Decided to try a 'no phone' date after reading about it online

I met this woman for coffee in Seattle, and we agreed to leave our phones in our cars. It sounded like a good way to really connect. The first twenty minutes were great, but then she started getting really anxious, looking around like she was waiting for something. She finally admitted she was expecting an important call from her kid's school and had no way to check. The whole mood shifted, and we cut it short so she could go get her phone. I learned that a good idea in theory can backfire if you don't plan for real life. Has anyone else tried a rule like this and had it go sideways?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_max11d ago

That "no phone" rule sounds good until real life calls.

the_paul11d ago

Yeah, that's the whole problem with rules like that, right? They work great in a perfect world. Reminds me of when my buddy tried a full digital detox, but then his kid's school kept calling the house phone he never checks. The point @the_max makes is spot on, life doesn't follow your plan. You can't just ignore the fact people might need to reach you.

victorb746d ago

Exactly, it's a nice idea until you miss a call from the vet about your sick dog because your phone was in another room. I tried a strict "no screens after 8 PM" rule once, but then my boss needed a file for an early morning client meeting. Felt pretty dumb scrambling at 10 PM.