Could You Live Without Your Phone?

WHAT WOULD you do with your time if you couldn’t use a cell phone, computer, or other digital device? Would you perish of boredom? Or would you feel happier and more relaxed? Some teens have tried it and lived to tell the tale.

- Kathryn Hulick

Many schools and other organizations have tried some form of a “tech timeout” or “unplug challenge.” In these experiments, groups of people give up their digital devices for a few days.

The experts running these challenges argue that technology often distracts us from more important things—like face to-face conversations, creative projects, and enjoying the outdoors. Ideally, taking away technology would increase your enjoyment of the real world, here and now.