Could you go a year without a smartphone?

Written by Oscar, 2021 Cohort

Smartphones have become a very handy and extremely useful device in the modern-day that most people will have one in their pocket to help you maintain personal needs in daily life. However, could I go a year without a smartphone? This would definitely be a hard challenge. 

I averagely spend around 5 hours on my smartphone every day and I usually scroll through social media, communication apps to kill time or get the latest updates on what’s been happening around the world. I may be able to spend a week without a smartphone but not in a year. In a week I could find some entertainment or explore somewhere in the city and nature. These kinds of activities could bring a good mood and vibes for a week. The reason why I couldn’t do it for a year is that I need to keep in touch with my parents back from my country, get to know what are the latest updates happening around the world, communicate with friends so they may not have to be worry and use a GPS if I am lost on the way home. These are the reasons why I couldn’t go without a smartphone for a year. 

The benefits my phone has for my life? Having all great resources in just a tiny device, but how it negatively affects my daily life could be lack of direct communication with others, such as my wife, she doesn’t like that I’m always on my phone while spending time with her. If I didn’t have a smartphone, I could spend more time doing what I am passionate about, going out to explore new places, and communicating with the ones close to me. On the other hand, I would not be able to find out the latest news on social media, check good places to visit, shop online, make reservations and make calls at ease. Would you be able to live without your phone?