Took Me a Year to Cancel—Finally Did It

[mouakter14]

It took me an entire year to work up the courage to cancel my mobile number. I don’t mean I wasn’t ready in theory—I knew I wanted to do it. I was tired of spam calls, tired of paying for a service I barely used, tired of being instantly reachable 24/7. But still, I hesitated. Every time I got close, a little voice would whisper: What if I need it? What if I regret it? What if this is a huge mistake? So I waited. I delayed. I talked myself out of it more times than I can count.

Then one day, I realized something: if I’ve spent a year thinking about it, preparing for it, and still can’t stop wanting it—maybe it’s time to trust myself. So I canceled. No SIM. No number. Just Wi-Fi, messaging apps, email, and scheduled calls. And honestly? The moment it was done, I felt a mix of nervous energy and complete relief. It wasn’t dramatic. Nothing special database crashed. No emergencies happened. In fact, nothing really changed except my stress level—and that changed for the better.

Looking back, I don’t regret waiting. The year I spent overthinking gave me time to transition accounts to app-based 2FA, let friends and clients know my new communication preferences, and get comfortable using WhatsApp, Telegram, and Zoom for nearly everything. But I also don’t regret finally pulling the plug. I feel lighter, more focused, and way more in control of my time. For anyone who’s been sitting on the fence for months (or longer), I get it. It’s a weirdly emotional decision. But once you’re ready, don’t let fear talk you out of it. You don’t need a phone number to function—you just need a plan. And some trust in yourself.