Okay, here’s my blog post about “ermitaño”, written in a casual, personal style, just like the example:
So, I kinda stumbled upon this word, “ermitaño,” and it got me thinking. It means “hermit” in Spanish. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, enjoying my own company, so the idea resonated with me. I decided to do a little experiment – my own personal “hermit” challenge.
My Hermit Weekend
I started on a Friday evening. No big build-up, I just… stopped. Stopped answering texts, stopped checking social media, turned off all notifications. I even told my close friends I was going off-grid for a couple of days. The initial feeling was weird. Like, really weird. It felt like I was missing something, like a phantom limb syndrome, but for my phone.
- Phase 1: The Itch. The first few hours were the hardest. I kept reaching for my phone, out of habit. It was automatic. I had to actively stop myself. It was like a constant, low-level anxiety.
- Phase 2: Finding My Feet. Saturday morning, I woke up and… nothing. No alarm, no buzzing, no little red dots screaming for my attention. I made coffee, really slow coffee, and just sat on my porch. I started noticing things I usually ignore. Like the way the light hit the leaves on the trees. Sounds cheesy, I know, but it was true.
- Phase 3: Enjoying the Silence. I spent the day reading. A real, paper book. No screens. I cooked a big meal, just for myself, and actually tasted it. I even did some gardening, which I haven’t done in ages. Time seemed to slow down. It was liberating, in a strange way.
- Phase 4: Facing Myself. The weirdest part was the quiet in my own head. Without the constant distractions, I was left with… my own thoughts. Some good, some not so good. It was a bit like a forced meditation, and honestly, a bit uncomfortable at times.
By Sunday evening, I was actually starting to enjoy it. The urge to check my phone was gone. I felt… calmer. More present. More like myself, if that makes sense. The re-entry was a bit jarring. Suddenly, all the notifications and messages flooded in. It was overwhelming. I realized how much “noise” I usually deal with, without even realizing it.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worthwhile. It’s not about becoming a full-time hermit, but about finding moments of quiet, of disconnection, to reconnect with yourself. Maybe you should try your own “ermitaño” challenge. You might be surprised by what you find.
