After being challenged by a married couple to have a date without distractions, Jason and Lindsey Bliss started their journey of encouraging others to remove cellphones from their human interactions and connect with their loved ones. Since they began challenging others years ago, they estimate hundreds of people have participated.
The couple currently teaches entrepreneurship classes at BYU–Hawaii and has integrated the “cellphone free” challenge into their curriculum. Jason Bliss said they give students $50 to take someone on a date or have dinner with friends with the condition they all have to put their devices away.
“We have been able to challenge hundreds of individuals to remove all distractions, including their phones, and be in the moment as they dine out on us,” said Jason Bliss. “From family members, random people, employees, friends in the community, and students we teach, everyone responds differently and most are shocked that we are giving them money with no expectation to repay it.”
Mariel López, a BYUH alumna, said she attended their entrepreneurship class and took her auntie out to lunch as part of the challenge.
“I felt I had a lot of time and space to talk with [her], and there was more privacy and sincerity. We were more open, and the environment was a respectful environment.
“When we were there eating, she told me all about her family and her kids ... I remember she told me she was happy to be my friend, and the time we were together was good.”
Along with challenging students, the couple also encourages friends and family to participate. Lindsey Bliss said they gave a friend with a terminal illness $500 to buy his family dinner and connect without distractions.
Jason Bliss commented on what happened, “He bought food for his family and took a picture of it and had one of the most amazing experiences. He said all of his kids put their phones away ... He said for hours they just sat around and laughed.”
Lindsey Bliss added, “You get this time with each other. You have these connections, these relationships. If you don't cherish them now, you might not have time later.”
She shared another student’s story who, after taking his wife out to dinner, realized he needed to be more present in their marriage.
“There’s a Chinese couple, and he took his wife out,” she said. “When he talked about not just putting your phone away but listening to somebody and learning about them, ... he almost started crying when he was telling me about [his experience].”
Jun Rui Dang, a senior from China majoring in computer science, said he and another friend in the class had dinner together. They learned to listen and make an effort to learn about each other.
“Through this experience, I feel if we listen more, our friends will be happier. They get to explain themselves very well.”
Jason Bliss said, “We’ve had several students come back and say this is something they are going to continue. They’re going to pass it forward. That, for me, is pretty enlightening.”
According to López, because of her experience, she currently continues to make an effort to put her cell phone away when she's with friends and family.
Jason Bliss said he and his wife both make a conscious effort to practice what they teach and be more present in their lives.
“For me, when I realized [my cellphone] was such a distraction, I removed the internet, I removed email capacity and just used my phone for calls, texts, and calendar.
“It changed our life. It changed our marriage. It changed the way we treated other people. I think it was life-altering.”
They want to challenge everybody to go on a date or bring out a friend without any distractions, said Lindsey Bliss.
“When you’re interacting [with others], just be present. Be there listening, put away your devices and actually have a conversation and connect,” she said.