cell less life: My forty days without cellphone
By coolmailraj
@coolmailraj (2460)
India
February 15, 2009 4:27am CST
When my brother presented me my first cell some three years ago, I didn't realized that it will be a really integral part of m life. But sooner then I realized I started it carrying with me 24x7. It became an essential part on mine.
Then when I was living with it, I thought that I have to live with it for ever.
But I have lived last 40 days without a cell phone.
I must say it wasn't easy specially in the beginning. I was kind of missing my cell phone not only because I wanted to talk to someone but at times only because I had to carry so many other gadgets like a mp3 player, a camera and all that. Some of my friend even complained that I am not living with them any more but then I stated loving the fact that there is no one that can call me at times when I least wanted to talk to that person(no one called me ever, but that is a different thing). No one disturbed me when I was riding or my hands were busy some place else and I could have not picked the call. There were no vibrations in my pants(pockets.....you you silly people, what you thought!)
It was nice actually. But now as I am moving to some place else I have to start carrying one again.
4 people like this
23 responses
@nilzerous1 (2434)
• India
16 Feb 09
It is extremely difficult to walk alone without your cell phone once you are habituated with it. I think we all are somehow addicted to it. I feel absolutely frustrated even if I go to a place that does not have a network.
2 people like this
@nilzerous1 (2434)
• India
16 Feb 09
Thanks for your suggestion. But I know my life becomes next to impossible without this gadget.
1 person likes this
@anjalisharma_iipm (805)
• India
16 Feb 09
hey try it atleast once then see how you feel without your cell phone I think without this you will realise and experience a lot about you
1 person likes this
@sunil_008 (1269)
• India
15 Feb 09
hi, i think without 40 days without cell phone is a great achievement. this sounds kind of reality shows that they carry in some jungles and big boss house where you are out of contact with anyone else from the out side world...great piece of work...
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
16 Feb 09
thanks for the appreciation.
It wasn't intended to be praised but a little appreciation can be welcomed for anything
.
.1 person likes this
@sunil_008 (1269)
• India
16 Feb 09
well, experiments does pay you more than what you think of...:)
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
15 Feb 09
hello cool, I do know what you mean, it is very nice sometimes to not have a phone around at all times to be annoying at unappropriate times.
I first got my cell phone because I moved over 10 hours away from my family and no friends, out in the country, along with disabilities...well I needed a phone. If I broke down or God forbid something bad happened to me I'd have the phone to call for help. That was about 13 years ago and I've had it since. I still only have my daughter and my husbands brother living near me now. My brother in law being in the same fix as me, and my daughter has a huge family so we all keep in touch.
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
16 Feb 09
keeping in touch is also important.
I know what you mean too and wish all the best in life to come.
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
15 Feb 09
Hi coolmailraj,
I don't like using my cellphone very much but have to have it for emergency when I am out, I usually use my landline but don't make calls often.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
16 Feb 09
And what about messaging.
I have noticed that many people use their cell more for messaging then for calling.
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
16 Feb 09
if you only use cell phone at time of emergencies then i wish you never get used to it and you never had to use it again.
1 person likes this
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Wow, 40 days? I can't even remember what life was like before I got a cell phone. I held out for the longest time before I actually broke down and bought one. The main reason I did finally purchase a phone was that me car was getting old and cranky. I didn't want to get stranded somewhere and feel helpless.
I have really become dependent on it since. I like being able to call someone at the moment I need to. I like all the gadgets that are on it. Yea, I could get y without it if I had to, but I really don't want to.
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
16 Feb 09
That I guess will be proffered by most these days.
1 person likes this
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
16 Feb 09
This discussion is very appropriate for our family right now. We are cutting costs and I have been thinking that we really don't need the cell phone. We are trying to decide whether to stop cell service or regular phone service. I don't think we really need the cells, but bet we would sure miss it! My parents have cell phones but never use them unless they have to. So it doesn't do any good to call them on it, but when they are on a road trip they have it with them, for emergencies. That is the reason I got mine and got one for my teenage son, but it seems like we do come to rely on them and I just don't think we need to do that any more. So it is nice to see that someone else survived without their cell for so long!
1 person likes this
@GemmaR (8517)
•
15 Feb 09
Wow, I couldn't live without my phone at all! I send over 100 text messages per day with it!
I keep in contact with my mother when shes at work, keeping her occupied otherwise she gets bored, and I keep in contact with my younger brother when he's out. And obviously I text all of my friends a lot.
If I didn't have a phone, I wouldn't be able to get in contact with people, and that would make my lifea lot harder indeed.
I am so lucky to have my phone and its unlimited texting. I honestly don't know what I'd do without it.
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
15 Feb 09
100 messages...
I have never sent more then 10 messages a day.
Your fingers must be moving at lighting speed at those times.
1 person likes this
@camomom (7535)
• United States
6 Mar 09
I could not do that. I NEED my cellphone. It's my life line to my friends and family, my calculator when I'm doing bill's, my alarm clock, my watch, my camera, my camcorder. It's my relaxation, meaning that I play games on it. I can send text message's when I have something to say but don't really want to talk. I gotta have my cellphone.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
15 Feb 09
Well done.40 days are a long time. When I first started reading your discussion I thought,” No way I can do that" But you know now that I think about it, aside from the odd text during the day I don't use the phone all that much really; it's just the security of having it with me in case I need it. To think there was a time when I did not even own one! 
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
16 Feb 09
yes security of that kind is important these days as well
1 person likes this
@anjalisharma_iipm (805)
• India
16 Feb 09
hey it is really good option live life without cellphone. it is not at all a big issue for me to live because i have done it so many time for 10 days or so, i experienced it very nice to live without tension. but here i would like to put hereone comment is thatlife never stop if one person stop interecting with some one.
@ktosea (2026)
• China
15 Feb 09
I could only endure one week without cellphone I guess,last time when I forgot carring my cellphone I feel ill at ease all day although nothing serious happened,it's adorable that you could live 40 days without a cellphone,I mean most people nowdays couldn't do it
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
15 Feb 09
Thanks for your response.
I totally agree with you, most people won't even try it.
1 person likes this
@chookie1971 (2271)
• Australia
15 Feb 09
The wonders of owning a cell phone. There is one thing that I like about it is the on off switch. When I don't want to be disturbed, I turn off the phone.
1 person likes this
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
15 Feb 09
some how that has never worked for me.
When ever I switched off my phone that person I didn't wanted to talk never called and the dear ones said they tried and tried and my phone was switched off!
Have you ever faced this?
It happened thrice and then I never switched off my phone no matter where ever I was.
1 person likes this
@neha2k94u (406)
• India
15 Feb 09
Well I feel mob. aren't that important that u cant do without it...
may be coz it wasn't gifted to me by my bro.
lolz...
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 Feb 09
glad you have your cell back and you can enjoy it once again.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
16 Feb 09
ugh i went through that when my cell phone got friend in a rain storm.. it was horrible because i was missing out on so many calls and i got a used one to replace it and it wasnt working and it took me probably 2 months to get back to having one again after i just bought a new one full price.. i wasnt happy about the money i had to spend but at least i had a phone again!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46925)
• India
16 Feb 09
Well; I cannot imagine so many days without cell phones . My work as well as family life would be in turmoil ;even If I am without a cell phone for a few days .
1 person likes this
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I do take my cell phone with me wherever I go, but I think I could live without it. I really do not use it that much, it is only supposed to be used for emergencies. I also enjoy the peace and quiet when the phone isn't ringing, and for that reason, we have not given out our home phone number to any one who doesn't really need it. The same goes for my cell phone.
1 person likes this
@LGentile (8)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I have been without a cell phone for about 2 months now. My husband got laid off from his job in December and his company was paying for our plan. I didn't use it very much other than letting my husband know when I arrived at a destination and he did the same for me. It's not too bad for the most part because I work out of my house and don't have to go out very much. However, last week I had to go out west for a conference and that's when it was a real challenge. I flew from Chicago to Reno. There are plenty of pay phones at O Hare airport. When I arrived in Reno there weren't any pay phones. Had a real time trying to figure out how I was going to let my husband know that I got there safely. We really only use them for emergency purposes. We're looking into pay as you go plans so we don't have to commit to a 2 year contract and we can talk to each other without minutes being taken up.
1 person likes this
