How to leave your phone behind

The first few hours without a phone are the hardest. You'll reach for it out of habit, find it's not there, and feel a small jolt of panic. That's normal — and it passes.

What's on the other side is worth it: longer conversations, slower meals, and a strange new awareness of how much time you actually have.

You don't need a digital detox retreat to try this. Start with one meal, or one walk, completely unplugged. See what you notice.