Our phones should be tools that help us, but a lot of the time, it feels like our devices are actually the ones in control.
They buzz 1,000 times a day, and somehow every time it feels urgent, even if it’s just someone giving their two cents in the group chat, or a shop bugging you because you haven’t spent any money there lately. A texting fast—intentionally stepping back from your phone for a set period of time—may immediately sound intensely stressful, but it might actually be the reset your brain’s been begging for.
It’s nothing as dramatic as throwing your phone into the ocean (and far, far less expensive), and it turns out there’s a whole list of amazing things that happen when you set aside time to give your thumbs a break. Here are 10 major benefits that can make it worth trying out for yourself.
Actually Being Present in Your Own Life
When you’re not constantly checking texts, you start noticing things the little things again, from the delicious smell of your cup of coffee to what your friend is actually saying at lunch. Being present may sound like a buzzword, but it’s only become one because it legitimately changes how enjoyable your day can feel. To make the most of it, try leaving your phone in another room or in a bag where you won’t touch it during hangouts so you’re not tempted to check it, even just for a second.
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Feeling Less Anxious
There’s a very specific variety of stress tied to watching those three dots appear and disappear, or waiting for someone to text back after you’ve poured your heart out. Even if you don’t realize it, that can be a big strain on your nervous system. Stepping away from texting for a while can lower that constant low-grade anxiety you invisibly carry with you each day. Pay attention to how your body feels a few hours in. You just might notice that you feel less tense, without even trying.
Getting Better Sleep
Even though we all do it, scrolling before bed is pretty awful for our sleep. Not only does the stimulation keep your brain wired when you should be winding down, but all of that bright light works to keep you wide awake, too. A texting fast, especially in the evening, can vastly improve your sleep quality. Try setting a “phone bedtime” an hour before yours, and charge your phone across the room so you’re not tempted to check it one last time.
Also read about: 10 Things Insomniacs Can Do Instead of Checking Their Phones
Getting Way More Done
We’re frequently guilty of starting a task, getting a text in the middle of it and getting so sucked up in replying that an hour passes before we return to it. Even when it feels harmless, texting can be a major focus killer. Taking a break from it means your brain gets to fully finish one job before jumping to the next. Try using a focus mode or put your phone on Do Not Disturb during work blocks to protect that concentration.
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Deepened Friendships
It may sound counterintuitive at first, but less texting can actually spell better, more authentic friendships. After all, in-person hangouts and phone calls carry way more emotional weight than a string of texts ever could. As your conversations get more real, your personal connections are likely to deepen, too. Use your fast as an excuse to plan actual one-on-one time or calls instead of defaulting to text.
Spending Less Time Imagining Nonexistent Drama
We’ve all spent way too long dissecting a text that said “k” instead of “okay!” Removing yourself from constant texting means you’re not spiraling over tone, punctuation or response times nearly as much. If a specific conversation is stressing you out, that’s your sign to let it breathe for a bit instead of rereading it for the 10th time.
Also read about: This Is What Your Texting Style Reveals About You
Reconnecting With Your Passions
When your hands aren’t busy texting, they’re free to do all the things you’re convinced you don’t have time for anymore. Whether that means pick up a novel, a sketchbook, a guitar or anything else, it’s the perfect opportunity to do the things you’ve been “meaning” to get back into. A lot of hobbies get quietly abandoned simply because social media fills every spare moment. Keep something you love within arm’s reach during your fast so it’s the easy, obvious replacement, and see where it takes you.
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Disconnecting From FOMO
It might seem like stepping away from your phone would make FOMO worse, but it’s often the opposite. Constant texting and social media use keeps you plugged into every plan and bit of drama in real time, which can actually amplify anxiety about what you’re missing out on. A little distance reminds you that life keeps moving on fine without needing your input and instant reaction. Give yourself permission to catch up later instead of needing to know immediately, and FOMO turns to JOMO.
Also read about: Why You Should Embrace JOMO, or the Joy of Missing Out
Comparing Yourself Less
Texting often comes bundled with checking other apps, and that constant loop of comparing your life, plans and accomplishments to everyone else’s highlight reel is exhausting. Stepping back interrupts that comparison spiral, even briefly. Use the extra time to check in with yourself instead. We recommend journaling, even if it’s just jotting down your current thoughts and feelings in a note. Simply sitting with your thoughts can also be a great replacement.
Being the One in Control
At the end of the day, we think that proving you’re in control of your phone (and not the other way around) might be the biggest benefit of all. So many of us fail to realize how much our phones dictate our moods and attention, even once we put them down. Even a short texting fast can help you recognize that you’re the one in charge. If you need to, smart small with a few hours or a single evening away from the phone and build up from there. The goal isn’t to quit texting forever, so little steps and remembering you have a choice can make a world of difference.
For the times we are glued to our phones and deciphering messages from our crushes, HERE is a breakdown of what the most popular emojis really mean.
