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Original poster

How often do you actually switch off your phone?

31 replies

SpanadorFanador · 09/07/2023 09:51

Not put it on silent or airplane mode, but actually switch the thing off so it’s blank and useless?

I’ve realised I’ve only done it once or twice in the last decade. But when the battery runs down and I don’t get round to charging it for a few hours, I feel quite liberated.

So, I’m going to switch my phone off later today. Until Monday morning. When the work messages, voicemails, emails, frenzied end of year 6 WhatsApp group and a thousand apps can all have me back. The teens armed both home, everyone important has DH’s number. So I’m going incommunicado. Just as soon as I’ve worked out where the off switch is!

OP posts:
ReeseWitherfork · 09/07/2023 09:53

I don’t ever switch it off but I’m the same when it dies that I’ll abandon it for a few hours. Was watching a film last night and couldn’t IMDB every actors name, like the olden days.

I’m definitely phone addicted, should probably detox.

Original poster
SpanadorFanador · 09/07/2023 09:57

I’ve got a book called How to Break Up with your Phone. I can’t quite imagine getting to the suggested 49 hours weekend phone switch off event.

I did once forget to take my phone on a family holiday. It was (mostly, except when DS and I got lost a bit in a snowstorm) lovely.

OP posts:
MrsR87 · 09/07/2023 09:57

I don’t really ever have it switched off but I have it on do not disturb from 10pm until about 8am.

Original poster
SpanadorFanador · 09/07/2023 10:00

I don’t have my phone in the bedroom at night, and it’s always on silent mode. I try not to use it at all in bed, but I am currently on it, in my pyjamas, when I should be at a yoga class.

OP posts:
Willmafrockfit · 09/07/2023 10:02

when it freezes, just this minute in fact.

OnToTheNextOneOntoTheNextOne · 09/07/2023 10:04

If I switch it off, I wouldn't have a way to dial 999 in an emergency without waiting for my phone to boot up.

So it's always on, but I resent that and wish a landline was cheaper so I had the option of turning off the mobile.

Willmafrockfit · 09/07/2023 10:14

i restart it rather than turn off

ElectricToothbrush · 09/07/2023 10:43

I switch mine off for a few hours a day when I don't actually need to use it and always overnight! Only time it's on overnight is if DD is out at a sleepover or similar in case she needs to reach me. Am I in a minority?

Cupcakequeen75 · 09/07/2023 10:49

Both ours are fully switched off at night, in fact they don't even get taken upstairs and are left in a kitchen drawer. I often have to remind OH to turn their phone on the next day as it would otherwise be left off until they wanted it sometime during the day.
If anyone really needs to get hold of us (which they never have) they can ring the landline.

BearSoFair · 09/07/2023 10:50

Every night. Unless DH or any DC are away.

LlynTegid · 09/07/2023 10:52

Overnight, except when on call. Doesn't come with me on holiday unless I am hiring a car, leave the hotel phone numbers with mum and other family.

GrouchyKiwi · 09/07/2023 10:53

Only when I need to reboot.

My family lives on the other side of the world so I keep it on always so they can get in touch if they need to.

blahblahblah1654 · 09/07/2023 10:53

Never. It's always on silent though.

Haribosweets · 09/07/2023 10:54

Never! I put in on vibrate when I go to bed but I my notifications are a 'beep' so I don't hear the half a vibrate of someone messages me. I might restart it once every 3 - 6 months to clear any glitches

Rocknrollstar · 09/07/2023 10:55

Oh lucky people who can switch their phones off at night or not take them in the bedroom. How do people get hold of you in an emergency? Very elderly mother frequently needed help in the middle of the night and we were on her speed dial.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 09/07/2023 10:57

Rocknrollstar · 09/07/2023 10:55

Oh lucky people who can switch their phones off at night or not take them in the bedroom. How do people get hold of you in an emergency? Very elderly mother frequently needed help in the middle of the night and we were on her speed dial.

Via my landline.

dudsville · 09/07/2023 10:57

Ah, there's a difference between stitching it off, literally, and not looking at it!

Mine is always on silent unless I'm expecting a call I don't want to miss. Otherwise I only turn it off if it's glitching or I'm getting on a plane - I never got used to airplane mode and I just enjoy the opportunity to read books!

I look at my phone quite often, but I'm not on any social media except MN and I'm not a big commnicator so I don't get flooded. Same is true for my work phone.

Girasoli · 09/07/2023 10:57

When I go to work/cinema/church...its like I'm scared it'll magically turn itself off silent and make a loud noise. Plus it saves the battery if I forgot to charge it overnight.

dudsville · 09/07/2023 10:58

I absolutley love wondering why something is and being able to google it straight away!

Willmafrockfit · 09/07/2023 10:58

oh yes, at the cinema, a rare event

MetaDaughter · 09/07/2023 11:00

I almost always switch mine fully off in a concert or theatre auditorium. I guess I hope my disapproval of selfish people destroying the performance for everyone else by scrolling in the dark will be communicated psychically… And I would die of shame if I’d accidentally left the volume up and it rang at the wrong moment.

But I keep it on beside my bed at night. Just in case of anything urgent.

GrouchyKiwi · 09/07/2023 11:01

I also leave it on vibrate at the cinema in case the babysitter needs to get hold of us.

Konfetka · 09/07/2023 11:02

Every night.

beeonmybonnett · 09/07/2023 11:04

I don’t turn my mobile phone off in case someone needs to contact me in an emergency or if I need to contact someone in an emergency.

That said, I do put my phone on do not disturb mode in the evening through to the next morning. I also keep it on silent all the time.

When on DND, I have it set to only allow notifications from immediate family members. Notifications from anyone else will be silenced.

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 09/07/2023 11:04

Never, my son is diabetic so I need to be contactable at all times he's not with me. I also use for carb counting his foods and doing calculations. My other son also has a learning disability so I have to be contactable for him too.

That said, I will leave the ringer on loud and put my phone down for a few hours in the day when I don't need it. :)