Airplane Mode for a Day: Peace or Panic?

“You don’t know the value of what you have until you lose it.” I never knew the significance of this saying until the day I went almost half a day without my cell phone. Growing up, I never really liked cell phones. When I was in elementary school, my older siblings already had phones. Sometimes I would look at them and see how engrossed they were in their cellphones. At some point, I concluded that they were obsessed with them because tell me why you would prefer to skip meals to chat with friends on your phone. So you’d choose your cell phone over food? Impossible! That was how I felt when I saw my siblings always on their cell phones instead of doing chores or at least doing something else. Those were the days when 2go was popular. Other social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter weren't the talk of the town. I never really bothered my parents to get a phone for me because I never really saw the need. I’d often look at my siblings giggling at their cellphones and wonder if I'd one day be obsessed with a device like them.

Today, the Hive Learners community asks us how long we can be without a cell phone, excluding when we are asleep. Can you go an hour without touching your phone? I read @hopestylist's entry on this topic where she mentioned that there was a time when the first thing she would do immediately upon waking up was find her phone. This was me. This is still me. Although things are better and I'm working on myself, this still happens frequently. However, it was worse until a few months ago. Whenever I wake up, with my eyes still closed, I start tapping on the bed, trying to locate my cell phone. When I finally do, I turn on my data, and navigate to Discord to check my notifications and when I have finally satisfied myself, I wake up fully and pray.

I remember watching a video where a pastor said that whenever people wake up, they don’t even check to confirm if they can still walk. They don’t check to confirm if their legs are still there, they just locate their phones and start chatting and giggling. The day I watched that video, my table shook! I realized how attached I am to my cell phone. Sometimes, when I wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, the first thing I do is turn on my cell phone and check my Discord or WhatsApp notifications. I still do that, though. However, I have started working on breaking the habit of turning on my cell phone the moment I wake up. I have started making it a habit to pray before I do any other thing, but sometimes I forget.

Now, to answer the question, can I go an hour or two without my cell phone? Yes, I can. I have actually tried to go a day without my cell phone. I came across a post on Instagram about how to detox our dopamine by staying offline for a specific time. So, I decided to do it for a day and see how it would go. At the end of that day, I came up with two rules for myself. Whenever I decide to stay off my cell phone for a specific time, do away with matches or a lighter or anything that can bring out fire. Two, do away with scissors or any sharp object.

I remember how I started my day by doodling, then I read a book and wrote a fictional story on paper. When I got bored and didn't know what to do, I entered my sister’s room and saw a pair of scissors. So, I proceeded to cut papers and then when I got bored, I cut my beards and ruined it. I had to go to the salon to fix it. I also picked up matches and burnt the papers I had cut out. Well, to cut the long story short, I almost burnt down the house.

Although I was able to do some things and achieve some things, it was difficult for me. I just couldn't wait to get back to my phone and start chatting with friends, watching reels, or playing chess online. I'm more attached to my cell phone because I'm making money on it. Also, I've made good friends online, so it's sometimes hard to go a day without checking in on them. However, if I really want to, I can go more than an hour or two without touching my phone, as long as I stick to my rules of putting away matches and scissors. I'd probably spend that time reading a book, cleaning the house, or reflecting on one or two things.

Thank you so much for reading.

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