In Her Campus’s series The College Try, our writers test out viral wellness, dating, fashion, productivity, and pop culture trends firsthand. This month, Marie Gomez “rawdogging boredom” the ol’ college try.
I’ve never been the type to sit still or do nothing. Usually, if I’m not studying, I’m scrolling endlessly through Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube just to drown out my own thoughts. One day, I came across a surprising trend called “rawdogging boredom” taking over. Initially, it was a viral trend that took place on long-haul flights where you couldn’t snack or have any form of entertainment.
But in late 2025, Gen Z reimagined it — sitting still for 10-60 minutes without snacks, a specific object to fiddle with, and no digital simulation, and yes, that does mean your phones.
Seeing this, I wondered if I needed a mental health reset. So, I decided to rawdog my boredom for five days, ditching my phone at home and during meals to see if I could actually survive. Let’s be real, finding focus in our daily lives is hard enough, and I was ready to see if intentional silence was the self-care I’d been missing.
But why are we so afraid of digital detox? Dr. Buckle, a naturopathic doctor at The Oasis Treatment Center in California, states that this trend reaps the benefits when we unplug from our devices. “Digital detoxes are incredibly helpful. They can help reduce stress, emotional fatigue, and mental overload,” Buckle says. “They give the brain a break from constant news, stimulation, and information.”
He also notes that many people who practice digital cleansing notice significant improvements in their attention span, sleep, and even their mood. “Many people I’ve talked to who have tried this notice improvements in anxiety levels, focus, and sleep,” Buckle adds.
So, I thought to myself, if a pro says it’s good for my health, I’m all in, and let me try it out. And here’s how it went.
Day 1
I started by sitting in the room for 15 minutes quietly. I had my phone locked away out of sight so I wouldn’t be able to text, no AirPods in my reach, just me and my loud bedroom fan.
Every time I heard a notification, I felt the physical itch just to run over to my phone, but two minutes in. I was feeling pretty good. My hands relaxed, my fingers no longer stiff. I didn’t even have snacks to keep me company.
After the long 15 minutes, I really felt something shift. My brain wasn’t overwhelmed with digital overstimulation. My head didn’t hurt, and I didn’t miss scrolling through Instagram reels or learning new TikTok dances.
As a result, Day 1 was a fun and new experience, and I found it to be good to just unwind.
Day 2
Today was going to be the real test: eating breakfast without a “companion show” on my laptop. I sat outside on my patio and just… ate. NGL, I felt totally weird. I don’t usually eat outside, especially on the patio, and usually watching a show helps get my day running before all the chaos erupts. However, I finished my meal in 10 minutes of my usual 45-minute screen-fest.
Day 3
By the middle of the week, the urge to check my phone started to fade. I tried going super analog (and boring) during my afternoon workout by ditching my playlist. I wanted so badly just to have my headphones because they are my safety net, but I realized I couldn’t use them.
Dr. Buckle points out that moments of “nothingness”, especially without devices, are all for better self-reflection. “People often notice when they unplug from social media that they feel more connected to their surroundings, as well as to others. That is because they are less distracted.” That statement started clicking with me.
Day 4
I spent my commute today just doing one of my favorite hobbies, which is reading. I have never had a problem with digital detox when it comes to reading, but usually, I will have audiobooks blasting in my ear because my attention span is so low.
Instead, I decided to go sit outside with no one around and read out loud for the first time in a long time. The only sound other than my voice that I heard was the birds chirping and the cool breeze surrounding me.
My brain felt lighter, and for the first time in months, I didn’t feel like I was rushing to the next digital hit.
Day 5
On my last day, I had my longest session of “nothingness” yet—spending an hour sitting in my room without a device, no talking, and no sleeping. It turns out that when you aren’t distracted, you actually have room for your own ideas.
So, after rawdogging boredom for a week, I finally understand the hype. I didn’t feel the sense of pressure or the digital need for my phone or to go on any social media platforms to engage with anyone.
Though it might not be for everyone, I feel a transformation in how I entertain myself, my lifestyle, and feeling relaxed. I like being present in the moment and surrounding myself in a quiet environment, and giving myself the creative space to unlock new ideas and thoughts that I might have never processed before. I am officially a boredom convert.
