EARLY YEARS: Liberty University digital rest—Students reflect on 28-day phone break

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - For the second year, Liberty University encouraged its students to take a digital rest during the month of February — 28 days without their phones.

The initiative grew from concerns about student well-being on campus, according to Joshua Rutledge, Liberty University’s vice president of spiritual development.

“It really just grew out of a growing awareness that students were struggling here at Liberty with how to create healthy disciplines in their life when it came to management of their phone,” Rutledge said.

Students weigh in on the experience

Alexis Stokely, a sophomore studying digital media and journalism at Liberty, said she joined the challenge to stay focused on her academic priorities.

“I decided to be a part of this because I wanted to keep my eye on the prize as to why I’m in college and make sure that my priorities are set and not have social media as a distraction,” Stokely said. “And in doing so, a lot of things have come to my attention, particularly about the times that I choose to use social media.”

Stokely said that when she missed her phone, planning ahead helped her manage. “I take a step back and I love looking at my agenda for the day. And I love being intentional the night beforehand. So that way, as I navigate the day ahead,” she said.

Rutledge said the goal of the Digital Rest is not to eliminate phone use permanently, but to give students enough distance to return with better habits.

“The goal isn’t to just get rid of your phone forever. But 28 days gives you more than enough time to get far enough away to then be able to go back on to whether it’s social media or whatnot, with a better plan for how you’re not going to just end up doom scrolling on your phone for five, six hours a day or something like that,” Rutledge said.

Graduate student finds value in face-to-face connection

Ian Chevalier, a graduate student at Liberty, said the break gave him an opportunity to connect with others in person.

“I think the sweetest moments have been the moments that I’ve been able to find in community. When people are eating together and they’re not all on their phones,” Chevalier said.

Chevalier said there was one thing he was looking forward to when the challenge ended. “I think the biggest thing for me is checking ESPN again,” he said.

Click here to read Liberty’s guide for its digital rest.