What Took Me So Long to Quit My Number
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 4:32 am
For the longest time, the idea of not having a phone number felt… unthinkable. Like most people, I just assumed it was something you needed to function in the world. It was tied to everything: my identity, my bank account, my job contacts, and even silly loyalty cards. But over time, I realized that I wasn’t actually using my number for much beyond spam calls, appointment reminders, and the occasional text from someone who could’ve just messaged me on Instagram or WhatsApp. Still, I kept paying for my plan every month, partly out of habit and partly because I was nervous. What if I missed something important? What if I lost access to something? That fear kept me hooked far longer than it should have.
Looking back, it’s wild how attached I was to something that brought me so little value. All of my meaningful communication already lived elsewhere—Instagram DMs, Discord chats, FaceTime over Wi-Fi, Zoom calls for work, and emails for everything official. The phone number was just this ghost of a past era hanging on. But it had its claws in deep. Canceling it felt like canceling a part of adulthood I was trained to believe was mandatory. When I finally made the decision to quit my number, I prepared for it like a special database mini life overhaul: updating account logins, switching my 2FA to authentication apps, letting close friends know, and testing life without a SIM for a couple of weeks. Turns out, the real fear wasn’t about losing connection—it was about breaking a habit.
Now that I’ve officially gone number-free, my only regret is not doing it sooner. I don’t miss the robocalls. I don’t miss the monthly charges. I don’t miss giving out my number and worrying about where it might end up. My communication feels cleaner, more intentional, and honestly more relaxed. I only talk to people on platforms where I want to talk to them. And emergencies? I still have apps, Wi-Fi, and backup options like Google Voice if needed. So what took me so long to quit my number? Fear of inconvenience, fear of disconnection, fear of doing something different. But once I pushed past that and embraced the app-based, Wi-Fi-only life, I realized I hadn’t lost anything—I’d gained freedom. If you’ve been thinking about it, take this as your sign: it might be time to let it go.
Looking back, it’s wild how attached I was to something that brought me so little value. All of my meaningful communication already lived elsewhere—Instagram DMs, Discord chats, FaceTime over Wi-Fi, Zoom calls for work, and emails for everything official. The phone number was just this ghost of a past era hanging on. But it had its claws in deep. Canceling it felt like canceling a part of adulthood I was trained to believe was mandatory. When I finally made the decision to quit my number, I prepared for it like a special database mini life overhaul: updating account logins, switching my 2FA to authentication apps, letting close friends know, and testing life without a SIM for a couple of weeks. Turns out, the real fear wasn’t about losing connection—it was about breaking a habit.
Now that I’ve officially gone number-free, my only regret is not doing it sooner. I don’t miss the robocalls. I don’t miss the monthly charges. I don’t miss giving out my number and worrying about where it might end up. My communication feels cleaner, more intentional, and honestly more relaxed. I only talk to people on platforms where I want to talk to them. And emergencies? I still have apps, Wi-Fi, and backup options like Google Voice if needed. So what took me so long to quit my number? Fear of inconvenience, fear of disconnection, fear of doing something different. But once I pushed past that and embraced the app-based, Wi-Fi-only life, I realized I hadn’t lost anything—I’d gained freedom. If you’ve been thinking about it, take this as your sign: it might be time to let it go.