This piece is part of a short series in which I’m documenting my experience of putting myself on a phone diet. For a week, I’m publishing a short daily reflection on my experience.
Monday 13 February
Today was the most “normal” day so far. Being Monday, my family was out of the house for much of the day and I stuck to my usual routine, including, among other things, a longish walk and doing chores around the house. Until I put myself on this diet, I’ve always done my walk and chores with earbuds in my ears to relieve bordeom.
Before leaving for my walk, I thought about going upstairs to quickly check my email. But having to go to my geriatric laptop and wait for it to wake itself up provided enough friction to deter me. I had no real need to check it right then anyway, it could wait until I got back. I’m definitely keen to keep email off my phone after this diet. I still catch myself mindlessly picking up my phone to check emails but I feel kind of relieved when I realise that I can’t.
I set out for my walk without my phone as I’m finding that not having it near me makes me less twitchy to use it. I was a bit anxious leaving the house, wondering how I was going to manage being left with myself for so long and how I was going to motivate myself up “the big hill” (see Day 2). But I was fine! I got myself up the hill by reciting affirmations in rhythm with my steps and I really enjoyed having access to all of my senses through the bushy second half of my walk - usually, they’re turned off because I’m focussed on a podcast.
I’ve decided it’s time to wipe clean all the doors, wall switches and lights in our house as they’ve not been done properly since we moved into this house. My plan is to clean one room whenever I can. I’ll admit to starting in the lounge today so I could watch/listen to YouTube on the tv while I worked.
I’ll also admit that tonight’s dishes are still on the bench. I couldn’t face doing them alone in the kitchen (everyone else was upstairs) and without the company of something to listen to. I’d have enlisted my son’s help but felt I’d used up my “chore quota” by getting him to help clear leaves outside for an hour after dinner (in preparation for Cyclone Gabrielle). Once this experiment is over, I’ll be wanting to listen to interesting content again but not to fill every seemingly dull moment with it. While I’m doing chores feels like a good time to reserve listening to podcasts and audiobooks for.
To receive my Phone Diet Day 5 reflection in your inbox tomorrow, subscribe to Relatively True for free.