Freedom from gadgets

Gulf Weekly

22-05-2025

1.
For someone who has spent most of her life working in the media, the constant news barrage took its toll on my health.
So, many years ago, I decided to spend one precious day a week without using my mobile, a digital detox for my sanity.
I deliberately shut out the world, silencing notifications from my mobile and embracing the quiet.
Twenty-five years of this practice has given me immense joy, peace and stability.
People always tell me that I look happy and younger than my age!
Going offline has also taught me patience and endurance, making me a better person, ready for any challenges that life has to offer. I continue to 'detox' to this day, especially during weekends. The irony of it - I am happiest whenever I am not touching my mobile.
Prioritising my mental health above all is the best decision I've ever made in my life.
- Nanju Francisco, 59, Filipino media specialist
2.
Living a day without the phone? Unthinkable, right?
Trust me, it is both liberating and refreshing. Ironically, I attempted this a few weeks ago and felt refreshed albeit just for a day but it was worth it. Jumped out of bed, resisted the urge to 'Wordle', instead dived into the newspaper with my cuppa. The GDN it was!
Then hopped on my bicycle for a long ride into oblivion; soaked in nature, listened to the many tunes of happy birds and got doused with a spray of water from a garden sprinkler, gone wild. Liberating! Withdrawal symptoms sans phone? Sure! Not checking it constantly for updates on social media made me calmer and Zen-like as I immersed myself in other hobbies.
As the day progressed, I got restive and called friends I had not seen in a while on my landline. Sadly, a gadget meant to connect us is losing its flavour as it slowly disconnects us from the real world and real people. No thanks to social media, the 'digital drug' that's getting us hooked.
I plan to make phone-free days a habit rather than a one-off challenge.
– Sheela Pai, 63, retired Indian banker
3.
The digital detox challenge is something I do regularly.
I often take time away from gadgets. Even on a daily basis, I have set a time limit after which phone usage is only to attend to important calls. Instead of spending hours scrolling , I love to read and write.
For news updates, I prefer to listen to the radio or read the newspaper. Going for regular evening walks with my son Parth is a must, which gives us time to connect with nature, observing the sunset and sunrise, listening to chirping birds from dawn to dusk - it uplifts me. And, I never carry the phone.
Meditating on a regular basis also helps me distract myself from screens.
I am happy, calm and relaxed when I step away from my device. I have observed that I don't crave screentime and continue to pursue my hobbies and have meaningful interactions with loved ones.
– Parul Sharma, 40, Indian homemaker and part-time teacher
4.
GDN and GulfWeekly reporter Nader Adnan also accepted the challenge! Here's what he had to say.
Going into this challenge. I avoided all screen time, except occasionally checking my phone for urgent or work-related messages.
I avoided social media in its entirety, and learned very quickly that I did not miss it.
It was refreshing going through the day without negativity or doom scrolling. Instead, I went through my camera – photography is one of my hobbies – and discovered a couple of new settings and features I've never seen before!
I like going for walks and usually do so with headphones. No screen time however meant no music, and it felt weird walking around the neighbourhood without songs in my ears. I ended up actually observing my surroundings more mindfully.
I realised that other than a couple of instances here and there, I did not really miss my phone that much, although it did feel weird paying for something in cash instead of BenefitPay!