Life Without A Smartphone – Vitaminwater Challenge

I replaced my smartphone with a flip phone for a week, as prompted by Vitaminwater's $100,000 challenge. I never want to do it again. Here's what it was like to give up my iPhone and go back to something less smart.

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In December, Vitaminwater announced that it would pay one contestant $100,000 if they're able to give up smartphones and tablets for a year. I was immediately intrigued.

"I could do that," I thought. How hard could it be to stop scrolling? I already wanted to cut down on the amount of time I spent mindlessly staring at my phone — I might as well go cold turkey.

So I decided to try a version of the challenge. For one week in January, I replaced my smartphone with a basic flip phone. In an attempt to live by Vitaminwater's ruIes, I only used it for simple functions, such as calls and texts. I didn't enable its email function or use it to surf the internet. And though I was allowed to use both my desktop computer and my laptop, I had to say goodbye to my Kindle Fire.

In some ways, being partially off the grid was heaven. But by the end of the challenge, I couldn't wait to have my iPhone back.

Here's what it was like to give up my smartphone for a week.

Day 1: An older version of me

On the first day, I wake up to an old, familiar noise blaring loudly in my ear. Instead of using the Clock function on my iPhone, I had to pull out my alarm clock from high school: It's loud and it isn't fancy, but it works.

Next, I turn to a handheld stopwatch to time my daily stretches. I typically listen to music while doing my physical therapy exercises but, because I can't simply pull up Spotify on my phone, I have to get creative.

I remember that I still have my old iPod Video lying around and get it out. It hasn't been updated in a few years, so I listen to a throwback Alanis Morissette album as I get ready for the day.

I take the subway to work and read a physical book instead of using the Kindle app on my phone. Without being able to check my email, look at Slack or scroll through Instagram, I'm able to become completely engrossed. I almost forget that I'm shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of strangers.

At work, I have an interview scheduled for mid-morning, and I realize I can't use any recording apps on my phone. Instead, I have to track down a working recorder, which takes several tries.

It takes several more tries to find someone who can teach me how to properly attach the recorder to my desktop phone.

As the day goes on, I start to notice a theme: Everything is mildly more annoying, but nothing is truly difficult. After one day without my iPhone, I'm feeling confident about how my week will go.

Day 3: I'm lost, but I'm hopeful

Each consecutive day with my flip phone gets easier, but I run into new struggles constantly. A few days in, I accidentally turn off my alarm clock instead of snoozing it. Without my three backup alarms, I oversleep and end up late to work.

And without access to Google Maps, I have to plan ahead every time I visit a new place. I look up each location on my desktop and sketch a miniature map of the area in my notebook. Spontaneous plans are out of the question unless I'm already familiar with how to get there.

Though many of New York's streets are laid out in a helpful grid, not all are, and I manage to get turned around a few times, like while trying to meet up with a friend in Greenpoint. But between my homemade maps and familiarity with the city, I surprise myself by never getting too lost.

Read about the rest of Emmie's week without a smartphone

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Inspired by Vitaminwater’s $100,000 challenge, I gave up my iPhone for a week—and I’ll never do it again | CNBC Make It.