have great internet access, I wanted to immerse myself in nature--and with my adult daughter's presence. She lives across the country and time with her is so very precious.
Oh my gosh, not a failure at all. That that’s exactly how the first day its supposed to feel! It takes three days for restlessness to come down! Next time try for a longer and I’ll try it with you ;)
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. I know it’s not easy to open up about failure, especially when it’s about something as small yet powerful as a device that fits in our hand.
I deeply understand your struggle and pain. I’ve battled digital addiction for more than 15 years. After countless trial and error attempts, I finally reached a point where I’m in control again. No more scrolling, no more gaming, no more Netflix. I got my time back. I’m chasing every dream I had and enjoying life fully again.
But YouTube is still my weak spot. Just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, some new feature or series pulls me back in. Recently, I got hooked on a YouTube series that releases every Friday, and the anticipation completely wrecked my focus all week. I kept checking again and again to see if the new episode was out. It felt horrible. I even started hiding it from my partner, just like you mentioned hiding in the bathroom to check your phone.
Eventually, I broke down and told her everything. And you’re so right, just saying it out loud reduces the pain. It makes the problem smaller and more manageable. My partner helped me see it for what it was, another cleverly designed trap, not a personal failure. That shift helped me take back control, and I haven’t gone back to YouTube since.
Admitting failure is painful, but I couldn’t agree more with what you said. Every failure teaches us something new, something we needed to know to win long term.
Thank you again for writing this. It really resonated.
Wow, I almost cried reading this. Making the commitment to your husband is more of the reason I follow through with things myself. Not honoring some of the commitments I make because of myself hurts me sometimes. This was so powerful, and through your honesty of telling your husband, the shift happened. Man, i love those moments, as they always remind me why I choose him everyday. Thank you for sharing this, I barely have words right now. This definitely touched my soul.
Thank you for the article. I know that I won’t be able to fully commit to a whole day! However, I frequently will leave my phone upstairs while me and the kids are downstairs having family time especially in the evenings. It eliminates my need to reach out for it.
It's scary to think about who among us hasn't acquired the habit of reaching for the "little numbing device" in our pockets whenever we have a quiet moment.
I stress about my usage ALL the time and keep screens away from my little kids.
On the other hand, my highly successful, anxiety-free partner is connected to his phone most waking moments (not social media, but chess puzzles, crosswords, sports coverage, comedy videos, prestige TV, work Slack, group texts) and has zero qualms about it.
I so relate to this. I am actively trying to lessen my screen time by doing little things like I can only use one screen at a time (so no TV and phone), leaving my phone charging by my front door instead of my bedside at night (I try to read a book instead and use my husband's phone as an alarm), and not putting my phone on the table when we are having a meal (it has to be in my purse or out of the room). I have also taken all notifications off my watch so I don't get little buzz reminders. It's SO hard.
These are all excellent tricks, and I am thinking now it's just these little steps that I want to keep adding. If you haven't read stolen, focus, I highly recommend it, super interesting book about digital detox.
I will add that to my reading list! The little steps are so much easier to implement. I have found big leaps are unrealistic for me. So I really try to just do little things so I get used to that feeling in the pit of my stomach and maybe it even goes away sometimes! I definitely can now do entire evenings out and exercise without checking my phone and feeling no anxiety. That feels like a win.
Again, we are on the same wavelength as I am planning to write about a technology free vacation (9 days--not totally tech free, but many days were.) Scary, right? I survived and can now tell the tale.
The first 24-48 hours were the hardest. Each day felt better and better. I became engrossed in nature and detached and spared from reading the terrible news.
Your digital detox wasn't long enough
It's like the first mile of a run--the hardest. Once you get moving and settle into a pace, it feels better. Okay, maybe not quite like that, but you get what I mean.
Stay tuned for my post (assuming I actually write it or just stay away from technology even longer).
You made a wonderful choice. Glad you did it. Glad you're back.
I can't wait to read it, and also I've been missing you, I definitely noticed your absence:). I'm glad for you. You took the detox, but I'm glad for me you're back. And you are right I definitely didn't do it for long enough. I never got past the DT's:).
Aw, thank you. it was hard. I wanted to keep up with my "favs" writings, but not only did I not have great internet access, I wanted to immerse myself in nature--and with my adult daughter's presence. She lives across the country and time with her is so very precious.
Working with changing a behavior
Is facilitated by offering at least
2 different options
Both of which are more pleasurable
If the option isn’t appealing
Likely even going thru the motions
Won’t last for long
How to find meaning in the option?
How to bite off a reasonable portion
Of a better idea
So as it grows on you
The struggle to resist diminishes
Yes!!! I think breaking it down into small steps is the way to change.
Oh my gosh, not a failure at all. That that’s exactly how the first day its supposed to feel! It takes three days for restlessness to come down! Next time try for a longer and I’ll try it with you ;)
Excellent advice! Man though, the addiction is real!
🎯🥴💯
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. I know it’s not easy to open up about failure, especially when it’s about something as small yet powerful as a device that fits in our hand.
I deeply understand your struggle and pain. I’ve battled digital addiction for more than 15 years. After countless trial and error attempts, I finally reached a point where I’m in control again. No more scrolling, no more gaming, no more Netflix. I got my time back. I’m chasing every dream I had and enjoying life fully again.
But YouTube is still my weak spot. Just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, some new feature or series pulls me back in. Recently, I got hooked on a YouTube series that releases every Friday, and the anticipation completely wrecked my focus all week. I kept checking again and again to see if the new episode was out. It felt horrible. I even started hiding it from my partner, just like you mentioned hiding in the bathroom to check your phone.
Eventually, I broke down and told her everything. And you’re so right, just saying it out loud reduces the pain. It makes the problem smaller and more manageable. My partner helped me see it for what it was, another cleverly designed trap, not a personal failure. That shift helped me take back control, and I haven’t gone back to YouTube since.
Admitting failure is painful, but I couldn’t agree more with what you said. Every failure teaches us something new, something we needed to know to win long term.
Thank you again for writing this. It really resonated.
Wow, I almost cried reading this. Making the commitment to your husband is more of the reason I follow through with things myself. Not honoring some of the commitments I make because of myself hurts me sometimes. This was so powerful, and through your honesty of telling your husband, the shift happened. Man, i love those moments, as they always remind me why I choose him everyday. Thank you for sharing this, I barely have words right now. This definitely touched my soul.
Thank you for the article. I know that I won’t be able to fully commit to a whole day! However, I frequently will leave my phone upstairs while me and the kids are downstairs having family time especially in the evenings. It eliminates my need to reach out for it.
That is an absolute win in my book!
It's scary to think about who among us hasn't acquired the habit of reaching for the "little numbing device" in our pockets whenever we have a quiet moment.
I stress about my usage ALL the time and keep screens away from my little kids.
On the other hand, my highly successful, anxiety-free partner is connected to his phone most waking moments (not social media, but chess puzzles, crosswords, sports coverage, comedy videos, prestige TV, work Slack, group texts) and has zero qualms about it.
It is an interesting modern beast, hard to escape!
I so relate to this. I am actively trying to lessen my screen time by doing little things like I can only use one screen at a time (so no TV and phone), leaving my phone charging by my front door instead of my bedside at night (I try to read a book instead and use my husband's phone as an alarm), and not putting my phone on the table when we are having a meal (it has to be in my purse or out of the room). I have also taken all notifications off my watch so I don't get little buzz reminders. It's SO hard.
These are all excellent tricks, and I am thinking now it's just these little steps that I want to keep adding. If you haven't read stolen, focus, I highly recommend it, super interesting book about digital detox.
I will add that to my reading list! The little steps are so much easier to implement. I have found big leaps are unrealistic for me. So I really try to just do little things so I get used to that feeling in the pit of my stomach and maybe it even goes away sometimes! I definitely can now do entire evenings out and exercise without checking my phone and feeling no anxiety. That feels like a win.
That is a gigantic win, I am impressed.