“A weekend without my phone? That’s easy.”Boy, was I wrong. I had no idea my phone had become such a controlling presence in my life. The first time I tried this challenge, I lasted about 10 hours. But to be truthful, I started an hour before bedtime, so I slept through most of my impressive performance.Now I take the challenge at least once a year to prove I still can—and to give myself a break. It’s a chance to slow down, pay attention to the people around me, and enjoy something without reaching for my phone every few minutes.I made this list as a quick cheat sheet of useful items that can make a phone-free weekend more doable and enjoyable. My advice? Pick a weekend, let your people know, plan a way to handle emergencies, and put your phone away. Have a few things ready to do: write in a journal, read a book, take a walk, or dust off a hobby. An actual alarm clock helps eliminate that “but I need my phone” excuse. Ask me how I know.One other confession: not every item here is the exact product I used. Some I couldn’t find, so I included the same type of item.If you try the challenge, let me know. I’d love to be part of your cheering section. Who’s in charge—you or your phone? Let’s find out.Affiliate disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
