We went a day without the Internet, and here’s what happened.

Have you ever counted how many times your hand opens apps on your phone in a day? You need to check all your messengers, watch a few short videos on social media, and Google a couple dozen questions. Now imagine being without the Internet for several days. A correspondent from "KP-Petersburg" decided to take on such a human experiment. However, she only lasted one day - right on the occasion of International Internet Day, January 26.

TEXT MESSAGES AND WEATHER FORECAST

In the morning, my hand reached for my phone even before I opened my eyes - a reflex! Lounging on pillows and scrolling through funny videos is my weekend tradition. But not this time… My brain sighed, but quickly found another pastime - falling back asleep for another hour. However, after waking up, things got trickier. Washing dishes and tidying up the room is much more enjoyable with music, but the music app refused to work without the Internet. I had to hum to myself. I asked my mom for a forgotten delicious breakfast recipe over the phone - the recipe was stuck in a messenger chat. Soon, I might have to start a notebook with newspaper clippings of recipes!

I jotted down the weather forecast by observing passersby and the pavement. Since the raindrops weren't dancing on the puddles and people were without hats, it meant it was quite warm and not damp. But I would still take an umbrella - we know this Petersburg weather too well. And I grabbed a book instead of headphones. Evaluating traffic jams had to be done on the go. Without a navigator, any trip would come with a surprise element - whether you'd get stuck somewhere due to an accident or not. And, of course, without an app, it's nearly impossible to plan a convenient route: where to transfer, how many stops to go, and how long the entire journey will take - without the Internet, these questions become rhetorical. Help could only be sought from retirees - they have surely learned all the transport intricacies during their long lives in Leningrad and Petersburg. It's also essential to pay attention to announcements at bus stops - they will alert you to route closures.

Without the Internet, any fancy smartphone turns into a simple phone with a photo album and notes.

Photo: Artem KILKIN. Go to the KP Photo Bank

For communicating with family, I had to remember text messages and the quote about brevity being the soul of wit. As someone who loves to send leisurely voice messages, I had to condense my thoughts into 50 characters and ask my dad to send a photo of the cat via text message - I really missed her face.

NEWS ON A SCHEDULE

Later, while waiting to meet a friend, I stopped by a couple of newsstands and a bookstore - I was looking for a phone directory. Now that I was without the Internet, where would I find the number for the company that repairs my malfunctioning vacuum cleaner or the hair salon where I need to book an appointment? I remember from my distant childhood a thick directory from my grandmother filled with tiny handwritten pages: all the committees, clinics, and various shops with restaurants. But at the newsstands and the bookstore, they looked at me, to put it mildly, in astonishment.

- Such directories are no longer published, - a stern lady behind the newspaper counter retorted.

The evening with my friend went splendidly without the Internet, filled with heartfelt conversations. However, a whole day without messages from friends in other cities and beloved colleagues was quite challenging. I wondered who shared what today, what joke they were laughing at, and which breaking news they were discussing… Speaking of news! I could only catch up on current events through the TV or radio, but I had neither at home. So, I dove into the sea of missed news and messages after midnight.

The Internet is everything to us, but it's important to take a break from it. A psychologist recommends spending 4-5 hours offline each day.

Photo: Oleg ZOLOTO. Go to the KP Photo Bank

To sum up, to comfortably navigate with a simple phone, one needs to know the city well: pay attention to workshops, salons, and shops around, memorize transport routes, consult with staff at various institutions, revive the address book, and fill it with contacts. And be prepared to give up comfort: instead of online marketplaces, spend hours in malls and markets; instead of a banking app, visit a branch; instead of a quick "Google it," make a trip to the library where computers are available - and there's the trap - with the Internet! So, you can't escape it.

WORD FROM THE EXPERT

Four hours a day without the Internet is just what you need!

Natalia ISKRA, child and family psychologist, candidate of psychological sciences:

- Gadgets and the Internet are part of modern life. However, aside from all the benefits they provide (like learning languages, finding directions, etc.), they do little to enhance relationships - between parents and children, men and women, friends. A detox of this kind, where there is live human interaction, connection with nature, or sports, is a wonderful idea, and it works remarkably well. Ideally, such time should comprise about 30 percent of the day - that’s around four to five hours. After work, spend time with a loved one, engage in something for yourself, and turn off all gadgets two hours before sleep. Conscious individuals adhere to these boundaries.

On the other hand, anxiety and the fear of missing messages, news, or being without a smartphone stem from the pressure to achieve everything. If a hundred years ago, the only thing that mattered was how pleasant and skilled a person was in conversation, today, an avalanche of material, personal, and career expectations is thrust upon everyone. In megacities, these demands are even higher. Moreover, social media makes you feel like you’re falling behind while others achieve things. All these factors create immense stress.

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