My life revolves round my telephone.
As exhausting as that’s to confess, it’s the reality. For principally my total waking life, I’m tethered to my smartphone, and I hate it.
As Tech Advisor’s Cell Editor, utilizing my telephone recurrently is a necessity. There’s nothing inherently mistaken with that – a smartphone provides tonnes of options that may improve our lives.
However all too usually, it feels practically unimaginable to separate these advantages from the well-publicised downsides. More often than not, I don’t attain for my telephone to make use of considered one of its many helpful instruments; I exploit it as a type of distraction.
Whether or not it’s procrastinating or escaping a second of discomfort, my telephone has eradicated boredom from my life. Sadly, it’s had the identical impact on any real leisure.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
I knew one thing needed to change, so I set myself a radical problem. Might I survive for a complete week with out utilizing a smartphone? Switching to a flip telephone hadn’t fairly had the specified impact, so I knew I needed to go additional.
There was just one machine for it: a ‘dumb telephone’. In different phrases, a primary characteristic telephone which provides entry to key instruments resembling 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, principally all the different creature comforts I’ve come to depend on are lacking. No Chrome! No WhatsApp! No Google Maps! A horrible digicam! What had I signed up for?
Regardless of all these obvious downsides, I used to be weirdly excited to make the swap, which most likely 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 stay up for. I additionally don’t have any plans to go away the 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 similar to that, the experiment has begun. So has my discomfort, so I instantly attain for the following most addictive machine I personal – my laptop computer – and am shortly soothed. Ah, the candy hit of dopamine!
Besides…it’s not fairly nearly as good when it’s important to fiddle with a keyboard and mouse as a substitute 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 mistaken.
It additionally goes towards what my objective is for this experiment: utilizing expertise extra mindfully.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
So, in one other radical transfer, I block the websites I do know can be most distracting. These are the same old suspects: just a few 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 assume twice.
After dinner, I abruptly realise I’d deliberate to name my grandma. Will she even be capable of hear me on such an affordable, primary telephone?
However that is what dumb telephones do finest. Name high quality all through our 30-minute dialog is great, 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 telephone – she definitely didn’t point out it.
Saturday
I’m visiting my mother and father at this time, which I do know will make not having a smartphone a lot simpler. I hardly ever use it once I’m with them anyway.
Nonetheless, I didn’t contemplate the morning stroll we go on first, the place there are a number of alternatives to take nice pictures. It’s best to’ve seen the look on my dad’s face once 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 regular strain to doc my life. It’s a refreshing feeling.
Many of the remainder of the day, I genuinely get pleasure from not having a smartphone. Besides when my mother and father’ printer isn’t working and I’ve to borrow considered one of their telephones to get the guide. 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 superb on a laptop computer, even when the telephone it’s linked to is switched off. 2.5 hours fly by with nothing greater than minor points, which I feel are internet-related anyway.
The truth is, the one actual downside I encounter at this time is my purchasing 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 maintain 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 break day. This is able to be barely nerve-wracking at one of the best of instances, however I additionally need to navigate to an unfamiliar location and don’t have any proof of my reserving. Shudder.
Cue wanting up the 7-minute stroll on Google Maps about 20 instances. Ultimately, it’s simple to search 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 just a few 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 may’ve helped, however it turns on the market are this stuff known as indicators that time you in the best route when looking for one thing. Who knew.
Ultimately, making it to the park is a breeze, and I get pleasure from a stunning couple of hours studying and strolling across the lake, earlier than heading to the close by cafe.
Sitting alone round a lot of {couples} and households makes me really feel a bit awkward, so I instinctively flip to my telephone. However let me let you know, when Snake is your solely choice for distraction, it’s higher to remain in the true world (please don’t come for me, Snake followers).
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Wednesday
At this time is the simplest day thus far. Except for a brief stroll within the morning, I keep at residence 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 exploit my laptop computer for just a few hours within the night, however it will get boring shortly when you may’t go on social media, verify the information or watch YouTube movies. There are solely so many Reddit posts one man can learn.
Thursday
Being with no smartphone virtually feels regular now. As an alternative of counting on GPS, I merely search for the place I need to go on my laptop computer and belief that I’ll be capable of discover it.
Monitoring down a neighborhood espresso store is easy, 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. At the least the movie was fairly good.
Within the night, I lastly need to cost the telephone 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 selection – the Pixel 9a received’t evaluate itself.
I exploit my previous few smartphone-free hours to do a few of the most mundane duties recognized to man: meals purchasing, 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 swap again, I’m struck by simply how large and hulking this 6.3-inch, 186g machine feels. It’s comparatively compact by trendy telephone 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 shortly slip into my outdated utilization patterns, however can’t shake the sensation that it’s not proper.
What switching to a dumb telephone taught me
Swapping my smartphone for a dumb telephone has had a profound impact on me. Throughout my seven-day experiment, I felt calmer, extra centered and customarily much less harassed.
After all, that’s not completely 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 residence metropolis, which means all of the streets had been acquainted to me.
However nonetheless, it reveals the facility of lowering distractions and turning into extra current, which is one thing I undoubtedly need to proceed.
I’ve no need to surrender my smartphone full-time. It’s just too helpful in too many eventualities, particularly when travelling or in an unfamiliar location.
As an alternative, my objective is to discover a blissful 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.