I regularly dont take my phone with me when I leave the house. I have custom earplugs and enjoy the silence while running my errands or getting somewhere. Not sure I would survive without my macbook though. Thats the baby I care about
It would have been funny if her mom wasn't German. "Hi! I installed Duolingo! Now I finally understand the lyrics to "Ich bin ein Ausländer". Ich liebe meine Katze."
So impressed that you practically didn't use any digital device (even laptop/desktop/TV), and threw yourself in the deep end to explore a new place. That really brought a lot more meaning to the challenge and made it a very exciting adventure
I love how you recognized the sights and sounds around you more so when you didn't have your phone. Simple observations can be so meaningful, and help us experience the present and life as it's happening. I think you should definitely keep doing this challenge!
Going to a neighborhood I don't know and just looking around is one of my favorite things to do in Tokyo. And I visited that museum a few years ago and loved it.
I also live in Tokyo. Sometimes I wish other people would attempt this challenge! At times it feels like we all experience the world through our phones, or even forfeit the worldly experience because we are too attached to our phones. I have lost count at the amount of times people have bumped into me or just stopped dead in the street in-front of me because their phone was more important than the world around them. The world can be beautiful, but if you are staring at a screen, you will never notice. Phones ARE useful, but they are not everything. Amazing Edo museum! I will definitely go snd check it out! Thank Sarah!
know the feel, and as a traveler when visiting japan a lot of us are so dependent on phone for navigation. Last couple of trips though i've mostly been walking around in Osaka without using google maps, and same around Shinjuku and Shibuya. Though i so quickly get lost in Shibuya, i havent been around that place that much.
I’ve watched pretty much all of your videos while learning English and getting to know more about Japan as a Japanese. I appreciate how your content is insightful and informative!
That reminds me of the first time I went to Japan - back in 2007. No smartphone, no (working) cellphone and I couldn't understand any Japanese. With just a simple dictionary and a printout of the Tokyo railway map it worked rather well. And I sometimes ended up in very interesting places I had no intention of visiting - something you have to actively seek out with today's navigation aids.
I was surprised you speak Japanese fluently!!!im sure you made quite an effort!and you really like japan. im so glad as a Japanese.日本語が思った以上にうまいですね！安心して下さい。日本人でも東京はGoogleがないと歩けないあせ😂
Yes! Make this a regular feature of your channel. I really enjoyed this and your willingness to explore an challenge yourself, make mistakes and learn.
I think doing the challenge once every two months would be better. It’s also cool in that you could explore on these days by asking locals or just plain wander around and stumble upon some amazing things that you might have otherwise missed. Cheers to you. 🎉
I'd love to do something like this but I rely sooo much on my phone! Like you said with checking the time and weather and even maps but in the UK you use your phone for everything! Your bank card is on your phone, for train/bus/underground tickets you use your phone and even restaurants you can order and pay on your phone.
I've kind of started doing this 2 weeks ago. I have had no trouble. I still have my phone on me for calls and stuff, and in the evening i'll watch some video's and i keep it at a minimum. I never had social media, so there's no problem there. I had 2 games i played a lot and decided to delete them. I don't even miss them. The main part was doomscrolling. I disabled shorts and it's going great. I read more now since i have more time, i appreciate the food i'm eating instead of ignoring it and staring at a screen. I enjoy the sceneries and sounds around me. I recommend this to everyone.
Re-learning to live without a phone is hard but so rewarding, for about a year now I've taken the habit of leaving my phone in any other room when at home, and I got so much stuff done! So many projects got completed, started reading and playing music again. They really steal away our attention.
Yes! Would love to see you do this again although for safety reasons, could you take the box with the phone in it and put it in a backpack maybe? Just in case for emergencies or any other uncomfortable run ins
Yes, please, I would love to see another video like this! I used public transportation when I was a kid without a phone, but that was in a small city. You have inspired me to try it where I live now.
I generally try to avoid defaulting to my phone for everything so I'm used to just taking in my surroundings but I will still use it for convenience things like you said (clock functions, weather, maps, etc). As you said, I think the biggest problem for some people is the social media aspect but I've hardly ever used that anyway. Lately I rarely even play music in my car or wherever. I just don't want to feel constantly distracted, especially if I lived somewhere interesting like Japan!
Great Video as always, the Caffee with the Matcha Pancakes and the Edo Museum looked like alot of fun. Bonus points for the German during the phone call at the beginning.
It's a video where you always seem to enjoy life in Japan. Your video makes a very good impression of Japan. Stay in Japan forever. And it shows how wonderful Australians are.
It’s so easy to fall into the habit of constantly looking at our phones, and this really showed the value of doing this now and again. You managed to find some really great looking places and I would definitely be interested in seeing you try this again. Hopefully without any worrying experiences next time.
Please make more of this style of video! Even if you do use your phone, I think it's fun to see areas of Tokyo that most people either don't know about or tourists wouldn't normally explore. Also, the part where you were in the coffee shop simply observing your surroundings is sooo good for mental health, I wish more people would make that their baseline state. Being more present brings more peace!
It’s hard to see you feeling unsafe,I am glad it worked out ok just stay safe and aware. You handled that well. Great video great idea we all should be taking time off from technology. 😊
I loved this video! It would be cool to do this maybe once a month in a different area each time and at the end of the year maybe do a review of your favorite things you did.
This was fun to see you explore and live in the moment by not being distracted by your phone. I remember before I had a cellphone in the late 90s (when I was in high school) that I used to memorize street names and remember where all the payphones were. I also, used to print up directions from MapQuest. In high school there used to be long lines to use the payphones and I always made sure I had change on me.
It is so interesting to see someone's day without a phone to Tokyo. I can read Kanji so I never found myself lost even without my phone in Japan, but I can now clearly see for a Japanese fluent foreigner there are still lots of inconveniences even in Tokyo, the supposedly most international city, including the "useless tourist centre" experience. Or perhaps you kids nowadays are just too spoiled to the information world lol. Thank you for today's content, love your personal channel a lot.
I love the idea of doing this. For next time I'd suggest having a flip phone that doesn't have apps just for emergencies. Other things to maybe help improve the experience is an analog watch, a walkman, and maybe a pocket map? That'd be a fun way to step it down even further so you're not worried about time, being assaulted, or being without tune~
I'd actually be into this as a regular thing. Sarah gets lost in *insert random Japanese city," you'd probably find a lot of really cool stuff. However, I feel you do need a couple of rules. 1. keep your phone off but on you, for safety. 2. You should be able buy a watch, but an analog one in the spirit of the challenge. 3. For any city you visit you can buy a paper map before hand, but any planing must be done with just the paper map. Also, maybe a GPS tracker or something so a friend and keep tabs on you so if you don't check in at midnight they can find you if something has happened. Seriously, this could really be fun. I loved how you were forced to talk to people in Japanese too, excellent excuse to practice. Plus, you'll make so many friends wherever you go.
wELL DONE SARA . It's funny that going without a phone roe a day should be such a novel experience. I do Urban Sketching and when I looked through my sketch book, most of my sketches, have someone on a smart phone somewhere in them. Sign of the times I guess. Cheers, Muffy from Oz.
I'm just at the start of the video but I'm gonna answer already, yes it's too easy for someone like me to not use my phone/s for a day... I can also cheat this challenge by traveling to somewhere remote or doing lots of choirs tiring my self to sleep. But the rest of the year I'm glued to my pc's or playstation, if I have a nintendo switch I might get glued to that too... Congratulations on beating the 24h no phone challenge and adding more adventures to your day!
Even though I'm old enough to have lived a lot (and I do mean A LOT) longer without a smartphone than I've lived with one, I've already become way to used to it to really want to try a challenge like this. From just the basic stuff like keeping track of time (I haven't had a functioning wrist watch for over a decade) to being able to look up random information wherever or whenever. And when visiting new places, having access to maps to find the way and restaurant-reviews to at least know which restaurants to avoid is just so convenient I'm honestly not visiting social media as much as I used to, so for that part I'd be fine without a smartphone, but ever since I started my RU-vid channel I've more or less become addicted to refreshing the analytics page, so I do still have some unhealthy habits related to always having internet available. To be honest, the only way I think I'd be comfortable to give up my phone for a day would be if I stayed in my apartment that entire day, where my tablet would always be within wifi-range 😆
Actually spending a day without your phone is basically a healthy habit. It kinda washes away stress and makes you appreciate the places and people around you. So yeah I think you can do this like twice a month.
Still had video games and tv taking our attention in the 90s. I don’t feel any more productive now; and love having maps and all information at my fingertips. That being said; I miss things like concerts where everyone was more involved and not filming.
@mikeymoose7253 of course but you couldn't bring the games and tv everywhere as easily as you could with a smartphone I do agree about the GPS I do love it And omgggg yah concerts
@seerasan Great video! It's a challenge I've been contemplating myself but haven't tried it yet. Thank you for recording it and sharing. Stay safe from the typhoon tomorrow!
@@seerasan I will do, thank you! Maybe one day where I spend most of it by the beach reading and swimming 🏊♂️ I'm glad to hear that you're ready for tomorrow. I hope it all goes well with no damage or injuries for anyone 🙏🏻 Mata ne! 🙇🏻♂️
This is quite inspiring in many ways, I always think "I wanna read more, I wanna do this and that" etc. and just putting my phone away (and laptop) just to take a day off for the sake of my brain and my eyes and detox sounds like a really good idea that I'll try out myself
This was fun! It would definitely be a welcome regular series. I lived in Japan in the early 2k's, pre-smartphone, and exploring parts of the country was much like that. I quite liked my flip phone back then. The Japanese models were way more advanced than the ones available in the US. When I moved into a new apartment I picked a compass direction starting from home and just walked in that direction to see what I could find. Another day, another compass direction. I found a lot of great things, and learned a lot, by exploring that way. I found a few supermarkets that became regular grocery locations. I found the public swimming pool that I frequented. I found a pottery studio where I ended up taking weekly lessons. And lots of great restaurants, of course.
Love your videos and they helped us so much when we travelled to Japan in June. Good news is we are coming back in October! I loved Japan so much (and I love Anime and Manga) I have started Japanese language classes here in Melbourne. 2 weeks in it's quite overwhelming! Did you learn Japanese in Japan or in Australia? I imagine being in Japan and having lot's of people to practice with would help!
As a Japanese person, I found your experiment video incredibly interesting. I believe that spending a day without digital devices is a wonderful idea, and the video itself is very engaging. It’s precisely because you have advanced Japanese language skills that you’re able to embark on such adventures. I’m already looking forward to Season 2 of this series! 日本人の私からしても、とても面白い実験動画だと思いました。時にはデジタルデバイス抜きで1日を過ごすのはとても素敵だと思いますし、動画としてもとても面白いです。あなたは上級の日本語を話せるからこそ、このような冒険が可能だと思います。私は既にこのシリーズのシーズン2を楽しみにしています。
I love the idea of this challenge. Doing it once a month would be an awesome vlog. Especially if you just moved to Tokyo you could explore a new section of Tokyo each time and find sights that normally don't get put on vlogs. The Edo museum was a great site. I would like to see it myself some day.
Loved this challenge video! Old school paper maps, too 👍 Maybe next time you get approached by a dodgy person just speak back to them in German like you don’t understand??
I went down for also 5 hours daily to 30 minutes. Tips: use ur computer to update social media when required (no scrolling addiction there), a regular alarm clock, analog wristwatch when u go out, remove all unnecessary apps, mp4/Ipod for music, never look at ur phone the first 1/2 hours after waking up. Personally when I go out for a typical/chores/work day, I take an old phone with me (no internet!). And for pictures just get a small pocket digital camera or a polaroid if you want to take some special pictures (and get into a new cool hobby) Do that and your life will change fast!! keep in mind that 1 day phone dopamine detox does nothing (it is actually worse, because you get back in your phone harder than before). Also, would love to see more videos like this ! spontaneous and discovering places, asking people stuff and directions !! go go seerasan!! 😸💫 (I always see your videos but never comment, sorry!)
I think this is a fun challenge. I would personally keep my phone on and on me at the time but on silent/do not disturb mode. That way if there is some emergency you can possibly get the call or call someone. I think using the phone as a camera wouldn't really be part of it as long as you ignored everything else too.
I tried to survive without a Phone for a day last year. It's crazy how automated the reach to your pocket is once you need to know something or do anything. I mean the realization that you need one for bank transfers...My bank stopped using paper forms years ago. I think it comes down to restricting yourself to using it only for necessary stuff and do less scrolling mindlessly. Anyways great video! Grüße gehen raus an Mama aus ihrer alten Heimat :-)
*Easy* - as long as you don't have to work as I have multifactor authentication set up on the phone. During vacation I sometimes go days without touching my phone (I will be at a computer most of the time though so I don't need the phone unless I go out and need to buy things with apple pay).
id say the takeaway from this is that you dont need to do this challenge once a month but that you simply need to stop using your phone all the time during the day. as you said there are legitimately good uses for the phone like using google maps/translate or taking pictures so its still good to have around.
As a person who wears a watch daily, I now never really look at my phone for the time. Maybe for the next time you do this challenge, having a watch or even a clock in your residence might be something worth considering?
LoL thats funny, i would be helpless without a phone in Japan. I mean sure, i know enough places i can go with purely english, but missing out on a lot not being able to communicate with anyone that only speaks japanese. Been to that Kumodo's cofe shop you went to though after seeing Jordan recommending it. And really fun seeing you walking around where i usually stay when im in Tokyo. Certainly give me homesick vibes :( 2.5 months left though and im back in japan 😭
You did really good. You should challenge yourself going forward to just use your phone for the utilititarian stuff on the daily, and continue with taking in the sounds and sights around you, no point in giving up things like access to maps and swiping for payments, because even as someone who grew up pre-cell phone era, everything has shifted to needing a (smart)phone to get anything done quickly, easily or at all.
Well done Sarah! I started restricting my time spent on social media on my phone, so the apps would just shut themselves after a defined time! It's not as harsh as your challenge 😅 but works great. Still checking my phone but for a much shorter time every time😊
I feel i would be stressed without my phone for that much time I rely a lot on google reviews & map , also that museum looked so interesting ill be sure to check it out when I go to japan. It was an interesting challenge !!!1
Hi Sarah, schön zu hören, dass Du deutsch sprichst mit Deiner Mutter. Good to hear you talking German to You mom. Interesting challenge. In Tokyo navigating without phone, I would fail instantly. Viele Grüße, Ralf
I'd love to see you do more of these, although for the next challenge maybe set up an alternate multifactor authentication device to avoid being forced to break it.
