How I Tried Living Without the Internet for 72 Hours — And Failed Miserably

Can you survive 72 hours without the internet? Here’s what happened when I tried — including what broke me, what healed me, and why I might (or might not) try it again.

The Setup: What Was I Thinking?

I was feeling burnt out. The doomscrolling, the never-ending messages, the constant pull of screens — it all started to feel a bit too much. So, I decided to do something dramatic — go completely offline for 72 hours. No emails, no Google Maps, no YouTube rabbit holes, not even music streaming. I told my friends I’d be gone, deleted apps, disabled mobile data, turned off Wi-Fi, and started the clock.

Hour 1–6: The Happy Phase

The first few hours were surprisingly… peaceful.

I read a physical book (yes, with actual paper), made tea without scrolling Instagram while it steeped, and even sat on the balcony doing nothing — which felt oddly revolutionary. I was that person you see in calming productivity videos.

I wrote in a journal. I doodled. I organized my sock drawer. I felt present.

But then…

Hour 7–24: The Withdrawal Hits Hard

By evening, the withdrawal symptoms kicked in like caffeine leaving your body. My hand kept reaching for my phone instinctively. I opened apps, only to remember — they don’t work offline.

No memes, no Spotify playlists, no WhatsApp voice notes.
I missed updates from friends. I missed the dopamine rush of likes.
Worse, I didn’t know if it would rain tomorrow.
(Weather apps! Who knew I relied on them so much?)

The worst moment?
I walked to a new café without GPS and got lost.
Like, medieval-lost.

Day 2: The Introspection Stage

With no digital crutches, my brain started... thinking.
Like, really thinking. About work. About friendships. About regrets I’d buried under reels and notifications.

I realized how often I used the internet to distract myself from discomfort — boredom, anxiety, even silence.

On a deeper level, I found myself writing more, thinking clearer, and eating without staring at a screen. I felt calm — and uncomfortable — in ways I hadn’t for years.

I even had a full conversation with a neighbor I’d never spoken to. (She bakes really good banana bread.)

Day 3: The Collapse

By Day 3, the novelty had worn off.
I missed online music. I missed memes. I missed being plugged in.
Even reading news in the morning felt empty without a morning scroll.

At 63 hours in — just 9 hours short of the goal — I cracked.
I checked my email.

Then one thing led to another.
I was suddenly deep into a 40-minute video essay about ancient Roman plumbing systems.

I failed the challenge.
But I didn’t regret it.

What I Learned

• My phone isn't the enemy — but my relationship with it needs work.

• Offline time creates space — for boredom, reflection, and real-world interaction.

• Digital detox is hard — but a little goes a long way.

• I actually like silence. Who knew?

Would I Do It Again?

Yes — but with tweaks.
Next time, I’d allow myself music downloads, offline maps, and maybe even a few key messages (for safety).
72 hours was ambitious. But even 24 hours offline felt powerful.

In the end, this wasn’t about succeeding or failing — it was about noticing.
And now that I’ve noticed how noisy my digital life is, I’ll think twice before scrolling just to escape.