I live attached to my phone. It has everything I could ever need, my contacts, music and mobile games. We never go anywhere without them, putting our phones on our desks during class and taking them to the bathroom, or freaking out when we can’t find it. 

So the idea of not using my phone at all, even for a couple of days, never seemed feasible. I knew I was attached to it, but everyone else is too, so I never thought about changing the habit.

But as the school year has started and I’ve been swamped with work from classes and extracurriculars, my phone has been a distraction and a cause of my stress. I’m constantly checking for texts, checking the news or getting caught scrolling on Instagram reels.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve tried to put away my phone while doing homework. I worried about what I might be missing out on, but I tried to remind myself that all the texts, news, and posts wouldn’t magically disappear because I didn’t see them within seconds. I would tell myself I have my own priorities, whether it was reading a memoir or writing a paper. At that moment, that was the “news” I was focusing on. My efforts paid off. I was able to concentrate on my homework and get it done more quickly and efficiently, taking only a few hours.

And when I stopped using my phone during downtime, I was able to absorb myself in having fun. On less busy weekends, I’ve tried to ignore my phone, from avoiding doomscrolling on Instagram and not immediately texting people back — apologies to my friends, family and Hatchet staff — and “live in the moment,” per the cliche. I was able to focus on the people in front of me, chatting with them about their day or problems instead of glancing at my phone every couple of minutes. I had almost forgotten what that connection felt like because I was always on my phone when I would hang out with someone.

It was also instant stress relief. I wasn’t thinking about the emails I would get from professors or another annoying GW email about my tuition bill or the texts I would get from family or friends. I know when I have work responsibilities or when I’m waiting for a text back or an email from a professor. I don’t need to be on my phone all the time waiting in fear of the notification. Not to mention the times I’m just scrolling through my feed aimlessly instead of doing homework or catching up on emails. 

I thought that avoiding my phone and ignoring the news or GW emails meant I would feel underprepared for the week ahead. But it only took me about half an hour of phone time to catch up.

Phones have become a critical part of almost everyone’s lives: how people communicate, interact, or inform themselves. It proves difficult when we try to separate ourselves from them. Phones can carry almost everything one can possibly need, but there’s always a lot more than can be done — and enjoyed — without them. 

Andrea Mendoza-Melchor, a junior majoring in journalism and mass communication, is the opinions editor.