Every morning at 4:30 a.m., I leave my phone at home before heading out for my walk. It wasn’t some grand attempt to “disconnect from technology”. It was practical. Walking two miles wearing a 40 lb. weighted vest means my range of motion is very limited, and with no pockets, I’d have to carry my phone the entire time. I’ve dropped it before, and trust me, bending down to pick up a phone while wearing 40 lbs. is the easiest way to tweak your lower back or pull a muscle. Been there. Done that.
Somewhere along the way, though, this tiny habit became something bigger. What started as “protecting my phone” from becoming another casualty turned into giving my brain a little breathing room. For 30 minutes, there are no notifications, no texts, no endless scrolling waiting for me. It’s just me, my footsteps, and whatever the desert decides to show me that morning.
Presence Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
One small habit can completely change how a morning feels. Without my phone, I turn my gaze upwards. At 4:30 a.m., the desert sky is still putting on a show. Living where there’s almost no light pollution means I can trace constellations across the sky, watch the moon slowly fade, and swear I could reach up and tap Taurus with my fingertip. Hands down, this has become my favorite part of the day.
Could I leave my phone behind more often? Absolutely. Have I? Not yet. But this one tiny habit reminds me that being present doesn’t have to mean overhauling my entire life.
