Cancelled Despite Everyone’s Warnings—Here’s What Happened

[mouakter14]

When I told friends and family I was going to cancel my mobile number, the reactions were almost unanimous: “You’ll regret it.” “What if there’s an emergency?” “How will you get calls from work?” “You’re going to miss important messages!” Honestly, I was nervous too. All those warnings made me second-guess my decision more than once. But I decided to trust my gut and go for it anyway. I cancelled my SIM and number—and I want to share what really happened, beyond the fears and warnings.

Surprisingly, life without a phone number wasn’t nearly as hard as everyone predicted. I switched all my communication to messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and email. I told my contacts ahead of time how to reach me, and made sure clients and colleagues understood my new setup. The first few days were a little weird—no sudden calls or texts special database buzzing in—but soon I found myself less distracted, more focused, and with a lot more peace of mind. The “urgent” calls and messages that everyone warned me about? Mostly they didn’t happen. And when something did come up, scheduling a video call or using an app-based chat worked perfectly fine.

Of course, it’s not all perfect. I had to figure out alternatives for two-factor authentication and keep an emergency backup phone just in case. But the freedom of not being tied to a phone number far outweighed these minor hassles. The warnings, while well-intentioned, didn’t match my reality. If you’re thinking about cancelling your mobile plan but worried about what others might say, know this: it’s okay to trust your instincts. You don’t have to do what everyone else thinks is “necessary” to stay connected. Sometimes, breaking away from the norm leads to a better, less stressful way of living.