Let me take you back to my Erasmus days—an experience that was exciting but also a little overwhelming. Sure, it was fun to be constantly surrounded by people I loved, partying, studying (well, more like attending school as an afterthought), and trying to make the most of every moment. But with so many things going on, my brain never had time to rest. Between hanging out with friends, keeping up with messages from home, and constantly thinking about what to do next, I was drained. I felt like I was always “on”—in a good way, but also a way that didn’t leave me any time to recharge.

So I did what seemed totally out of character at the time: I decided to take one day a week for me. A day where I wouldn’t engage in any social gatherings, social media, text messages, or phone calls. A day to truly reset and focus on myself. And what day did I choose? Sunday, of course—my favorite day of the week.

I called it #NoPhoneSunday.

I let my friends and family know that Sundays were now my “me-time,” and that unless it was an emergency, I’d be unreachable (they could call my roommates in any life-threatening case). It took some getting used to, but soon enough, I couldn’t believe how much I looked forward to it.

Here’s the thing—without a phone, the day just felt longer. There were no mindless scrolling sessions that turned into hours. It was just me, fully present. I started the day with yoga, something I didn’t make time for during the week, and actually ate my meals more mindfully. No distractions, just pure enjoyment of the food I was eating. It felt like a small act of self-care that made a huge difference in how I felt.

After breakfast, I’d head out to the beach with a book or my journal, reflecting on life without the constant buzz of notifications. At first, it felt weird not to have my phone with me—I mean, it’s become like an extension of ourselves, right? I remember once, during COVID-19, I wanted to grab a coffee at a cafe but couldn’t because I didn’t have my phone and therefore couldn’t show my Covid-pass. It made me realize just how much of our lives are now tied to that little device. We store everything from our tickets to our bank cards to our family connections in there. It’s wild to think how much we rely on it.

But, surprisingly, not having it didn’t leave me feeling “lost.” I actually had more time to think, reflect, and check in with how I was really feeling. I wrote down my thoughts, sorted out my emotions, and truly appreciated the present moment. And when Monday came around, I’d open my phone only to realize—I hadn’t really missed much. A few messages here and there, but nothing urgent, nothing that made me feel like I’d been out of the loop. No FOMO here!

The benefits of my phone-free day were undeniable. It became a much-needed mental reset, a way to reconnect with myself without the constant buzz of notifications pulling me in different directions. But I’ll be honest—once my Erasmus ended, keeping up with #NoPhoneSunday became more challenging. I started working on Sundays again, and I figured, what’s the point of going phone-free if I don’t even have the day to myself anymore?

Now that I’m officially done with side jobs on my beloved Sunday, I’m making an effort to bring it back. Here’s to reclaiming my favorite ritual—one distraction-free Sunday at a time.

So, now I’m curious—have you ever tried taking a phone-free day? How do you think it would affect your mental well-being?