Four years ago, when I joined Dorf Ketal Chemical Limited in Mundra, I had a phone in my pocket but restlessness in my mind. Before this, my day started with Instagram notifications and ended with YouTube shorts at night. I had a habit of checking my phone every 5 minutes. Friends used to joke, “You don’t use the phone, the phone uses you.” My mind was always distracted. I couldn’t focus on work, and I couldn’t sleep at night. This was my mental state ‘before’ – anxious, impatient, and always suffering from FOMO.
When I joined the company, the first rule I heard was: “Mobile phones are completely banned in the plant area and office.” This rule, made for safety, felt like a huge punishment to me. In the first week, staying 8 hours without a phone felt like 8 years in jail. My hand would automatically reach for my pocket. I kept thinking, “Did someone message me?” “What’s happening in the world?” I felt uneasy, irritated, and empty. In psychology, this is called ‘Withdrawal Symptoms’. I was going through that.
But from the second month, changes slowly started. Without a phone, I had only two options: either focus on the work in front of me, or just keep staring out the window. I chose the first option. Chemical processes, log sheets, safety checklists – work that once felt like a burden started becoming interesting. When the mind focuses on one place, it goes into ‘Deep Work’ mode. Result? My mistakes reduced, my supervisor praised me, and most importantly – I started feeling satisfied after finishing work.
The third change came in relationships. At lunch break, no one was buried in their phones, so we actually talked. I listened to stories about the plant from senior operators, and discussed machines with new guys. I started ‘listening’ to people. Earlier, because of my phone, I was alone even when I was among people. Now, without a phone, I truly connected with people.
The fourth change was in my sleep and peace of mind. Because of the 8–9 hour digital detox at the office, my craving for the phone reduced even after going home. I developed a habit of keeping the phone aside by 11 PM. As a result, I started sleeping deeply. In the morning my head felt light, and the irritation was gone. A calm mind meant I started making better decisions.
Today, after 4 years, I can see a huge difference between ‘before’ and ‘now’. Before, I was a slave to my phone. Now, the phone is my tool. Before, my attention wouldn’t last 15 seconds. Now, I can work for 2 hours straight. Before, I would get angry over small things. Now, my mind is stable. The company’s rule forced me to stay away from the phone, but that compulsion brought me back to myself.
I’m not saying phones are bad. But like any addiction, we should control it – it should not control us. This company in Mundra taught me to live 8 hours without a phone, and in return, gave me 24 hours of mental peace. If you are also struggling with phone addiction, try making a 2-hour ‘no-phone zone’ in your day. It will feel hard at first, but later you will realize you are not giving up your phone – you are getting back your lost ‘time’ and ‘self’.
