16 years. My parents gave me a cell phone as soon as we could drive just in case we had an emergency in. So 16 years... all of these were flip phones with no internet just text messaging and phone calls. Because I feel old now
I think I was 13 before I had my first phone, and it was a flip phone. Nothing more satisfying than that *smack* when you closed it after a conversation!
The longest I've gone without my phone is about 48 hours. It was during a camping trip with friends, and we had no signal. At first, it was super tough, but we ended up having some amazing conversations and bonding moments. It was a great reminder that there's more to life than just our screens.
I think finding myself in a situation where I have no choice but to be without my phone would be best case scenario. Out of my control, then oh well haha!!
My screen time is just as alarming. I’ll be either on my phone or my tablet. Playing games, watching Netflix, scrolling social media. I think I’m gonna go blind soon with how much I stare at my screen. Lol
I do use it a little lesser when I travel. Tho I still need my phone to navigate where I go. I probably going to try long hike. Good for eyes and soul. Being in nature stop me from looking at my phone. I guess we should try going out more. The more I stay cooped up in my house, the more I’ll spend staring at my phone.
I agree with that, but I also feel like there’s not really that big of a reason to have it most days, you know?
Thank you for your service! I bet the phone was the least of your worries!
You mean other than the first roughly 14 years of my life (19 if we're defining "phone" as "smartphone")? I've gone maybe a day with a nonfunctional/powered-off phone. I don't like to go *completely* offline because I want to be in reach if some sort of shit goes down with one of my parents or a close friend (or the other way around, some shit goes down with me and I need to call for help)
If you are allowing exceptions for a handful of practical utility apps (alarm clock, calendar, music playback, driving and/or hiking navigation), I am confident that I could and have gone a entire weekend if not longer. I have no social media, if I have my out-of-office on I don't bother looking at my email, and most of the time when I have a proper day off I don't really have any desire to text or talk to anybody. If I'm hiking in the mountains I'm probably in a no-service zone for most of the day. Again, might use the phone to take pictures and to look up a restaurant to eat at after the hike, but I'm not using it for "phone stuff". I suppose if I wanted to I *could* get out my old alarm clock, a pocket calendar, my old iPod (/CD collection), Garmin GPS and digital camera, and go entirely phone-free, but that seems like an awful lot of effort just to prove a point.
unintentionally while hospitalized for about 5 days! i also have lately felt bad about my screentime (can't work right now because of chronic illness) so on my phone i went into settings and put on time limits on certain apps that i use a lot!
You have a good sense of humor. Some days I forget to check mine. Please note that I can not have my cell phone at work and usually that's at least 9 hours.
Just went without one for 6 months until the other day. It’s really freeing not having it. I promise you, you ain’t missing much. Life goes on without you having your phone every minute. It sucks when you want to google things though that’s about it.
I probably couldn’t go that long due to the business aspect, maybe. But then again, this same business was ran in the 60s from a wall phone without an answering machine!
3 days. Happens every time I go camping (which I do twice a year). I actually look forward to it.
Once in a while I’ll use some dumb devices like an iPod or digital camera. But most trips I let others control music and take pictures, so I’m totally free of using any devices.
We always try to camp by water. Sometimes we’ll swim for hours or even just wade through the water, or hang out on floats. And with the water, you always have a nice view.
Usually there’s some lite hiking involved. Cooking will always take up time. Lots of conversations about fun or deep topics. I usually bring a sketch pad that I can draw in or write in. Some of my friends will bring books to read.
Usually my friend will connect his phone or iPod, so we have some music, despite there being no cellular signal.
Collecting twigs, branches and leaves to get a fire going can be fun and takes up some time.
Even though the setup and breakdown of the tents and food is a bit inconvenient, it certainly takes up time, and can make for some funny moments. For instance, once my friends dog jumped on my tent when I trying to stand it up.
Also there’s no shortage of things to focus on visually. I’ve seen bald eagles, raccoons, beavers, tons of different birds, etc.
Night time is fun too. I’ve heard Owls and Coyotes at night. And I’ve also been able to see the more stars than I’ve ever seen. Once I was faintly able to make out the glow of the Milky Way 🌌
6 months. I had to find unique ways to get around not using it. It was stressful at times but also relaxing at times. Phones weigh us down, and in the opposite hand they provide a convenience for us.
Depression, stress and the need for self dependency capabilities. Think of your phone like a pocket knife, a great tool but also a great burden. Instead of being solely dependent on it, you have to find other methods to complete the task at hand. When necessary, it works, but what do you do when you don’t have it?
I can't remember if it was late 2018 or early 2019, but went 6 months without phone/internet. Was tough for the first week but after that it got easier and easier.
Really the only reason I got a phone plan again was safety. I did a lot of road tripping and exploring on the weekends and realized I was pretty SOL if something happened.
Over two weeks cause I was in a mental hospital lol. It was nice not having it honestly but I just worried about what was going on in the outside world. Also it was so weird getting my phone back and looking at it. The screen felt so weird to look at
Fully? Maybe a day or two? But for serious reduced usage, maybe like 2 weeks. I don’t really use it when on vacation, but I often still need use of navigation apps and maintain contact with family in that time.
Some years ago, I did a 9-day hike in Sweden. Some areas had connectivity, but I was not as hooked to all the online things I am today, and I was carrying a rough-and-ready phone with no touch screen etc. I literally didn't switch the phone on during all that time. I was hiking with my best friend, and altering between his company and concentrating on the surroundings was all I needed. [Here's a picture link](https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x466c34e5b391db53%3A0x5647d825f41f796f!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOkIFE1qIOvJEWbv2B7uMcd03Zrh3oFJxarQwxk%3Dw720-h180-n-k-no!5ssyltj%C3%B6nna%20-%20Google-haku!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipOkIFE1qIOvJEWbv2B7uMcd03Zrh3oFJxarQwxk&hl=fi&ved=1t%3A199055&ictx=111) (google image search) to one of the lakes we camped by.
Like for two weeks in 2017. I always lost/broke my phone so my parents refused to buy me a new one till they realized they need me to have one more than I do. I couldn’t do it in 2024 tho
For the first 20 years of my life. To be fair, those were the times before smartphones were invented. My life felt so much calmer back then without the constant information overload.
In more modern times, it was two weeks or so. My only worry was that someone might try to contact me for an important reason and get really annoyed.
Eh like two years! We also didn’t have internet. My roommate and I in like 2014. Too broke at the time so we did a lot of crafts, went out drinking like it was the 90s, biked to the nearby beach (maybe 15km away) and watched DVDs of community and the office a lot. We would even watch Vikings with candles on and I learned to embroider lol. I have really fond memories of it actually!
My wages got garnished for something I did a while back. I couldn't afford a phone. So I didn't have one the whole time. I loved it. Unfortunately I had to get one for works payroll and insurance, etc.
I use my phone as my 5:15am alarm, look at a couple news stories, then get up. Its in my bag ALL DAY. I get home and glance to see if I had any messages, then work outside in my yard. I go to bed with my phone and sometimes I see I had an evening text, the next day. Sometimes I take it outside to take pics of plants/flowers. Every couple days, I look at FB. I'd much rather check my laptop for email, etc.
I think the longest time I didnt use my phone at all was on a 3 hour train ride. I let my kids take turns using it to play minecraft, and I was able to finish my book.
It was honestly so nice not having any distractions. Wish I could go on phone less trips once in a while.
About 15 days because it went for repair and had to go somewhere else due to some major issues. It didn't get fixed and I bought another.
After that I didn't feel like using it but then slowly I went back to the old momentum
This whole 'too much screen time is bad' narrative is just another way for the media to grab our attention and make money.
No one's actually asking the only important question, which is WHAT are you doing on your phone. As you've said, it's important for your work. Our entire lives are moving into virtual space now.
You should try challenging people on the chronic illness sub on this question, oh boy, talk about unleashing hell's fury! Quite rightly they will tell you to go fuck yourself, the only lifeline they have is their phone, they have made a bearable life for themselves through their phone, otherwise their lives would be hell. The point being, it's about what you do, not how much time you're spending on it.
So I sorta agree with you. I don’t know anything about media, it stresses me out too much so I avoid it. What I’m mostly getting at is I tend to feel “jealous” of things like the influencers doing less than me but having more than me. I found when I deleted instagram that I wasn’t so stressed with day to day things in a way.
Im mostly concerned with how much it consumes me, not necessarily what I do with it. like right now, I’m not folding laundry because I’m replying to people haha!!
3 weeks. I just get bored looking at my phone for more than 1 hour at a time. This was during the summer, it went flat and I just left it on the shelf for 3 weeks whilst working from home (I used my laptop for this).
I did a week long digital detox retreat at Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal. They take your phone on the way in and keep you relaxed the entire time.
That sounds like something I need honestly
It was different but nice!
It sounds like it! Was it stressful at first?
Dm and I’ll go on and on about it with you.
I’m gonna DM you about this!!
I think I reached my DM limit for the day haha!!
Interested in this as well
$486 for one night? 🤯 I’ll just lock my phone in a drawer instead, lol.
16 years. My parents gave me a cell phone as soon as we could drive just in case we had an emergency in. So 16 years... all of these were flip phones with no internet just text messaging and phone calls. Because I feel old now
I think I was 13 before I had my first phone, and it was a flip phone. Nothing more satisfying than that *smack* when you closed it after a conversation!
Flip phones were the last time it felt satisfying to hang up on someone.
The longest I've gone without my phone is about 48 hours. It was during a camping trip with friends, and we had no signal. At first, it was super tough, but we ended up having some amazing conversations and bonding moments. It was a great reminder that there's more to life than just our screens.
I think finding myself in a situation where I have no choice but to be without my phone would be best case scenario. Out of my control, then oh well haha!!
I once went on a 3-day camping trip with no phone signal, and honestly, it was the most refreshing experience ever.
I have a GMRS radio so I think I could do that workout worrying about emergency situations!
When I sleep 💤 😅
I agree there haha!!
My screen time is just as alarming. I’ll be either on my phone or my tablet. Playing games, watching Netflix, scrolling social media. I think I’m gonna go blind soon with how much I stare at my screen. Lol
I feel that honestly. My screen time notification each week is alarming
I do use it a little lesser when I travel. Tho I still need my phone to navigate where I go. I probably going to try long hike. Good for eyes and soul. Being in nature stop me from looking at my phone. I guess we should try going out more. The more I stay cooped up in my house, the more I’ll spend staring at my phone.
Me too. I find myself not using it much on a hike!
It’s hard to do in day to day life when there isn’t a reason not to have it. 9 months when I was deployed
I agree with that, but I also feel like there’s not really that big of a reason to have it most days, you know? Thank you for your service! I bet the phone was the least of your worries!
The first 13 or 14 years of my life.
What about after the fact?
Probably about 3 weeks during a trip.
Sometimes I’ll let my phone die and refuse to charge it for a whole day and night. If people really need to reach me my girlfriend knows to answer.
I have this itch that I can’t see my phone battery below 50%. 😐
You mean other than the first roughly 14 years of my life (19 if we're defining "phone" as "smartphone")? I've gone maybe a day with a nonfunctional/powered-off phone. I don't like to go *completely* offline because I want to be in reach if some sort of shit goes down with one of my parents or a close friend (or the other way around, some shit goes down with me and I need to call for help) If you are allowing exceptions for a handful of practical utility apps (alarm clock, calendar, music playback, driving and/or hiking navigation), I am confident that I could and have gone a entire weekend if not longer. I have no social media, if I have my out-of-office on I don't bother looking at my email, and most of the time when I have a proper day off I don't really have any desire to text or talk to anybody. If I'm hiking in the mountains I'm probably in a no-service zone for most of the day. Again, might use the phone to take pictures and to look up a restaurant to eat at after the hike, but I'm not using it for "phone stuff". I suppose if I wanted to I *could* get out my old alarm clock, a pocket calendar, my old iPod (/CD collection), Garmin GPS and digital camera, and go entirely phone-free, but that seems like an awful lot of effort just to prove a point.
I see what you mean, your phone is more of a tool for you that you don’t always need!
unintentionally while hospitalized for about 5 days! i also have lately felt bad about my screentime (can't work right now because of chronic illness) so on my phone i went into settings and put on time limits on certain apps that i use a lot!
I might do the same!
You have a good sense of humor. Some days I forget to check mine. Please note that I can not have my cell phone at work and usually that's at least 9 hours.
Thank you! I try to stay fun and look for joys In everything! I check mine every 15 minutes it seems
18 years..
Wow I think that’s the longest one yet in this comment section!
🗡️
12 years before I got my first phone
Same for me! I
First 15 years of my life
Mine was 12-13 years!
Just went without one for 6 months until the other day. It’s really freeing not having it. I promise you, you ain’t missing much. Life goes on without you having your phone every minute. It sucks when you want to google things though that’s about it.
I probably couldn’t go that long due to the business aspect, maybe. But then again, this same business was ran in the 60s from a wall phone without an answering machine!
3 days. Happens every time I go camping (which I do twice a year). I actually look forward to it. Once in a while I’ll use some dumb devices like an iPod or digital camera. But most trips I let others control music and take pictures, so I’m totally free of using any devices.
What do you do when you go camping? I love hiking so I do that often but I’m afraid I’d get bored camping, I’ve never been
We always try to camp by water. Sometimes we’ll swim for hours or even just wade through the water, or hang out on floats. And with the water, you always have a nice view. Usually there’s some lite hiking involved. Cooking will always take up time. Lots of conversations about fun or deep topics. I usually bring a sketch pad that I can draw in or write in. Some of my friends will bring books to read. Usually my friend will connect his phone or iPod, so we have some music, despite there being no cellular signal. Collecting twigs, branches and leaves to get a fire going can be fun and takes up some time. Even though the setup and breakdown of the tents and food is a bit inconvenient, it certainly takes up time, and can make for some funny moments. For instance, once my friends dog jumped on my tent when I trying to stand it up. Also there’s no shortage of things to focus on visually. I’ve seen bald eagles, raccoons, beavers, tons of different birds, etc. Night time is fun too. I’ve heard Owls and Coyotes at night. And I’ve also been able to see the more stars than I’ve ever seen. Once I was faintly able to make out the glow of the Milky Way 🌌
I don't know, but I don't use my phone very much. The screen is too small for me.
I’m nearsighted so it’s no problem for me! Always smack in my face haha!!
6 months. I had to find unique ways to get around not using it. It was stressful at times but also relaxing at times. Phones weigh us down, and in the opposite hand they provide a convenience for us.
Yin and Yang! What made you decide to do that?
Depression, stress and the need for self dependency capabilities. Think of your phone like a pocket knife, a great tool but also a great burden. Instead of being solely dependent on it, you have to find other methods to complete the task at hand. When necessary, it works, but what do you do when you don’t have it?
Good points, I’ll take that into consideration!
Technically about the first 22-23 years of my life and those first several phones weren't even that interesting.
From when I was 0 to about 13 years old
Two days, at a music festival in New Hampshire. First I lost signal, then I lost battery. It was awesome.
I didn’t get a phone until I was 22… so… 22 years.
A week or so
I want the say 16? I got one shortly after I got my driving permit for emergency purposes. Otherwise, I've had one most of my adult life.
Probably 48 hours until I needed to use google maps for something. It’s the best feeling not feeling too tethered to it.
I’m trying to get there!
About 20 years 😂
I went without my phone for 7 days. I left it in my car flew to another state. Didn’t even miss it.
I can't remember if it was late 2018 or early 2019, but went 6 months without phone/internet. Was tough for the first week but after that it got easier and easier. Really the only reason I got a phone plan again was safety. I did a lot of road tripping and exploring on the weekends and realized I was pretty SOL if something happened.
Over two weeks cause I was in a mental hospital lol. It was nice not having it honestly but I just worried about what was going on in the outside world. Also it was so weird getting my phone back and looking at it. The screen felt so weird to look at
I could see that. I think the most disheartening thing for me is I wouldn’t have any notifications haha!!
I was forced to a psych ward for a week when i was 12 and we werent allowed any electronics or tv it was so miserable
I can imagine that not being the best situation
Technically, like 7 years, then another 8 years. First 15 years of my life were pretty much phoneless
Fully? Maybe a day or two? But for serious reduced usage, maybe like 2 weeks. I don’t really use it when on vacation, but I often still need use of navigation apps and maintain contact with family in that time.
13 years, seriously.
Some years ago, I did a 9-day hike in Sweden. Some areas had connectivity, but I was not as hooked to all the online things I am today, and I was carrying a rough-and-ready phone with no touch screen etc. I literally didn't switch the phone on during all that time. I was hiking with my best friend, and altering between his company and concentrating on the surroundings was all I needed. [Here's a picture link](https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x466c34e5b391db53%3A0x5647d825f41f796f!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOkIFE1qIOvJEWbv2B7uMcd03Zrh3oFJxarQwxk%3Dw720-h180-n-k-no!5ssyltj%C3%B6nna%20-%20Google-haku!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipOkIFE1qIOvJEWbv2B7uMcd03Zrh3oFJxarQwxk&hl=fi&ved=1t%3A199055&ictx=111) (google image search) to one of the lakes we camped by.
Idk 4 days because I was camping? I use my phone because it’s there. I don’t get the dopamine rush or whatever everybody seems to get.
3 days. That being said I did break my phone so there was really no choice of having it earlier
I’ve had that happen I think it was 2 days for me
Like for two weeks in 2017. I always lost/broke my phone so my parents refused to buy me a new one till they realized they need me to have one more than I do. I couldn’t do it in 2024 tho
I had a similar situation around 15 years old
For the first 20 years of my life. To be fair, those were the times before smartphones were invented. My life felt so much calmer back then without the constant information overload. In more modern times, it was two weeks or so. My only worry was that someone might try to contact me for an important reason and get really annoyed.
>I’m not sure though, if I’m really addicted or if it’s just a useful tool for me. Both things can be true!
From 1964-2010 😉
You win haha!!
Eh like two years! We also didn’t have internet. My roommate and I in like 2014. Too broke at the time so we did a lot of crafts, went out drinking like it was the 90s, biked to the nearby beach (maybe 15km away) and watched DVDs of community and the office a lot. We would even watch Vikings with candles on and I learned to embroider lol. I have really fond memories of it actually!
I need a roommate it sounds like!
2yrs and I loved it!
What’s the story on that?
My wages got garnished for something I did a while back. I couldn't afford a phone. So I didn't have one the whole time. I loved it. Unfortunately I had to get one for works payroll and insurance, etc.
I use my phone as my 5:15am alarm, look at a couple news stories, then get up. Its in my bag ALL DAY. I get home and glance to see if I had any messages, then work outside in my yard. I go to bed with my phone and sometimes I see I had an evening text, the next day. Sometimes I take it outside to take pics of plants/flowers. Every couple days, I look at FB. I'd much rather check my laptop for email, etc.
I think the longest time I didnt use my phone at all was on a 3 hour train ride. I let my kids take turns using it to play minecraft, and I was able to finish my book. It was honestly so nice not having any distractions. Wish I could go on phone less trips once in a while.
well, the first 45 years of my life I suppose.
9 months.
about 40 years or so
I'm on my phone A LOT but if my phone is stressing me out, I put it down and watch movies or something.
I’m trying to reduce my screen time all together but living in a rural area there’s not much to do besides phone or tv
3 weeks....it felt like the 70's all over again....at the time they did not begin removing all the pay phones yet.
My phone broke a few months ago and I went two months without one. It was really nice.
Think about a week, I would turn it off frequently in my early twenties.
I once went a full 13 years without a cell phone. Of course once I got one at age 13 I never went back but
I went phone free for a month.
5 minutes
Just think, there was a time when humanity existed, just fine, without lugging a phone around.
Overnight, fairly recently. Just left it at work and didn't want to go back. I remember mailing two letters and journaling.
I haven’t ever mailed a letter come to think of it!
About 15 days because it went for repair and had to go somewhere else due to some major issues. It didn't get fixed and I bought another. After that I didn't feel like using it but then slowly I went back to the old momentum
I can see myself doing something similar in that situation
[удалено]
Most of the hiking I’ve done, I haven’t seen anyone else on the trails!
This whole 'too much screen time is bad' narrative is just another way for the media to grab our attention and make money. No one's actually asking the only important question, which is WHAT are you doing on your phone. As you've said, it's important for your work. Our entire lives are moving into virtual space now. You should try challenging people on the chronic illness sub on this question, oh boy, talk about unleashing hell's fury! Quite rightly they will tell you to go fuck yourself, the only lifeline they have is their phone, they have made a bearable life for themselves through their phone, otherwise their lives would be hell. The point being, it's about what you do, not how much time you're spending on it.
So I sorta agree with you. I don’t know anything about media, it stresses me out too much so I avoid it. What I’m mostly getting at is I tend to feel “jealous” of things like the influencers doing less than me but having more than me. I found when I deleted instagram that I wasn’t so stressed with day to day things in a way. Im mostly concerned with how much it consumes me, not necessarily what I do with it. like right now, I’m not folding laundry because I’m replying to people haha!!
3 weeks. I just get bored looking at my phone for more than 1 hour at a time. This was during the summer, it went flat and I just left it on the shelf for 3 weeks whilst working from home (I used my laptop for this).
I went without a cell phone/smartphone for 10 years. Its a bit impossible to not have one now.