Four Days Without a Phone

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

For the last four days, I’ve been without my cell phone.

Phone

I had envisioned a different week. One where I’d be able to contact friends, remain in touch with family and friends at home and check my email on the fly. I haven’t been able to do any of it.

The first day, Tuesday, was the most challenging. I’ve been so ‘connected’ and always ‘on’ that being without my phone felt like I had lost a vital body part.

At first, I did everything in my power to get re-connected. But nothing I tried worked. Plus, I couldn’t focus on fixing my phone when I had other more important matters to deal with.

So I realized that I had to chill. Being stressed about something I couldn’t change wasn’t doing me much good so I shifted my focus to what I could control.

Once I did that, I began to relax and remember now what life was like way back when I didn’t have a cell phone or a laptop. I survived then and I will now. Besides, it’s only temporary.

I hope to get my phone sorted out tomorrow but if I don’t, I know I will be fine.

14 comments on “Four Days Without a Phone”

  1. Wow, I’m literally right there with you. My mom took away my phone the other day because I was absent to school (weird, I know), and I was really stressing out about it. But, now that I’ve been ignoring it, it reminds me of back in middle school when I never had a cell phone. I thought I’d go through withdrawals or something but, I’ve been doing pretty well.

  2. Good post …and I don’t get it – no you, but just the whole phone thing. I just went two years without a cell phone because, honestly, I hate them. When people travel these days they HAVE to have their computer, phone, and ipads. They need to be connected. They want to travel but they they don’t want to leave… I don’t have a GPS in my car and people are just astonished that I can even go anywhere …I”m like huh? I go to africa or asia for weeks or months without a computer or cellphone and people are just astonished. I don’t get it.

    There was a time a long long time ago, about 15 years, when laptops, gps and cell phones were very rare, and guess what, the neanderthals back than lived through it, thrived and survived…

    John 🙂

  3. Oh yeah – IJ – another thing – thank you for all the comments – you should link your site to your name so people can click back!!! It took me a while to actually find you.

    John

  4. It does feel like you’ve lost a vital appendage. You feel so vulnerable, disconnected, anxious.

    I recently purchased something online, and I didn’t get a confirmation message immediately. I didn’t get one the next morning either. I couldn’t wait, I had to email to make sure they got my order. They got it, they were just taking their time. We are so used to everything being fast these days.

    Here’s hoping you get connected soon.

  5. Thanks, Narelle. I do, too. Unfortunately, no such luck. One more phone-less day. And, like a smoker who’s gone cold turkey, I’m learning to manage the anxiety.

    You’re so right. Sometimes we don’t fully appreciate it until it’s been tested.

  7. Thanks, John!
    That’s exactly what I try to remember now that I’m phoneless — that a few years ago, I also didn’t have a cell phone — I resisted getting one for a long while and every so often leave it at home deliberately so that I’m not constantly connected. BUT I’m here in London and had planned to meet a few people who can only get to me via phone or email. No phone, no connections. I’m trying to find other ways to find them so we can meet.

    While I remain phoneless, I’m using the time as a way to relax and let the trip unfold as it clearly wants to, let things happen organically instead of managing every little bit of it.

    One thing I do miss about cellphones and emails is that we’ve lost the art of letter writing. I’d love to get a good old fashioned letter in the mail or even a postcard. (And I’ve just gotten an idea for my next post!)

    Thanks for dropping by, John!
    Marcia
    http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com

  8. Hey Mozes, you’re right. It does feel as if you’ve gone cold turkey and expect the shakes to start at any minute. Once you forget about it and focus on something else, like making conversation with people, you forget about the phone!

    Hope you get your phone back soon,
    Marcia

  9. I have a cell phone because we got rid of our land line phone. Days can literally go by without me making or receiving a call. It’s just not something I’m into. But take away my computer or internet connection for more than a day or two? Argh….. 😀

  10. I know what you mean about the internet. The longest I’ve gone without is a little more than a week and it was torture!
    Thanks for stopping by, Queen of Zoom. Like the new title.

  11. I rarely call since I discovered text messaging! And having the phone, I can get online in a minute if I need to check something.

    Are we saying we really don’t need the phone now???

  13. Marcia, isn’t it funny how lost we feel when without our extended technological body parts??? I’ve run out of the house a time or two without my cell phone and been completely out of sync (no pun intended). But I’m glad you were able to get a grip and relax after all. Thanks for sharing.

  14. I know what you mean, Cheryl. It’s the last thing I check for before i head out the door. I’ve never forgotten it.
    Girl, I had no choice but to get a grip and relax.
    You’re welcome, Cheryl.

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