I know it’s a cliché that the youth of today are always plugged in, AirPods constantly in their ears, and I hate seeing people glued to their phones as much as you do. But let me explain.
They make me laugh and remind me that there’s more to life than whatever I’m stressed out about. Then again, sometimes I’ll be making dinner and listening to The New Yorker podcast on the latest global atrocity, which is less good for my mood.
This led to a moment of clarity about my headphone addiction. It wasn’t entirely driven by guilt. I found myself wearing headphones without even realising I had them in. I wasn’t even listening to anything. I just hadn’t taken them out after having walked the dog.
I resolved to spend the next 24 hours headphone-free. Just to prove – to myself – that I wasn’t addicted, that I could stop at any time.
square TOM WARD
My mate is always eight minutes late - it's the worst thing to do to a friend
Read MoreBut somehow I did it. At this stage, there was absolutely no benefi – podcasts are better than barking dogs at 8am. Then I went for a run, silent save for the laboured wheeze of my own breathing. It too was less than pleasant, but I did, perhaps, notice that the sun was shining and the day was cheerful. Arriving back home, I was beginning to feel cheerful too.
Then later, walking the dogs again, an old woman tried to talk to me. Usually, wrapped up in my own world, I’d give a smile, a nod, maybe a fake “ha” if it looked like she was making a joke. This time, this particular woman told me: “I have to congratulate you – usually I see young people on their phone, dragging their dogs along.”
Another woman came along with her dog. Usually we nod at each other as we pass. I can’t remember what we said – probably something completely mundane – but the act of engaging with another person had strangely lifted me up. I felt like a force for good in my community, instead of the guy with his head down, closed off from the world.
It was great. In fact, after listening to that podcast together we booked tickets to see the Bard of Salford this week. Had I been plugged in, we would have missed that conversation and that opportunity entirely.
Twenty-four hours unplugged has taught me I was being a bit excessive before. I know now that I can stand silence, I can stand my own company, and I can stand a bit of small talk with strangers – in fact, I kind of enjoyed it. Maybe it’s time I started listening more often.
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