Digital detox: Why I switched off my phone

Every month without fail, I turn my phone off for 24 hours, writes Louise O’Neill.

The sense of relief is indescribable — I feel grounded, calm; I read more, I am able to concentrate on my work with a laser sharp focus. When I need to return to the real world of emails and text messages, I turn my phone back on, anxiety climbing up my body and lodging in my throat. Within minutes, I am exhausted again and it’s my own fault.

Recently, my father asked me to put credit (!) into his Nokia (!!) for him, and I looked at the ancient block of ‘technology’ with something between amusement and confusion. He has always hated the idea of being easily contactable, so much so that he refused to have a house phone installed when my sister and I were growing up. He bought a mobile phone begrudgingly, but he drew the line at the idea of a smart phone.