Me, My Phone & A Break-Up: Practicing the Art of Unplugging

The other day, my daughter asked, “Mumma, is your phone your best friend?”
Ouch. That hit deeper than any WhatsApp forward ever could.

That’s when I knew—it was time to unplug. Not just from the charger, but from the chaos. So I did it. I declared a digital detox war… and surprisingly, I’m winning (okay, 60-40, but still).

“You don’t have to delete your apps; just stop letting them run your life.”

Now, instead of doom-scrolling reels, I sit on the balcony watching real-life comedy: my kids arguing over who saw the moon first. I swapped blue light for sunlight, likes for laughs, and background noise for birdsong (and the occasional pressure cooker whistle).

I’ve started using an actual alarm clock. My phone now sleeps in the living room — we’re in a long-distance relationship. I even made a “no-screen jar” — every hour away from my phone earns me ₹10. I’m halfway to buying myself a guilt-free pastry.

“Logging out isn’t disconnecting. It’s re-connecting—with presence, with people, with peace.”

Is it easy? Nope. My fingers still twitch at phantom notifications. I once reached for my phone while brushing — out of pure habit! But I remind myself daily: I’m not a robot. I don’t need updates every 10 seconds to feel alive.

My screen-free moments now sparkle with conversations, quiet, and coffee sips that don’t turn cold.

Thought to Ponder:
“If the Wi-Fi went down for a day, would your mind panic… or finally breathe?”

Try unplugging. The world won’t end. But your inner world might just begin.