Switch off!
So many of you have come forward and accepted GulfWeekly's digital detox challenge. As mental health awareness month comes to an end in May, we are thrilled to share some more experiences of people going offline for 24 hours – no gadgets, no social media – successfully culminating our campaign.
My initial reluctance to sign up to a day without digital was a signal that it was exactly what I needed.
At first, I felt uneasy about not responding to messages or wondering if I was missing something important. Several times during the morning, I turned to my phone, out of habit, rather than necessity. Having the space, the pause, I noticed a shift away from this automated, mindless, compulsivity. I savoured the small moments, like the taste and smell of my crispy peanut butter breakfast toast, which I ate slowly and mindfully.
Giving myself permission to not be available 24/7 has reminded me that it's OK to give myself space to connect with myself. I've rested, got my stuff done. I've remembered to breathe.
I plan to make this a regular ritual: one full day a month where I unplug and return to myself. And the world can wait.
– Beth Noble, 52, Psychotherapist
At first, I kept checking my pockets for a phone that wasn't there. But the silence grew comforting. I spent the day journaling, playing board games with my family, and finally organising my space — something I had been procrastinating. Without the pressure to check messages or scroll, I noticed I was more patient and relaxed. The detox reminded me that my time is valuable and doesn't always need to be spent online. It was a much-needed reset and I plan to do it more often.
- Bhavna Malkani, 31, Accountant
Breakfast, the sand, breeze, and coffee that I can drink without rushing – these are some things that went 'online' when I went offline – refraining from social media for a week made me live more! I had a calling to grow in spirit and could see beyond my daily life. Everything came alive when I started to bother less about my phone dying. I was able to find real connections without the Internet and admire real scenes without 'filters'. It is only when we participate in real life that we will know the true essence of it is beyond our screens.
- Jeah Valerio, 28, Artist
Going phone-free for 24 hours was harder than I expected. The FOMO ('fear of missing out') hit me early in the day, but it gradually turned into a sense of peace.
I ended up sketching – a hobby I hadn't touched in years – and even cooked a new recipe from scratch. Without digital noise, my thoughts felt clearer and my anxiety reduced. It also gave me more time to talk with my sibling, which we rarely do. This detox showed me that small breaks from the digital world can have a big impact on mental clarity and connection.
– Riash, 35, Sales officer
Spending 24 hours without social media or my phone was eye-opening but also a challenge. I felt more focused during patient consultations and truly listened, without distractions.
The day felt calmer and more present, allowing me to have a face-to-face discussions with my colleagues which otherwise has become very rare. I did sleep better that night.
However, I also felt a bit disconnected from the outside world and curious about updates. Overall, the experience reminded me of the importance of being present and how digital detox can enhance my work and well-being.
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Gulf Weekly
5 days ago
- Gulf Weekly
Switch off!
So many of you have come forward and accepted GulfWeekly's digital detox challenge. As mental health awareness month comes to an end in May, we are thrilled to share some more experiences of people going offline for 24 hours – no gadgets, no social media – successfully culminating our campaign. My initial reluctance to sign up to a day without digital was a signal that it was exactly what I needed. At first, I felt uneasy about not responding to messages or wondering if I was missing something important. Several times during the morning, I turned to my phone, out of habit, rather than necessity. Having the space, the pause, I noticed a shift away from this automated, mindless, compulsivity. I savoured the small moments, like the taste and smell of my crispy peanut butter breakfast toast, which I ate slowly and mindfully. Giving myself permission to not be available 24/7 has reminded me that it's OK to give myself space to connect with myself. I've rested, got my stuff done. I've remembered to breathe. I plan to make this a regular ritual: one full day a month where I unplug and return to myself. And the world can wait. – Beth Noble, 52, Psychotherapist At first, I kept checking my pockets for a phone that wasn't there. But the silence grew comforting. I spent the day journaling, playing board games with my family, and finally organising my space — something I had been procrastinating. Without the pressure to check messages or scroll, I noticed I was more patient and relaxed. The detox reminded me that my time is valuable and doesn't always need to be spent online. It was a much-needed reset and I plan to do it more often. - Bhavna Malkani, 31, Accountant Breakfast, the sand, breeze, and coffee that I can drink without rushing – these are some things that went 'online' when I went offline – refraining from social media for a week made me live more! I had a calling to grow in spirit and could see beyond my daily life. Everything came alive when I started to bother less about my phone dying. I was able to find real connections without the Internet and admire real scenes without 'filters'. It is only when we participate in real life that we will know the true essence of it is beyond our screens. - Jeah Valerio, 28, Artist Going phone-free for 24 hours was harder than I expected. The FOMO ('fear of missing out') hit me early in the day, but it gradually turned into a sense of peace. I ended up sketching – a hobby I hadn't touched in years – and even cooked a new recipe from scratch. Without digital noise, my thoughts felt clearer and my anxiety reduced. It also gave me more time to talk with my sibling, which we rarely do. This detox showed me that small breaks from the digital world can have a big impact on mental clarity and connection. – Riash, 35, Sales officer Spending 24 hours without social media or my phone was eye-opening but also a challenge. I felt more focused during patient consultations and truly listened, without distractions. The day felt calmer and more present, allowing me to have a face-to-face discussions with my colleagues which otherwise has become very rare. I did sleep better that night. However, I also felt a bit disconnected from the outside world and curious about updates. Overall, the experience reminded me of the importance of being present and how digital detox can enhance my work and well-being.
Gulf Insider
26-05-2025
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Japan Tightens Control on Speech: Censorship Laws and Pharma Lawsuits Spark Concerns
The manufacturer of the replicon mRNA Covid 'vaccine' in Japan, Meiji Seika Pharma, has brought a lawsuit against a member of the Japanese parliament, Kazuhiro Haraguchi. Haraguchi had commented that the Covid injections are 'akin to a biological weapon,' a statement which the Meiji Pharma president claimed was beyond the bounds of acceptable expression. However, statements like Haraguchi's about the dangers of the Covid mRNA injections are now commonplace in many nations, and drug companies do not seem to be suing people for making them, at least in the US. Instead, state attorneys general in Kansas and Texas have been suing Pfizer for misrepresenting its Covid injections. In general, Japan has been gradually evolving into a place where it is difficult to publicly express ideas unapproved by powerful business interests and officialdom. In addition to government and mainstream news media collusion to keep Covid medical realities from the Japanese public, the government passed a law to squelch nonconforming messaging online. The intentions behind this measure are clear: Prominent government figures have openly declared their conviction that 'misinformation' is a major problem in Japan. In December 2024, Prime Minister Ishiba stated that he was considering more regulations concerning Internet discourse that he considers problematic, and a prominent LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) politician named Noda commented recently that Japan was being influenced more and more by 'fake' information. In May 2024, Japan's parliament passed a law to enable the quick elimination of defamatory posts from social media platforms like Facebook and X. By this law, such platforms would have to make explicit sites for taking requests to delete posts and also make clear their criteria for taking down posts. The new law went into effect on April 1, 2025. Unsurprisingly, some Japanese YouTube vloggers are expressing concerns that, under the new set of regulations, their vlogs may soon be targeted as purveyors of 'misinformation,' especially when they criticize government policy. Only online media platforms are targeted in this development, even though Japanese print communications and TV programs have also often been guilty of spreading harmful disinformation. Ironically, in many instances, this is not because they are unregulated but precisely because they are under the thumb of government agencies. For example, the Japanese National Police Agency has deliberately leaked information about people under investigation in order to pressure them into confessing to crimes. Since the Japanese public often naively believes that suspicion equals guilt, this tactic results in terrible consequences for the unjustly accused.
Gulf Weekly
22-05-2025
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Freedom from gadgets
1. For someone who has spent most of her life working in the media, the constant news barrage took its toll on my health. So, many years ago, I decided to spend one precious day a week without using my mobile, a digital detox for my sanity. I deliberately shut out the world, silencing notifications from my mobile and embracing the quiet. Twenty-five years of this practice has given me immense joy, peace and stability. People always tell me that I look happy and younger than my age! Going offline has also taught me patience and endurance, making me a better person, ready for any challenges that life has to offer. I continue to 'detox' to this day, especially during weekends. The irony of it - I am happiest whenever I am not touching my mobile. Prioritising my mental health above all is the best decision I've ever made in my life. - Nanju Francisco, 59, Filipino media specialist 2. Living a day without the phone? Unthinkable, right? Trust me, it is both liberating and refreshing. Ironically, I attempted this a few weeks ago and felt refreshed albeit just for a day but it was worth it. Jumped out of bed, resisted the urge to 'Wordle', instead dived into the newspaper with my cuppa. The GDN it was! Then hopped on my bicycle for a long ride into oblivion; soaked in nature, listened to the many tunes of happy birds and got doused with a spray of water from a garden sprinkler, gone wild. Liberating! Withdrawal symptoms sans phone? Sure! Not checking it constantly for updates on social media made me calmer and Zen-like as I immersed myself in other hobbies. As the day progressed, I got restive and called friends I had not seen in a while on my landline. Sadly, a gadget meant to connect us is losing its flavour as it slowly disconnects us from the real world and real people. No thanks to social media, the 'digital drug' that's getting us hooked. I plan to make phone-free days a habit rather than a one-off challenge. – Sheela Pai, 63, retired Indian banker 3. The digital detox challenge is something I do regularly. I often take time away from gadgets. Even on a daily basis, I have set a time limit after which phone usage is only to attend to important calls. Instead of spending hours scrolling , I love to read and write. For news updates, I prefer to listen to the radio or read the newspaper. Going for regular evening walks with my son Parth is a must, which gives us time to connect with nature, observing the sunset and sunrise, listening to chirping birds from dawn to dusk - it uplifts me. And, I never carry the phone. Meditating on a regular basis also helps me distract myself from screens. I am happy, calm and relaxed when I step away from my device. I have observed that I don't crave screentime and continue to pursue my hobbies and have meaningful interactions with loved ones. – Parul Sharma, 40, Indian homemaker and part-time teacher 4. GDN and GulfWeekly reporter Nader Adnan also accepted the challenge! Here's what he had to say. Going into this challenge. I avoided all screen time, except occasionally checking my phone for urgent or work-related messages. I avoided social media in its entirety, and learned very quickly that I did not miss it. It was refreshing going through the day without negativity or doom scrolling. Instead, I went through my camera – photography is one of my hobbies – and discovered a couple of new settings and features I've never seen before! I like going for walks and usually do so with headphones. No screen time however meant no music, and it felt weird walking around the neighbourhood without songs in my ears. I ended up actually observing my surroundings more mindfully. I realised that other than a couple of instances here and there, I did not really miss my phone that much, although it did feel weird paying for something in cash instead of BenefitPay!
