Is Texting Necessary? An experiment in quitting texting.
Written By: Jon Bregel - Founder, Filmmaker & Coach, Nourish
A year ago, I decided to try something I’d never done before: taking an extended break from text messages.
At the time, after a particularly full season of life and a road trip with my wife, I realized how difficult it had become to truly disconnect. I was checking texts and emails constantly, even in beautiful places where I didn’t want to be on my phone.
I had used vacation email responders before and found them surprisingly helpful for creating space. But texting felt different. More immediate. More expected. More woven into daily life.
So I set up a text auto-responder and planned to take a month away from texting just to see what would happen.
What surprised me most is that… I never really went back.
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Over the past year, keeping distance from texting has been one of the most unexpectedly positive shifts I’ve made. Not because texting is inherently bad, but because I hadn’t realized how much low-grade urgency and fragmentation it was creating in my day-to-day life.
I’ve found myself feeling more present, less reactive, and more able to give fuller attention to the people and spaces in front of me. The goal was never to disappear or become unreachable. It was simply to reduce noise and create more room for presence.
For anyone feeling stretched thin by the number of communication channels they’re managing, it may be worth experimenting with your own boundaries. I’m not suggesting everyone take a year away from texting, but I am curious how many of us underestimate the impact of constant accessibility.
If you’re curious about trying something similar (and have an iPhone), here’s a quick walkthrough on how to set up a text auto-responder:
For those curious, here’s what I wrote for mine:
AUTO REPLY: I’m currently taking a break from text messages. If it’s urgent, feel free to call. Otherwise, you can reach me at jbregel@gmail.com. Thanks for understanding
-Jon
