Unplugging: Finding Connection Beyond the Screen
On Saturday, I walked 28,900 steps, and the entire time, I was unplugged from my phone. Later that night, my phone reminded me of something shocking: my average screen time is 7 hours and 16 minutes a day. That’s nearly a full workday spent staring at a screen.
We’ve become so attached to our phones that they’re practically extensions of ourselves. Whether it’s mindless scrolling, catching up on the news, or sending memes and reels back and forth with friends, our screens often get in the way of real connection.
That day, as I walked those 28,000 steps alongside a friend, something clicked. This was connection—laughing together in real time, seeing their smile, hearing their tone, noticing the pauses and the jokes.
We walked through the zoo, watched skateboarders and bicyclists, heard children laughing and dogs barking, smelled freshly baked cookies, and even took our shoes off to feel the grass under our feet. For once, all five senses were fully engaged.
So often, we just coast. We set our minds on autopilot, get lost in routine, and wake up one day saying, “Where has the time gone?” or “It’s been years!” Much of that time has quietly disappeared into our screens, swallowed by the illusion of “staying connected” while we drift away from the world around us.
Why Our Phones Feel So Addictive
Our phones are built to capture and hold our attention. Every ping, notification, and scroll is carefully designed to give us small bursts of dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical.
When we see likes, messages, or breaking news, our brains light up just enough to keep us coming back. Over time, we start to crave those tiny hits of stimulation. But like any quick fix, they leave us feeling emptier in the long run—less grounded, less present, less fulfilled.
The more we chase digital connection, the more we risk losing the real thing.
Walking all day reminded me of a simpler time, a time when boredom wasn’t something to escape, but an invitation to explore. We didn’t need constant entertainment in our hands because the world itself was enough. The truth is, it still is.
The real world, full of smells, sounds, sights, and spontaneous conversations, is waiting for us to show up again.
After that long walk, I realized how much I’ve been burying myself in work and distractions, head down, missing the beauty right in front of me.
This Week’s Challenge
Try unplugging, even for a few hours.
Spend time with a friend without checking your phone
Go for a walk and engage all five senses—what do you see, smell, hear, feel, taste?
Reconnect with the world and people around you in real life
Let’s practice being fully present, not just online, but right here, where life is actually happening.
