Going “Cold Turkey” This Thanksgiving — Unplug. Connect. Live More.
- Sara Zacharek
- Nov 13
- 2 min read
Student Leader, TextLess Live More Youth Engagement Board | In partnership with SADD.org
Hey everyone,
As Thanksgiving rolls around, I’ve been thinking about how often I’m with my family or friends—but still not really there. You know that feeling when you’re at dinner, but half your brain is on your phone, checking notifications, scrolling TikTok, or snapping photos instead of making memories?
Yeah. Me too.
That’s why this November, I’m going Cold Turkey with TextLess Live More (TLLM) and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). It’s a challenge to take a real break from our screens—especially during Thanksgiving week—and reconnect with the people and moments that matter most.
What It Means to Go “Cold Turkey”
It’s simple: put your phone down and be present. Whether that means no phones at dinner, logging off social media for a few days, or turning your phone off completely for a day—it’s your choice.
No pressure, no judgment—just a chance to unplug, recharge, and remind ourselves what real connection feels like.
Why It Matters
We spend hours every day staring at screens, and it’s easy to forget what’s happening right in front of us. But when we disconnect from our devices, we reconnect with life—laughing with our friends, helping out in the kitchen, playing games, going for walks, or just talking face-to-face.
This Thanksgiving, I want to be thankful for time well spent, not time well scrolled.
How You Can Join the Challenge
Take the Cold Turkey Pledge and invite others to do the same at www.textlesslivemore.org/pledge.
Tell your friends or family and make it a group challenge—see who can stay unplugged the longest!
Spread the word before you unplug. Post why you’re going Cold Turkey and tag @TextLessLiveMore and @SADDNation using #ColdTurkeyTLLM.
Let’s Redefine Connection
As a member of the TextLess Live More Youth Engagement Board, I’ve seen how powerful it is when students lead by example. Every time we choose people over phones, we make our schools, families, and communities stronger.
This November, let’s remind ourselves that real life doesn’t happen behind a screen.
Let’s go Cold Turkey together—and make this Thanksgiving one we’ll actually remember.
Are you in?
My nephew and I once went on a short excursion and agreed to leave our phones offline, but things went awry when the bus was delayed and we had no idea what to do next without GPS and notifications. I checked out EF Educational Tours reviews , which led me to real-life stories from participants sharing how they chose routes, navigated cities, and solved everyday problems while staying offline. This is how I realized that disconnecting works best when there's at least some structure and support around you.