It Was Not Dramatic
I did not have a dramatic moment. I did not read a study about dopamine loops and decide to quit cold turkey. I just forgot to check Twitter one day. Then another day. Then a week went by.
What Came Back
After a month, my attention span returned. I could read long articles again. I started having deeper conversations because I was not half-listening while mentally composing a tweet.
The Unexpected Loneliness
The loneliness was unexpected. Without the constant chatter, I felt genuinely disconnected. But that uncomfortable feeling pushed me to do something novel: I called people. I wrote longer emails. I scheduled real meetups.
The Verdict
Six months later, I am not more productive. That is a myth. What I am is more present. I finish books. I have opinions that are not influenced by what is trending. I am less anxious.