Event 5 Blog: 24 Hour Unplugged Challenge

Research has shown that approximately 61% of people admit that they are addicted to their screens, and unfortunately, I might be part of that statistic (Sreenivas). As a Brown Health article mentions, we have grown used to this unnatural state of “constant connectivity” (Brown University Health Blog Team). Soo…


Screenshot of Schedule of the Day


For the last event, I decided to participate in the 24-hour unplugged challenge. I chose to it on a day where I knew that I would have a packed schedule, and one where my friends would be able to keep me accountable. To be honest, I have very little hope that I would be able to fully complete this challenge because I genuinely don’t remember the last day that I didn’t spend like looking at some sort of screen – whether it is my phone, computer, or even a TV. 



Books that my friends brought for me to read, so I wouldn’t get bored. 



When we were driving, I had my friend pull up the schedule and map, so I wouldn’t need to interact with my device. We start the day super early by watching the sunrise, so the end of my 24 hours ended the next morning when I was still asleep. My friends always joke that I have the inability to multitask because every time I am on my phone, I do not hear or be able to process anything else that is going on. So, it was funny because, at the end of the day, my friend noted that it was nice to finally be able to talk to me without me checking my phone every second. 


Sunset picture of the lake near the camping site


Especially at the beginning of the day, I found myself reaching for my phone. It got to the point where my friend had to lock it up in a glovebox, and even then, I would still occasionally go looking for it. This is what researchers would call phantom vibration or phantom phone syndrome, where people would think that their phone has buzzed or reach for a phone that isn’t there (“What Is Phantom Vibration Syndrome?”). I would really recommend someone try a digital detox. If 24 hours is too intimidating, I think a 12-hour one will also be effective. Even though it may be tough at first, it gets easier, and almost more peaceful and enjoyable without the constant need to check a device.

 

Works Cited

Brown University Health Blog Team. “What Is a Digital Detox and Do You Need One? | Brown University Health.” Brown University Health, 8 June 2023, www.brownhealth.org/be-well/what-digital-detox-and-do-you-need-one.

Sreenivas, Shishira. “Digital Detox: What to Know.” WebMD, 5 May 2023, www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-digital-detox.

“What Is Phantom Vibration Syndrome?” Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, iac.gatech.edu/research/features/what-is-phantom-vibration-syndrome.

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