Stop Checking Their Shit Ritual
Finding yourself compulsively opening Instagram, TikTok, or WhatsApp to see if they're online.
What this ritual is for
Checking their social media is self-inflicted micro-trauma. You are fishing for information that will only poison your afternoon. This ritual treats your phone like a radioactive object until your nervous system recovers.
What you need(4 items)
- Your smartphone or laptop
- A strip of dark cloth, ribbon, or black hair tie
- A heavy book (a dictionary, heavy grimoire, or hardback novel)
- A glass of cold water
Practical substitutions
You don't need to buy specialty supplies. Use what's in your home.
- →A brown paper grocery bag or opaque box to hold the device.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Physically blind the screen
Power the device completely down or put it in airplane mode. Wrap the dark ribbon or band tightly around the middle of the phone across the screen.
The entombment
Place the wrapped phone on a table and set the heaviest book you own directly on top of it. Say aloud: 'There is nothing under this stone that loves me or protects me. I choose my own quiet.'
The physical substitution
Drink the entire glass of cold water. When the urge to check hits in the next 60 minutes, touch the cold cover of the heavy book, exhale, and walk away.
Reclaim the day
Leave the device buried for at least two uninterrupted hours. Go for a brisk walk or read a physical book.
Journal & Reflection Prompt
“What catastrophic narrative am I hoping to confirm by monitoring their activity?”
Safety Notice
This exercise supports habit disruption and emotional grounding. It is not psychological therapy. For compulsive obsessive behaviors, consult licensed mental health specialists.
Read our full Disclaimer and Safety Guidelines.
Explore the Related Tarot Spread: What Am I Avoiding?
When you have a gnawing discomfort in your gut but keep keeping yourself artificially busy.
Related Rituals
More in Letting Go →Cut the Cord Ritual
You know they’re wrong for you. Your nervous system is still checking for their car.
Leave Me the Fuck Alone Protection Ritual
When someone’s constant noise, entitlement, or lingering presence is taking up space in your chest.
Love Without Losing Yourself
When infatuation or relationship anxiety makes you forget your own interests, friends, and center.