TL;DR
An essayist on staycation experiments with leaving their phone at home, taking long walks with a dog, and repeatedly sitting alone in a neighborhood café. Without electronic distractions they notice small human details, feel a renewed sense of time and reflection, and eventually take to writing by hand.
What happened
On a staycation the author intentionally slowed their days by taking long walks with their dog and abandoning devices. On the second day they left their phone at home and discovered that initial nervousness dissolved within about 30 minutes, leaving a sense of freedom. They wandered into a local café, ordered an americano served in a porcelain cup, and sat alone while their dog curled under the table. Over several visits the author observed other patrons, café staff routines, and the subtle emotions visible in people’s eyes. Sitting without headphones, laptops, or a phone allowed the mind to drift, to reconsider past decisions, and to refocus on present choices. On a subsequent visit the author added a deliberate pen-and-paper practice: slow, physically taxing handwriting to further temper the pace of thought. These repeated, device-free café visits clarified both a comforting solitude and a recognition of being seen by others doing the same.
Why it matters
- Intentional disconnection can change how everyday time is perceived and experienced.
- Removing electronic distractions can heighten observation, empathy and awareness of others.
- Simple rituals—walking a dog, drinking from a ceramic cup, handwriting—can make routine moments feel meaningful.
- Public solitude highlights social norms and how people read one another in communal spaces.
Key facts
- The author chose a staycation rather than travel while friends went to Japan in 2025.
- They took long walks with their dog and deliberately left their phone at home on multiple days.
- On the second day without a phone they entered a neighborhood café and ordered an americano with a double shot, served in a porcelain cup.
- Sitting without electronics allowed the author to notice staff movement, cup circulation, and subtle emotional cues in patrons’ eyes.
- After several café visits the author introduced writing by hand with a pen as an intentional, slow practice.
- The author experienced initial anxiety that faded within about 30 minutes of being device-free and alone.
- Seeing another person sitting alone without distractions made the author feel less solitary.
What to watch next
- Whether the author continues the routine of device-free café visits and handwriting as a habit (not confirmed in the source).
- How relationships with friends and family respond to the author’s intentional unreachability during the staycation (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether the café staff eventually label the author a regular or respond differently over time (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Staycation: Time off work spent at home or locally rather than traveling, often intended for rest or local exploration.
- Americano: A coffee drink made by diluting espresso with hot water; strength and flavor depend on shot quantity and water ratio.
- Single-use cup: A disposable cup typically made of paper or plastic designed for one-time use, often used for takeaway beverages.
- Porcelain cup: A reusable ceramic cup commonly used in cafés that changes the sensory experience of drinking compared with disposables.
- Distraction: Anything that diverts attention away from an immediate experience or task, including electronic devices, media, or external stimuli.
Reader FAQ
Did the author travel during this break?
The author took a staycation and did not travel; friends went to Japan in 2025.
Why did the author leave their phone at home?
They wanted to avoid internet access and the ability to reach out to others so their mind could be alone.
Did the author keep visiting the same café?
Yes; the author visited the same neighborhood café across multiple days and observed its routines.
Did café staff label the author a regular or comment on the behavior?
Not confirmed in the source.
It’s contradictory to sit alone in a café. It’s against the reason cafés exist. They are designed as meeting spaces. There is no table with a single chair. Even the…
Sources
- The Unbearable Joy of Sitting Alone in a Café
- The Cult of Busyness – by Tamara – Museguided
- The Pain Softens with Time
- Gazing Into the Abyss – The American Scholar
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