from smartphone - to dumb phone - to simple smartphone? • 5 min read
by campak · 30 things on NewTwos
- With ADHD, I often get distracted far too many times than I want to admit. I find myself into the hours of YouTube rabbit trails, miss important things, and don't accomplish all the tasks I've set out for the day. Oftentimes the source of distraction is my phone. I went through many phases of saying, "I'm just gonna get a dumb phone!"
- One day I just went for it.
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- LET'S GET A DUMB PHONE
- My brother sold me a Nokia 6400 for $25 :). I used it as my daily for a few months, and that was really cool. I felt like I traveled back in time. It looked awesome. The battery lasted a few days. And honestly it's a great phone if you're looking to live with just the basics.
- But don't let it fool you, it's like a mini smartphone packed into that old sleek shell. It had emojis, Google Maps, and even YouTube! So… unfortunately I still found myself living in distracted and less-intentional land.
- Then I heard about the Light Phone 2. It was a very simple e-ink phone with just the bare essentials and almost no room for distraction. Honestly I have very little complaints about this one. It truly helped me be a lot more focused in on the real world. Like, I love technology and I love people, but without intentionality, I'd just focus on the technology side. It's often wired to grab and keep my attention. That's why I really loved the Light Phone 2, because it was the phone designed to help me be on my phone less.
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- DUMB PHONE LEARNINGS
- I learned that I don't have to respond to messages immediately. Taking time to write a message slowly made me feel more connected to that person. And, if texting took too long, I'd hop on a phone call (a more connecting and richer approach of communication, because I could hear tone, inflection, and pauses — more non-verbals).
- Taking time to just do *nothing* is rare. I found myself taking more walks and allowing my mind to just wander and imagine. And in that free space, without distraction or trying to process much, I started to have some really cool ideas for apps and just naturally become more intentional with others. There's something wonderful about being "bored" that produces creativity.
- Being less connected actually made me feel more connected with people. I wasn't super involved in group chats. I wasn't on social media. It made time in person more special. And not knowing about everyone's day already from social media, I was able to approach conversations with curiosity.
- My levels of stress and anxiety lowered a lot. I found myself being more contemplative and calm by default.
- Then there came a time where I realized something... I wasn't distracted by my phone anymore. I just diverted that distraction towards my computer instead, haha.
- And while it felt like a dystopia, I wanted to go back to the reality that most people live in — having a smartphone. I realized everyone's not going to get a dumb phone. And, if I'm dedicating my life to being a light of hope in the tech space, then I need to meet people where they're at. There had to be a better way. I missed certain apps that were actually really helpful to my life, like having my Bible always on hand or a tool for easily capturing tasks, notes, and events. (Twos is great for that 😉!)
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- HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SMARTPHONE
- I went back on the iPhone SE 2. It's a solid phone, was super cheap, and will be updated for years to come. Smartphones can be tamed. You just need to take control of them. Here's a list of things I did to help take back control of my phone. (Feel free to copy this list and use this checklist!)
- Delete any infinite scroll apps. If you find yourself using an app to mind-numb, it's probably worth removing.
- Keep any apps that are tools. Learn to reframe your thinking that apps are tools to be used.
- Turn off all notifications that do not come from humans. If it's not a notification that's essential or vital, it's okay to turn it off. Honestly, I even turn off notifications for texts, so that I can check it more like a mailbox — when I'm ready and present.
- Put your phone on greyscale mode. Why? Because it removes a lot of the captivating colors and makes the world around you more colorful.
- For the really dedicated: You can even disable the App Store and Safari on your phone! (Must use Screen Time's Content & Privacy Restrictions with a passcode. Make someone else put in the passcode so you can't easily reverse it.)
- And this last one made me feel like I was more at home with my old Light Phone 2 days. Download the Blank Spaces app. (This is what made my iOS home screen look like a Light Phone.)
- For more really helpful resources, check out the Center for Humane Technology's Take Control post.
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- So, I hope those things help like they've helped me. I also had to do something similar to my computer to reduce distractions, such as installing a Chrome extension time limit for distracting websites. I do these things because I know my tendency is to run towards distractions. Life is short, so I want to be able to live it well and be present. I am still in the shaping and learning process. If you've tried something and it's helped out your quality of life, I'd love to know. Send me an email at cam.pak@hey.com!