Leave Your Phone Behind
December 2024 — Tip of the Month
Many of us are so tied to our smartphones, we won't go anywhere without them. What if I need to contact someone? What if someone needs to contact me? What if I want to take a picture? Or get directions? Or ask ChatGPT something?
Guess what — you don't need your phone. For thousands of years, people left their houses without phones, and they managed well. Sure, smartphones make a lot of things easier, but you don't need your phone every moment of the day.
It's OK to step away from the constant onslaught of notifications, the temptation to scroll through videos, that nagging desire to stare at your screen. You might even feel a sense of calmness when you leave your phone behind.
Personally, I leave my phone in my locker when I work out. I enjoy exercising without being tethered to my iPhone. It's freeing to spend an hour away from that tiny screen. I feel bad for all those people staring at their screens between workout sets (or sometimes during them).
If you haven't been away from your phone for a while, try an activity without your phone. Or set aside an hour in the morning or evening when you don't check your phone. Or the next time you leave for the store and realize you don't have your phone, don't go back to get it. You'll be alright.