With smartphones becoming a daily lifeline, most of us can’t imagine going a day without them. But what if you did?

A recent study in Computers in Human Behaviour observed 25 young adults who went without smartphones for 72 hours. The result? Brain scans revealed reduced activity in regions associated with reward and craving -similar to withdrawal symptoms seen in addiction cases.

Health experts say this short detox can reduce stress, improve focus, and reset dopamine regulation, which often gets hijacked by constant notifications. Participants also reported better sleep, sharper concentration, and more in-person social engagement.

Interestingly, many experienced anxiety and restlessness in the first 24 hours—signs that reflect how psychologically dependent we’ve become. But by the third day, most described a surprising sense of mental clarity.

Turns out, a 3-day break could be the mental reboot we didn’t know we needed. Could you do it?