“Less anxiety and more presence.” That’s the way he puts it when talking about his digital detox. It is a no-nonsense change he makes every Friday night for 48 hours. The results are there to be felt right away, though it does put a fine point on just how much we lean on our phones for the little things.
Why a weekend off-screen struck a chord
Bhimani made a post about it that some people latched onto. He was open about wanting to see if he could have a more even-keeled weekend by not being in the mix all the time. What made his take ring true was that it wasn’t about some new way to be more productive; it was about the feel of life with the phone put aside.
For one, you don’t have your day-to-day vying with pings from the screen. You talk, you drive in silence, you eat without being pulled in another direction. “It leaves you with a calmer head,” he says.
How he redesigned his weekends
The rule is simple: come Friday, the iPhone is off and a Nokia is on for the next two days. He doesn’t make a show of it; it is just part of the routine now.
By the time Sunday rolls around, the urge to be on social media has passed. But don’t let that fool you – the reset is only as good as it is. Turn the iPhone back on and you are right where you were.
The calm he noticed
When there is nothing to scroll or answer, you have room to do other things. He has had the time to put in some reading, be with his daughter and put in some quality family hours that would otherwise be lost in the week’s shuffle.
He has also found that putting the phone out of reach makes for a better chat. You don’t have the habit of looking at the screen while you are in the middle of a sentence, so you are there for it and not so fidgety.
Where the plan hit friction
Then there are the hiccups. The first one was something as plain as contacts. Putting numbers into a no-frills phone is more of a chore than you think and a few didn’t make the transfer. You run into trouble with communication from the start.
And you are without the usual tools. No maps, no way to order in or pay with an app. Out and about, he has to use his wife’s phone. “Paying a hotel bill and not having your cards or apps at the ready is a pain,” he’ll tell you.
It isn’t just the software. He has to have an extra charger on him, deal with a second line and put up with missed calls. The feature phone shows its limits, and in doing so, reminds you of how much we have come to rely on the smart kind.
Here is the gist of what he has come to understand:
– You can have a quieter head and a better conversation
– But getting around, ordering food and paying for things is a lot more work
– Don’t count on a basic phone to handle your contacts well
– You will need to carry a different charger
– And once you are back on the smartphone, the old ways come back with you
The post that sparked a conversation
In his write-up, Bhimani was straightforward: he does a digital detox on the weekends, swapping the iPhone for a Nokia on Friday for 2 days. One line and you have the whole picture of the method and the willpower it takes.
There is a bit of both in his story – some to be inspired by and some to be wary of. You can get your focus and your family back, but you also see how much of a role the digital side of things plays in everything from booking to paying, until it is gone and you notice.
Why it matters
With his little switch, Bhimani has put a new spin on the whole idea of a digital detox. On one hand, you have the feeling of it: you are not as on edge, you are with the moment. On the other, the logistics of it all become a hassle in a hurry, particularly when you are on the road or have to sort out some bills.
So it is not so much a case of turning your back on tech as it is a look in the mirror. Unplugging is easy enough; the hard part is making do without the small things we have come to expect.
Bottom line
Time off the grid is well worth it, but it is a reminder of how much we are tied to our apps. Bhimani has been on both sides of that and it is up to you to decide if the peace of mind is a fair trade for the convenience before you give it a go.
