Comments on: Turn off your phone this weekend

By: Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:50:56 +0000

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.This is great. I’m doing this, this weekend. I love my phone but I also dislike the feeling of constantly checking it for a text, email, missed call. It’s like I’m not even enjoying my own life because I’m too busy consumed with things and people that are no where near me. You’re right, movie night turns into a situation where the movie is on but my phone is also right there and ever so often I’m looking down to respond to a text or pausing the movie to answer a phone about pretty much nothing. Even with business, it seems important because a request or agenda is right there in front of your face but honestly it won’t matter if I wait to respond to Monday morning. I’m taking my life and peace of mind this weekend. Thanks for this.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 15 May 2010 19:23:11 +0000

totally true in some ways. I’m a college student living in an apartment. My cell phone is my only phone (no landline). However, I could just leave my cell at home one day or something like that. Plus, sometimes I worry that if I were to fall and get hurt or something (My apartment is 2 stories and going down stairs when you’ve just woken up is not the safest but oftentimes a neccessity ) and my phone was upstairs and no one expected me to answer my phone it might take too long for them to realize that I’m not in communication because I can’t. (yes, somewhat unrealistice, but i knew someone that experienced something similar. She was in her dorm room on the phone with her mom when a heart condition she didn’t know she had reared it’s ugly head and she lost consciousness. Her mom called 911. Her roommates may or may not have noticed anything until it was far too late. She ended up passing away in the hospital, but without her mom calling 911 she likely never would have made it to the hospital and would have been dead for hours perhaps before her roommates went into her room.)

So anyway, I know this is kinda unlikely that anything similar would happen to me, but I can’t get it out of my head. However, recently I went home for the weekend and ended up leaving my phone charger there Sunday, It took until Tuesday afternoon to mail it so it didn’t show up until Thursday. My phone battery is at the point where it needs to be charged every other night, which would have been Sunday night. I managed to keep it off most of the time so I did get that relief of only checking my messages and texts occasionally. Plus I’m not a high-profile business person and I don’t have the internet on my phone so the only things I can do are call, text, and text in my facebook status (but I don’t get texts about the comments. I just wanted to be able to share funny kid quotes and other such things before i forgot them.)

Ok, wow, long comment! I do that though. Oh, and awesome article! So true! I’ve just stumbled on your blog so now I’m looking at all the fun blogs that you manage to hit on some hard truths but do it in a way that has everyone laughing and still taking you serious.

By: Sasha @The Happiness Project London

Sasha @The Happiness Project London — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:09:57 +0000

First, I LOVE the French House.

Second, I was thinking “how would I contact my friends” and then you said how.

Third, I travelled the world sans mobile and it was all “meet me in three weeks on Koh San road” and you’d still find each other. Went back in 2005 and everyone was texting! In Laos! Mental.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:48:17 +0000

Thanks Adam – glad you enjoyed it.

And spot on about the bar! Put it away for God’s sake!

There’s an awesome little pub in Soho, London, called the French House. They have a no phone policy. They don’t block your signal or anything, they just scream at you if you use it.

By: Adam B

Adam B — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:28:13 +0000

Another great post! I tell people this all the time, although I’ve never suggested it for an entire weekend. A buddy of mine and I have electronic communication blackout times. When I’m at the gym my phone is turned off and in a locker. When I visit my parents, my phone is turned off (the latter partly because it’s just rude to take calls while in someone else’s house).

Some people at the gym think it’s crazy. “I have business calls” they’ll say. I’m like, I’m sure you do, and that business will still be there an hour later. There’s no way someone will only work with you if you answer the phone RIGHT NOW!

Furthering my cell phone pet peeve are the people who live in their phones while at a bar, or other public places where you can meet people. I’ve told my buddy countless times, when you’re playing on your iPhone you’re NOT talking to the hot girl right next to you.

Even when it’s on we don’t HAVE to answer it.

Again, GREAT post!