Club Benefits
Phone-sober walks are a new concept to me, but I’m definitely into trying new things. I am very guilty of checking messages, flicking through emails, or rehashing to-do lists while I walk, plus, I like to keep my phone on me at all times for safety reasons.
However, phone-sober walking — the act of leaving your phone at home or putting it away during walks — appeals. It means fewer distractions and more focus on what you are doing and your surroundings, which taps into a little trending thing called mindfulness.
Alongside that, you’re still getting the benefits of walking, which includes a stronger set of lungs, heart, bones and muscles, a greater sense of calm and a healthier metabolism, to name a few.
I decided to try phone-sober walks to see what I noticed and how they differed from my usual outdoor strolls with my dog. Here’s what happened when I tucked my phone away and tried to be more present. Ohm.
What are phone-sober walks?
Going cold turkey on digital during walks is hardly a new concept, but honestly, how many of us truly do it?
Phone-sober walks encourage you to take a walk outdoors, preferably in nature, but that’s not a deal breaker, without the presence of your phone. If you, like me, carry your phone for safety reasons, you can keep it on you, but it should be tucked away out of sight for your entire walk to be defined as “phone-sober.”
I tried phone-sober walks — here’s what happened
My attention span is pretty weak at the best of times, thanks to my neurospicy brain, but coupled with the constant presence of my phone, you could say I am distracted (and a little frazzled) most of the time.
However, phone-sober walking allowed me to tune into my surroundings and what I could see, smell and hear better. I peppered in a little color walking, too, which I learned about last year.
This is when you pick a color during walks and try to notice that color as much as possible when you’re strolling. As a result, I began to slow my pace (I normally steamroll along) and visibly relax. Without distractions, I could enjoy the moment more.
The squeaky feel of wet grass under my feet, the sound of my dog’s panting and the smell of my morning coffee all sharpened into focus and I began to notice everything around me more. Emails, plans for later that day and growing mental to-do lists all faded into background noise.
The squeaky feel of wet grass under my feet, the sound of my dog’s panting and the smell of my morning coffee all sharpened into focus.
We know from existing bodies of research that walking can improve mood and reduce feelings of anxiety; researchers have even found forms of walking to reduce depression in some adults, showing true psychological benefits aside from the physical ones.
By contrast, being constantly on our phones, especially doomscrolling social media, can increase anxiety, reduce focus and put the body into its sympathetic nervous system — fight-or-flight.
I liked the idea of not being instantly available, too — whether that’s to family, my boyfriend, work, or clients, with my phone in my hand, I’m more tempted to be always-on. During phone-sober walks, that could all wait, and I could prioritize quality alone time — just me and my dog.
That said, I did get a little bored. Less so in parks or nature, where I found myself taking in the surroundings peacefully, but more when slapping along the wet concrete walkways in my local London suburb. I was alarmed at how many times I reached for my phone in just an hour.
However, towards the end of the experiment, I realized that I was reaching for my phone less and enjoying walks more. While I honestly don’t know how long I will last trying to add phone-sober walks to my day going forward, when I do prioritize them, I know I’ll feel far more relaxed and calm after.
If you can, I recommend trying this out even if it’s just once or twice a week, and letting us know how it made you feel in the comments section. Did you feel more relaxed and calm? Did it make you feel uneasy or unsafe? What did you learn or notice? Let me know!
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