Ten days ago my smartphone died.

And because I’m a/ indecisive, b/ a three times AND length of time convincer type person and c/ more than a little bit uncomfortable with change, especially with regards to technology (I know, I know… ironic huh?) it has taken me this long to choose a new phone, decide on a new plan and actually order the damn thing.

The last ten days have been… weird.  That’s the only word I can think of to describe it.

I’m not someone who is constantly on their phone throughout the day.  I’ll check text messages when they come in (though I don’t really get all that many), but all other noisy notifications are turned off because I prefer to check emails and Facebook on my laptop first thing in the morning and then again in the evening once the girls are in bed rather than in lots of short bursts throughout the day.  I also try very hard to be present when the girls are with me during the day, and that means not being distracted by my phone.

Even so, I’m aware that I often find myself reaching for my phone to check the weather forecast, or to check what reminders I’ve set myself for the day, or to snap a quick photo.  I’m probably on it more than I realise.

So in a way, this temporary enforced unplugging has been a bit of a refreshing relief.

It has however made things awkward.  Lola’s teacher wasn’t able to get hold of me when Lola got heatstroke on the last day of term (which also happened to be the hottest day of the year so far).  I didn’t get any messages from my Mum to let me know that she’d arrived safely when she went on holiday.  My friend couldn’t make the coffee-date we’d arranged and needed to cancel at the last minute, but I didn’t get her text.  And so it goes on.  Mere practicalities, yes, but important ones.

The thing I’ve noticed most though, is how disconnected I’ve felt emotionally.  I’ve been on Facebook on my laptop and read peoples status updates and commented on photos, but it’s not quite the same as having a one-to-one conversation with someone – whether via text or on the phone.  I spend the vast majority of my days either with my girls, with my clients or on my own.  Being a Mum and being a therapist can be quite lonely professions.

Not being able to connect with my husband throughout the day has been a challenge – we normally send a couple of texts backwards and forwards to find out how each other’s days have been so far, or to check on whether the girls are ok, or to tell each other something important that we know we’ll forget by the time we see each other if we don’t tell them straight away.

Not being able to get in touch with my Mum (who isn’t on Facebook), especially while she’s been on holiday and therefore unable to have the two-or-three-times-a-week chat that we normally have has been hard too. I’ve missed her.

And I’ve missed the banter with my friends.

I finally received my new phone yesterday, and while it’s pretty similar to my old one it’s taken me a bit of time to get used to it.  I already feel more connected having exchanged a few texts with people, and it’s good to know that I’ve got it with me in case of an emergency too – I hadn’t realised how vulnerable I’d felt being without it every time I left the house.

I have also taken the plunge and joined the wonders of Instagram (@HypnoChlo).

So what have the last ten days taught me?

I guess that unplugging is good for many, many reasons.  I knew that already but don’t make the choice often enough to do it.  Having it forced upon me through circumstances beyond my control meant that there was nothing I could do about it and therefore had to just get on with things in the best way that I could.  And I survived. 🙂  I think I’ll be making the choice to unplug more regularly from now on.

I also learnt that connecting with people on a one-to-one level (even if it is via technology rather than in person in this disjointed, far-flung, online world we live in) is what helps to keep me sane.  I am most definitely an introvert and can happily spend time in my own company, but I do need to feel connected to something or someone in order to know I’m still here and that I matter.  Read into that what you will.

How would you cope if you were without a phone for ten days?  Would you manage just fine?  Or would you feel anxious and disconnected?  What do you think you might learn about yourself?