Digital Detox

Where’s your phone right now?   

Brandon Kondritz, a junior journalism major, asks listeners that question in his podcast episode “The Day I Ditched My Devices,” a finalist in NPR’s annual College Podcast Challenge. In just under eight minutes, Kondritz’s episode chronicles his day as a Northwestern student — completely unplugged.  

One of 10 finalists, Kondritz’s episode was chosen from more than 500 submissions, a record high. The challenge invites college students nationwide to submit original episodes for a chance to have their work air on NPR.   

For his entry, Kondritz ditched his electronics for a day and went about his usual routine, using his phone only to record background sounds and short voice memos about his experience. Between audio clips of him running on a treadmill without music or taking notes by hand in class, he intersperses interviews with digital behavior researchers who comment on smartphone addiction and feeling “phantom vibrations” when we leave our phones or smartwatches at home.   

The day proved more difficult than expected, Kondritz says. He fought the urge to scroll through Instagram or check his emails. Going without music was the hardest part. But he felt some benefits too, including feeling more focused all day.  

“It showed me that I really can go a day without my devices,” Kondritz says. “And I’ve taken some of the lessons that I learned that day and integrated them into my daily life.”  

Kondritz now takes notes by hand more often, and he charges his phone across the room instead of by his bedside to reduce screentime at night.   

Though his entry did not win NPR’s challenge, the experience was definitely rewarding, he says.