The Digital Itch: A 20-Minute Battle with My Phone

Last night, I took a 20-minute bus ride at 11:30 PM. The streets were quiet, the bus was moving at a satisfying clip, and the passengers—mostly people in their 30s and 40s—were settled in for the night.

I made a promise to myself: I would not look at my phone. Since I usually drive, I rarely get the chance to simply be a passenger—to watch the buildings go by and see the city from a different perspective. I wanted to be present. I wanted to enjoy the view.

Yet, I found myself constantly fighting the urge to reach into my bag. Two or three times, I succumbed. I found myself scrolling through clothing sites, looking for something "interesting" to fill the silence. It struck me as strange: When did the view of a real city become less interesting than a TikTok video?

I kept telling myself, "Put it away. Just look outside." But the pull of the digital bubble was too strong. Even though I was in a beautiful, moving moment, I couldn't fully block the habit of scrolling. I arrived home realizing that while I was physically on that bus, mentally, I was miles away in a screen.

Let's have a digital detox on the next trip.

1. Keep your phone inside your bag

2. Look out the window.

3. Watch the people inside the bus(without being creepy) 

4.When your hand instinctively reaches for your phone, stop. Ask yourself: What am I trying to escape right now?

The Goal: To arrive at your stop feeling like you actually traveled through the city, rather than just teleporting from one digital bubble to another.

What do you think ? Are we able to do that?Share with me your experience.