June 2 opened my eyes to the media environment that I live in. 

I set the alarm on my phone to go off at 8 a.m., and, after that, I did not use my phone or any other form of electronic media for 24 hours. Inspired by a paper that a friend of mine was assigned in his media studies class, I decided to take the challenge, as well, and try to live a day without looking at any electronic screens.

Many of my peers say that they feel naked without their cell phones. Whether the battery is dead or they left it at home, people of this generation feel as if something as necessary and routine as clothing is missing when their phone is not on their person. 

I feel that a better way to describe this sensation, at least in my case, was that I was missing a limb. I did not realize this until I spent 24 hours without it, but my cell phone is an extension of myself. Without it, I lost an essential part of me. This project effectively amputated another appendage of mine, and, as anyone on crutches or in a wheelchair must do, I was forced to adjust my normal routines. Perhaps an extreme metaphor, but I believe this best describes the feeling of living without the modern conveniences that I have grown so accustomed to. 

Unable to watch TV, I read a Stephen King novel and caught up on my GQ subscription. Barred from my computer, I spent the time I would usually spend surfing the internet at the pool. These were not such devastating inconveniences, as I am able to entertain myself without watching 30 Rock reruns. 

It kept coming back to not being allowed to use my iPhone. I felt so disconnected, as I had no way of contacting my friends. I couldn’t pull up Instagram when I got bored. 

At the end of the day, there was no substantial self-revelation or “aha!” moment about society in the 21st century and how we are too connected to technology and not to the world around us. However, this exercise did make me realize how truly dependent I have become on my cell phone and other screens that absorb our attention. 

I challenge you to try to make it 24 hours without screens and determine for yourself if your reliance on technology is a little too much for comfort.