Three Days Without Phone and Conversation — How Your Brain Will React

Washington Post journalist Dana Milbank spent a three-day silent retreat without a phone or conversations. Instead of calm, he experienced discomfort, anxiety, and severe fatigue, and unexpectedly felt sadness related to his mother. Experts explain this as the brain processing accumulated emotions. After the retreat, he found that among the many messages, none were urgent, and he considered regular days without a smartphone.

Washington Post journalist Dana Milbank spent a three-day silent retreat, completely giving up his phone, laptop, and conversations, along with about fifty participants. Instead of the expected calm, he faced severe discomfort: a constant urge to reach for his smartphone, boredom, anxiety, and confusion. During meditation, he unexpectedly experienced emotions related to the last days of his mother's life, which triggered a wave of sadness. On the second day, he felt extreme fatigue and fell asleep before dinner. Experts explain this as the brain actively processing accumulated emotions, which requires energy. The article also references a 2010 study suggesting that people are mentally distracted almost half the time, and suggests that smartphones have exacerbated this problem. After the retreat, Milbank found that among dozens of messages and hundreds of emails, nothing was urgent, prompting him to consider regular days without a smartphone. The author concludes that even a short digital detox can reduce stress and improve concentration.