My life revolves round my cellphone.
As exhausting as that’s to confess, it’s the reality. For mainly my complete waking life, I’m tethered to my smartphone, and I hate it.
As Tech Advisor’s Cell Editor, utilizing my cellphone commonly is a necessity. There’s nothing inherently incorrect with that – a smartphone presents tonnes of options that may improve our lives.
However all too usually, it feels almost unattainable to separate these advantages from the well-publicised downsides. More often than not, I don’t attain for my cellphone to make use of one in every of its many useful instruments; I take advantage of it as a type of distraction.
Whether or not it’s procrastinating or escaping a second of discomfort, my cellphone has eradicated boredom from my life. Sadly, it’s had the identical impact on any real rest.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
I knew one thing needed to change, so I set myself a radical problem. May I survive for a complete week with out utilizing a smartphone? Switching to a flip cellphone hadn’t fairly had the specified impact, so I knew I needed to go additional.
There was just one system for it: a ‘dumb cellphone’. In different phrases, a primary characteristic cellphone which presents entry to key instruments similar to calls and texts, however little else. I went for the Nokia 110 I already owned – it has 4G connectivity, which is essential at a time when many 3G networks are being switched off.
Nonetheless, mainly all the different creature comforts I’ve come to depend on are lacking. No Chrome! No WhatsApp! No Google Maps! A horrible digital camera! What had I signed up for?
Regardless of all these obvious downsides, I used to be weirdly excited to make the change, which in all probability confirmed how a lot I wanted it. Right here’s how my smartphone-free week went.
Friday
It’s 6.30pm. I’ve completed work for the week and have a full week off to sit up for. I additionally haven’t any plans to go away town the place I stay – there’ll actually by no means be a greater time to do that.
I lastly muster up the braveness to show off my Nothing Telephone (3a) Professional, take the SIM card out and put it into the Nokia 110. The latter is a a lot fiddlier job, requiring the battery to be eliminated first (a detachable battery – what an idea!).
And identical to that, the experiment has begun. So has my discomfort, so I instantly attain for the following most addictive system I personal – my laptop computer – and am rapidly soothed. Ah, the candy hit of dopamine!
Besides…it’s not fairly pretty much as good when it’s a must to fiddle with a keyboard and mouse as an alternative of simply tapping and swiping. My laptop computer has a contact display screen, however watching YouTube Shorts and Fb Reels on such an enormous show simply feels incorrect.
It additionally goes towards what my purpose is for this experiment: utilizing know-how extra mindfully.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
So, in one other radical transfer, I block the websites I do know might be most distracting. These are the standard suspects: a couple of information websites and social media apps. The restrictions are simple sufficient to get round, however I’m hoping there’ll be sufficient friction there to make me suppose twice.
After dinner, I abruptly realise I’d deliberate to name my grandma. Will she even be capable to hear me on such an affordable, primary cellphone?
However that is what dumb telephones do greatest. Name high quality all through our 30-minute dialog is superb, and at no level does it really feel like a downgrade in comparison with a smartphone. I doubt my grandma can inform I’m utilizing a special cellphone – she actually didn’t point out it.
Saturday
I’m visiting my mother and father at the moment, which I do know will make not having a smartphone a lot simpler. I not often use it after I’m with them anyway.
Nonetheless, I didn’t take into account the morning stroll we go on first, the place there are a number of alternatives to take nice pictures. You must’ve seen the look on my dad’s face after I whipped the Nokia out of my pocket! Miffed could be an understatement.
As he snaps away with the Xiaomi 13 Professional, I can’t assist however really feel a twinge of envy, even when I’d have solely copied the pictures he was taking. However I’m additionally having fun with being free from the common stress to doc my life. It’s a refreshing feeling.
A lot of the remainder of the day, I genuinely take pleasure in not having a smartphone. Besides when my mother and father’ printer isn’t working and I’ve to borrow one in every of their telephones to get the handbook. Ugh.
Earlier than I do know it, it’s been over 12 hours since I final checked WhatsApp or Fb Messenger. In that point, I’ve missed a grand complete of…zero messages.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Sunday
I’m calling a good friend in Malaysia this morning. Can verify: WhatsApp calls work simply high-quality on a laptop computer, even when the cellphone it’s linked to is switched off. 2.5 hours fly by with nothing greater than minor points, which I believe are internet-related anyway.
In truth, the one actual downside I encounter at the moment is my procuring record, which often lives on Google Preserve. Switching to a paper model might be the simplest swap I make all week, although, whereas ditching my digital loyalty card for the bodily one isn’t precisely troublesome.
Earlier than I do know it, it’s been over 12 hours since I final checked WhatsApp or Fb Messenger. In that point, I’ve missed a grand complete of…zero messages
Nonetheless, getting used to taking a look at just one display screen at a time (I do know, I do know) is proving a problem. Typically, I give in and use my laptop computer, however attempt to preserve my consideration on the soccer match as a lot as doable. It’s not helped by what is perhaps probably the most boring Manchester derby ever.
Monday
I’ve booked a therapeutic massage for my first official time off. This may be barely nerve-wracking at one of the best of occasions, however I additionally need to navigate to an unfamiliar location and haven’t any proof of my reserving. Shudder.
Cue wanting up the 7-minute stroll on Google Maps about 20 occasions. In the long run, it’s simple to seek out, and an hour later, I’m feeling like an entire new man.
A couple of minutes into my afternoon of journalling (on my laptop computer – I’m not excellent), I really feel a way of calm and focus that I haven’t had in weeks. It’s taken a couple of days, however not utilizing a smartphone is making me really feel much more current.
Tuesday
One other scary Google Maps-free navigation has arrived. This time, it’s a 45-minute stroll to a rustic park I’ve by no means visited. Am I loopy?
No, no, I’m not. The obsessive route checking earlier than I left would possibly’ve helped, however it turns on the market are this stuff referred to as indicators that time you in the suitable path when looking for one thing. Who knew.
In the long run, making it to the park is a breeze, and I take pleasure in a stunning couple of hours studying and strolling across the lake, earlier than heading to the close by cafe.
Sitting alone round a number of {couples} and households makes me really feel a bit awkward, so I instinctively flip to my cellphone. However let me inform you, when Snake is your solely possibility for distraction, it’s higher to remain in the actual world (please don’t come for me, Snake followers).
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Wednesday
As we speak is the simplest day to this point. Except for a brief stroll within the morning, I keep at house all day, decluttering the flat with my mum. Earlier than I do know it, seven hours have flown by and I’ve barely checked out a display screen.
I take advantage of my laptop computer for a couple of hours within the night, however it will get boring rapidly when you possibly can’t go on social media, examine the information or watch YouTube movies. There are solely so many Reddit posts one man can learn.
Thursday
Being with no smartphone nearly feels regular now. As an alternative of counting on GPS, I merely lookup the place I need to go on my laptop computer and belief that I’ll be capable to discover it.
Monitoring down a neighborhood espresso store is simple, as is the takeaway restaurant I’d recognized for dinner.
I used to be anticipating extra issues on the cinema, which usually makes use of digital tickets. Regardless of the e-mail clearly saying ‘That is your ticket’, I’ve satisfied myself that they’ll reject my print-out and ship me packing.
However because it seems, no-one even checked my ticket! All that worrying was for nothing. Not less than the movie was fairly good.
Within the night, I lastly need to cost the cellphone for the primary time – I may get used to this six-day battery life. I by no means need to return to Micro-USB, although. Ugh.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Friday
It’s the final day of my experiment, and I’m not precisely wanting ahead to going again to my smartphone. However I’ve no alternative – the Pixel 9a received’t assessment itself.
I take advantage of my previous few smartphone-free hours to do a few of the most mundane duties recognized to man: meals procuring, cleansing and laundry.
By the point 6.30pm comes round, I’m mentally ready to return to the world of near-constant distractions. As quickly as I change again, I’m struck by simply how huge and hulking this 6.3-inch, 186g system feels. It’s comparatively compact by fashionable cellphone requirements, however about twice the dimensions of the Nokia.
I may get used to this six-day battery life. I by no means need to return to Micro-USB, although. Ugh
I rapidly slip into my outdated utilization patterns, however can’t shake the sensation that it’s not proper.
What switching to a dumb cellphone taught me
Swapping my smartphone for a dumb cellphone has had a profound impact on me. Throughout my seven-day experiment, I felt calmer, extra centered and usually much less burdened.
After all, that’s not solely a consequence of not utilizing a smartphone. I had a intentionally quiet week off work with solely a handful of duties to finish, prioritising relaxation and restoration. I additionally didn’t depart my house metropolis, that means all of the streets had been acquainted to me.
However nonetheless, it reveals the ability of lowering distractions and changing into extra current, which is one thing I undoubtedly need to proceed.
I’ve no want to surrender my smartphone full-time. It’s just too helpful in too many situations, particularly when travelling or in an unfamiliar location.
As an alternative, my purpose is to discover a completely happy center floor the place I can get lots of the advantages with out being sucked into senseless utilization. After seeing what’s doable, I’m extra motivated than ever to determine it out.