Without a cellphone

people who don’t commute to a work office, socializing through direct messaging and other digital communication becomes dominant.

However, nothing beats true faceto-face human contact. I noticed that being devoid of the digital space led me to seek out more human connections in the real world. I went to more dinners with friends, asked more questions to strangers out of curiosity, and even attended new networking events that led to unexpected lunch meetings, which translated to more business.

While it’s incredible to be able to send a message to someone around the world in seconds, don’t forget the beauty of face-to-face human connection.

While I have my smartphone back, largely to make my communication life easier, I have noticed a behavior change. I no longer consume and mindlessly scroll. In fact, it actually feels weird to be on my phone for a substantial period without an objective.

While 60 days may be unrealistic for some, you can still create your version of a smartphone detox.

A few ideas:

■ Live one day a week without your phone.

■ Put your phone in your pocket and don’t look at it while out with friends.

■ Put your phone in a basket when you get home and don’t touch it until the next morning.

■ Make a rule that everyone in the house can’t use their smartphone during and after dinner.

■ Delete all apps and only use your phone for calling and texting.

The biggest factor to accomplishing our biggest goals isn’t lack of information; it’s controlling where our attention goes.

Julian Hayes II is an author and a sleep and nutrition consultant.