We live in a world where we are constantly connected. Our phones have become a part of our everyday life. They are our lifelines, assisting us in the simplest of tasks, such as what the weather is going to be or directions to the nearest Starbucks. We have become dependent on our phones, perhaps a little too dependent.
I’m always connected to my phone. Whether it’s getting texts from friends or notifications when my favorite celebrities tweet, I am always in the know when it comes to what is going on in the world. I have never been without my phone, except for going to sleep away camp, when I had absolutely no say in the matter.
RELATED: 15 Thoughts You Have When People Say You Have an “Easy” Major
So what if I purposely didn’t carry my phone with me. What would it be like to go out in the world for a few hours not always knowing what’s going on, or not having contact with everyone I know with a simple touch?
I talked a lot about leaving my phone at home with many of my friends and family members. A majority of their reactions were that there was no way they could do it. One of my roommates even joked that I should just lie about the entire experiment.
The idea of going into the world without your phone seemed crazy and unthinkable to most, even those who grew up without having a phone on them constantly. Yet, despite the shocking reactions, I was I set to go about my day not having my safety net and it was harder than I thought. A few hours without my phone? Easy. Or so I thought.
RELATED: 13 Things You Won’t Get Away with After College
The first time I attempted to leave my phone at my dorm, I went about getting ready like normal. Then the time came, I had to leave for classes, and I had to leave my phone in my room. I really wanted to do it, I really tried to leave my phone, but I couldn’t. The thought of doing so left me with a nervous feeling in my stomach and a mild sense of panic, my throat felt funny.
My mind went into “worst case scenario” mode; I had fears that family emergencies would happen or suddenly the world would be coming to an end and I would need to contact someone for help. Not having my phone, not being connected at all times with everyone I know and with the world itself, suddenly became my biggest fear. Something awful happening and me not being able to know about it or to call for help, was enough to make me run for the hills.
At the last minute, I ran back to my room and grabbed my phone. The relief I had from having my phone in my hands showed me that I had a bigger problem. One shouldn’t be this worried about being a few hours without their phone, no one should go into “fight or flight” from something so seemingly insignificant. It was a chance to be truly alone, and I think that I may have forgotten how to act like that.
A day later, I decided to ease my way into leaving my phone at home. Twenty minutes out to get food would be manageable, just to feel the waters of being without my cellular friend. I debated whether to tell my roommate that I would be gone, but I decided to just head out, since I didn’t plan on being out of long.
I walked out my dorm and to the bus stop, feeling giddy as the familiar bulge in my pocket wasn’t there. I noticed quickly though, that even after only being out for the first five minutes, I was bored. My hands would fidget from time to time, as if they had no idea what to do with themselves. I felt that the bus was taking forever, when it actuality I waited less than three minutes for the bus to come up. Time seemed to move slower when I had nothing to occupy myself with.
Finally, I decided to take the plunge, actually going out without my phone. I almost sent out a mass text to everyone I know saying something along the lines of “won’t have my phone for a few hours, refrain from texting”, but refrained from doing so. Instead, I left my boyfriend’s phone number for my parents, just in case they needed me. I was with a few friends, and I would be going to the movies, so surely I could be away from my phone.
RELATED: Saying Goodbye to Busy
But even while I was preoccupying myself with the movie, in the back of my mind I was thinking when exactly I would be back to my phone. I was practically counting down the minutes. Would I be missing important worldly news, texts from my friends with important life decisions they were making? I still found myself not knowing what to do with my hands when there was a pause. And at points, watching everyone else use their phones made me tempted to ask to borrow theirs, just for one minute so I could live tweet my reactions to the movie, something that I thought I couldn’t live without doing, but obviously can.
I survived though. And when I did get my phone back, I had missed noting. The world was the same; I didn’t miss any celebrity Twitter battles. And even if I had, it would have been fine. We often ask ourselves the question if we are addicted to our smart phones, and the obvious answer now would be yes.
We have forgotten how to manage without them, and how to truly be alone — not connected to the world or anyone else. Did this make me want to get rid of my phone forever? Definitely not, but it does make me want to take a few hours out of my day to turn the phone off, hide it away, and remember to be alone with myself — something that we all could, and should, to do from time to time.