Would anyone send me any birthday messages? What celeb gossip would I miss out on? What are thumbs actually useful for, except texting?

These were just a few of the many questions I pondered before embarking on a crazy experiment – could I go a whole week, yes seven days, without my phone?

The reality of the challenge hit me straight away on the Monday morning when I woke up and realized I couldn't use my phone to check the time! I've become reliant on my phone in a morning; setting my alarm to wake me up each day. I've also become addicted to checking the latest news on Twitter in the morning, but this week Capital FM was my only option for any celeb news that I may have missed overnight.

By the time I got to school, I realised just how much I was going to be missing out on this week, through not using my phone. After less than 12 hours of not speaking to my friends, I had already missed out on three group chats!! My friends and I have even become reliant on texting each other at lunchtime to find out where we're eating. Instead, for me, that week I would have to make my way to the canteen on my own.

Later on in the week came the biggest challenge of all, my 15th birthday.

Being unable to read any text messages, I wondered if anyone would actually wish my happy birthday in person, or even send me one of those 'old-fashioned' things called a birthday card.

Luckily, it seems like the tradition of birthday cards hasn't died out yet, and I received lots. However, on my birthday there were no selfies, as my experiment meant I had to rely on my camera, (I wonder if sales are decreasing?) to capture the moment. This actually worked out really well, as printing photos off my camera was much easier and the quality was much better too.

During the week, I definitely suffered from 'thumb twiddling syndrome.' I missed my phone during those lulls in life. I love playing a game of subway surfers on the school bus or texting my best friend, even though we've only been apart for five minutes! I didn't realise just how important phones have become in our day-to-day lives.

Although my phone wasn't used throughout the week, I did take it everywhere with me as they're incredibly handy in case of an emergency – luckily I didn't have to use it. I would recommend you try to go without your phone for a week – you'll find yourself reading books, using cameras and actually talking to people!

Emily Oxbury, 15, Blofield