Event 2: (attempted) 24hr Unplug Challenge

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 On Tuesday, May 13, I attempted the 24-hour unplug challenge. Since I had class that day, I brought a notebook and pen to take notes instead of using my iPad like I usually do. After class, I got my car washed and was back at my apartment around 11:30 a.m. That’s when the boredom started to creep in. “There are entire programming teams that come up with ways to have us constantly coming back for more (Helu).” I hadn’t realized how often I reach for my phone to scroll, play games, or just fill time. Without it, I felt restless and disconnected.

I warmed up some leftover pasta for lunch and tried to enjoy it mindfully, but my brain kept searching for distractions. I seriously considered giving up right then. I felt like I had nothing to do. Eventually, I pulled out a set of LEGO flowers my boyfriend gave me and spent time building them, which was very relaxing. “Experts think LEGO might have some of the same benefits as practices like meditation, which help people focus on the present instead of worrying about the past or the future (Britannica School).” I also used my digital camera (no Wi-Fi!) to take a few pictures for fun. Later, I took a nap just to pass the time. Normally, I scroll on my phone before sleeping, but without it, I still managed to fall asleep.

Picture taken from my digital camera after I finished both LEGO flower sets.

When I woke up, I felt a little more motivated. I did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, and tidied up my room. I read a book on my Kindle, which doesn’t have internet access, so I figured it wasn’t cheating. I was still pretty bored, though, so I even tried to relearn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube from memory, with no instructions or YouTube tutorials.

The book series that I'm reading on my Kindle (Picture taken on my digital camera).

For dinner, I cooked a meal for my boyfriend and me, and we ate on the roof while watching the sunset, which was absolutely gorgeous that night. That was probably my favorite part of the day. It felt peaceful, and I was fully present. In total, I lasted from 7 a.m. until around 11 p.m. before I caved. I just didn’t have enough activities planned to keep myself occupied for the full 24 hours.

The beautiful sunset that I got to watch (Picture taken on my digital camera).

Looking back, I think trying this on a weekday with school and no prep wasn’t ideal. If I try it again, I’ll plan for a weekend with no homework and make a list of things to do to avoid the boredom. Many other college students have tried this 24-hour unplug challenge, and I feel like most feel the same as I did. “College students who abstained from using media for 24 hours describe their feelings in terms more commonly associated with drug and alcohol addictions: Withdrawal, Frantically craving, Very anxious, Extremely antsy, Miserable, Jittery, Crazy (Bart).” This challenge made me realize how dependent I’ve become on my phone and how much I use it to avoid stillness. It was hard, but eye-opening.



Works Cited

Bart, Mary. “College Students Unplugged: 24 Hours without Media Brings Feelings of Boredom, Isolation, Anxiety.” Faculty Focus, 27 May 2010, https://www.facultyfocus.com/uncategorized/college-students-unplugged-24-hours-without-media-brings-feelings-of-boredom-isolation-anxiety/. Accessed 14 May 2025.

Britannica School. “LEGO-Building Can Be a Stress Buster.” News EB, https://news.eb.com/level2/lego-building-can-be-a-stress-buster/#:~:text=Experts%20think%20LEGO%20might%20have,that%20they%20cause%20more%20stress. Accessed 14 May 2025.

Helu, Christian. “How Apps Keeps Us Hooked.” Icanhelp, 7 December 2023, https://www.icanhelp.net/blog/how-apps-keeps-us-hooked?utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=4569829022&hsa_cam=22016337351&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaigni.  Accessed 14 May 2025.

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