When I ditched my phone...
2 days a week for 5 weeks and counting…
Almost a month back, I started getting a strange pain on the right side of my body—head, hand, shoulder, the works. It continued for days.
I figured maybe my smartphone was the culprit. No, not me. Somehow, it magically appears in my right hand every time I see it. 😅
So, I decided to try a little experiment. What if I stopped using my phone for 2 days a week - just to see what happens?
Well, my pain disappeared. But here’s what else I discovered.
I magically had 2-3 extra hours in the day. The doom-scrolling got replaced with learning Procreate or just doing nothing.
I walked more.
I read more.
I was more focused on the task at hand.
After a month, it became a habit. My mind automatically knows which day is a no-phone day. Sometimes, a day when I am overwhelmed from the previous day becomes a no-phone day. Like yesterday.
My no-phone days made a special place in my journal. 😉 I decorated it much more than the other visuals.
In the first two weeks, I didn’t feel like using my phone much, even on the next day. But later, I noticed I was using it more sometimes. In the fifth week, that changed again—I didn’t feel like picking it up. It keeps shifting. The goal is to use my phone less overall, not make up for it the next day. I’m still watching myself (not perfect, but trying). When I notice these shifts, I try to stay curious instead of judging myself. After all, it’s an experiment, not an exam. 😉
Some evenings felt a little quiet—my phone is usually my go-to evening date. 🙂
There were moments when I instinctively reached for it - to note down a random visual idea, to order a book I just read about, or to just quickly check something. It made me realise how often this one device is the first thing that comes to mind, no matter what I’m thinking about.
Surprisingly, I didn’t miss any important messages in these two days.
I did tweak the experiment a bit: I pick up calls from known people now.
But what I loved most was how much more calming it is without a phone and not having the urge to just open it and check all the social media.
Oh, and I did a little math. If I save 4 hours a week, that adds up to 16-20 hours a month - around 200 hours a year. That’s a lot of time to learn something new... instead of doom-scrolling and then feeling annoyed about it.
The experiment continues…writing this post on my no-phone day :)
Take a Little Pause 🌼
What’s something you’re curious about these days? How can you turn it into a small experiment just to see what unfolds?
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My Moment of Pause/Calm🌿
I’m continuing my experiment with two no-phone days every week. And I’ve started using watercolours for journaling. It feels good.
What have you heard, seen, or done this week that brought you a moment of calm? I’d love to hear! 💛
Now?
Sharing what I’m watching, reading, and learning!
📺 Slowly watching: Nothing at the moment
📖 Happily reading: Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish, and Hour of the Heart by Benjamin Yalom and Irvin D. Yalom (More book recs? Check my list!)
🎨 Doing: Made it to Day 10/100 of learning Procreate! I felt proud of what I created following a tutorial. You can see my work from other days on Substack Notes.
PS: If this newsletter brought you a moment of calm or a spark of inspiration, feel free to share it with a friend! You can also tap the ❤️ button so others can discover it on Substack. No pressure—just love and good vibes. 💛
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Take care! 💛
Rachna
I write Take a Little Pause for those who wish to live a wholehearted life. This newsletter is a journal of my experiments in living wholeheartedly, with each post accompanied by visuals created by me. If you’re on a similar journey, subscribe for free, or consider becoming a paid Patreon to support my writing and help me publish a coffee-table book. 💛