I've had an alarm clock for years, and I recommend it to everyone. I turn off my phone in the evening and only turn it on after 9-10 a.m. when I start working. My bedroom is a technology-free zone, except for my Kindle and alarm clock.
I also do digital detox days, and I would love to do them more! When I know I'm home all day, I keep my phone off all day, and it is the most blissful day. If I want to watch something, I use my laptop.
I'm also trying to block WhatsApp during the day and unblock it for one hour at lunchtime. This is a new experiment, as I realized that already working with a laptop all day and multitasking with my phone overwhelms and exhausts me even more by the end of the day. Instagram is already blocked, and I use it once a week unless I'm on holiday like now.
Anyway, as you can read, I'm trying a lot of things because, for many years, I've had a heightened awareness of what the phone does to my mental and emotional well-being and destroys my creativity. I wrote a post about it a couple of years ago.
I'm actually working on an ebook at the moment on my tools for working more focused and not allowing distractions to take over. Like a little toolkit :)
Relate to this 💯. I picked up a second hand digital camera and camcorder and it’s been so nice to not be on my phone when filming and getting distracted
The greatest gift I ever gave myself was charging my phone outside of the bedroom back in 2021. I use my Hue lights as al alarm in combination with my Fitbit.
I also make myself answer the question "am i ready to engage with the phone?" before I pick it up in the morning. Because, like you said, once I pick it up....I don't separate from it until I go to bed.
Wow, I love the idea of asking the question "am i ready to engage with the phone?". These kinds of questions or mantras can be helpful. I remember reading about one (in the context of switching off from work) where you literally say out loud: "I am done with my work now" before closing your laptop. So powerful. Going to adopt this!
When I had my phone stolen a while back I spent a week without a phone and it was liberating. Now, I had turned off all my notifications, I put my phone out of sight when at work. I put it on my desk when I get home and I don’t bring it to bed with me until I’m about to go to sleep. I still need to work on reducing my phone use, doom scrolling sometimes, but I’m getting there. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this.
I highly recommend getting the film camera, or at least a little digital camera. I bought the little point and shoot film camera that I had when I was jn high school from ebay, and it’s so fun. Then I bought a Nikon ZFC (digital) because it has all the manual controls like the one my dad had back in the 80s, and developing film can be expensive. ALL THAT to say having any sort of camera again that is NOT your phone is so fun! Do it!
Taking this as my final sign 😌 I will get a film camera!!! I just adore the look of film photos and seems like such a great hobby. Thanks for the push!
Everything you wrote spoke to my SOUL. I have been struggling so much with exactly this. Loved the whole piece - also highly recommend film cameras, I love mine! I also recently hosted a birthday bar crawl for myself and bought some disposable camera for everyone to pass around. I didn’t see any phones all night :)
Yesss I am diving into film camera research right now - may I ask which one you have? 📸 That is such a lovely idea for your birthday too - I bet those photos turned out awesome!
I have a Yashica T4 (cute, tiny, trendy) and a Nikon N6006 (bigger camera, crisp photos)! I love both for different reasons but am also new to film photography so still exploring both cameras. :)
An important topic and one I intend to write on soon, after I've finished what I want to say about neurodivergence. I have similar thoughts about my phone - and like you, have it next to my bed at night. Why do we do this to ourselves? Oh yeah, that little thing called convenience (which has actually turned out to be more of a ball and chain than I thought 🤷🏼♀️).
This is exactly what I’ve been thinking and have trouble putting into words! I got a film camera last year and will never look back. I just ordered a flip phone to switch to in the new year. I feel like I’m the only person I know who is willing to take these “drastic” steps, but I want to be free of it. I fear there’s no real way to have a healthy balance with a smartphone… at least for me. Thanks for sharing!
insightful post! one thing i've been testing out recently is making my phone more boring -- putting a wallpaper on it that i don't like, turning on grayscale to remove all color, taking photos off of my contact names, deleting all social media apps off of it, etc -- these have definitely helped as i enjoy looking at it less with these add-ons -- would highly recommend :)
Those are very cool ideas. Changing the colour definitely works - I configured a “red mode” on my phone, which gives everything a red tint. It’s horrible to look at, removes a lot of blue light and also notifications are no longer visible!
Hey, thanks for this absolute right on point article! I suffer SO MUCH trying to talk people into realising that they are wasting their intelligente, time, and life on the technology, and it feels as if my words don't reach them. They are so addicted that they become protective of this lifestyle.
I'm actually really struggling to be accostumed with the fact that people will maintain this habits as long as they want, and that I unfortunately may have to watch it in my own home. Everytime I come across this situation, I shiver and get super stressed and sad. If anyone goes throught the same worrieness, I would love some advice on how to deal with this without damaging my relationships with family and friends. 🌷
Woah, I resonated with so much of this. This summer i started using an old-fashioned alarm clock and not starting my day with my phone has proven very helpful, but I'll definitely be implementing some of your other suggestions! Exciting!
Relate to this so strongly. I read recently that phone addiction is dulling our real life experiences too, our brain releasing less seratonin for real life marvels. I felt the impact of this on a trip to New Zealand recently and it was scary - feeling the need to read for my phone while in Milford Sound was WILD. Was the impetus I needed to delete Instagram from my phone but I will probably need to put stronger boundaries in place soon too
Oh wow, that is crazy 😳 I can totally relate to it though. Nothing worse than being on holidays and feeling like things aren’t as “good” as they looked online. It’s taken all the marvel out of travel especially :/
I've had an alarm clock for years, and I recommend it to everyone. I turn off my phone in the evening and only turn it on after 9-10 a.m. when I start working. My bedroom is a technology-free zone, except for my Kindle and alarm clock.
I also do digital detox days, and I would love to do them more! When I know I'm home all day, I keep my phone off all day, and it is the most blissful day. If I want to watch something, I use my laptop.
I'm also trying to block WhatsApp during the day and unblock it for one hour at lunchtime. This is a new experiment, as I realized that already working with a laptop all day and multitasking with my phone overwhelms and exhausts me even more by the end of the day. Instagram is already blocked, and I use it once a week unless I'm on holiday like now.
Anyway, as you can read, I'm trying a lot of things because, for many years, I've had a heightened awareness of what the phone does to my mental and emotional well-being and destroys my creativity. I wrote a post about it a couple of years ago.
https://tugbaavci.substack.com/p/creativity-and-all-things-boredom
I may write a more updated version soon.
I'm actually working on an ebook at the moment on my tools for working more focused and not allowing distractions to take over. Like a little toolkit :)
Relate to this 💯. I picked up a second hand digital camera and camcorder and it’s been so nice to not be on my phone when filming and getting distracted
Oh wow, a camcorder is so nostalgic 🥹 We had boxes and boxes of “home movies”. I have to get myself one!
I never had one so it’s been a massive novelty hahah. I picked it up at a flea market for £4/$7.
Great article Caoilainn!
The greatest gift I ever gave myself was charging my phone outside of the bedroom back in 2021. I use my Hue lights as al alarm in combination with my Fitbit.
I also make myself answer the question "am i ready to engage with the phone?" before I pick it up in the morning. Because, like you said, once I pick it up....I don't separate from it until I go to bed.
Wow, I love the idea of asking the question "am i ready to engage with the phone?". These kinds of questions or mantras can be helpful. I remember reading about one (in the context of switching off from work) where you literally say out loud: "I am done with my work now" before closing your laptop. So powerful. Going to adopt this!
Personally, I *do* bring my Tangle Teaser everywhere with me 💁🏼♀️
When I had my phone stolen a while back I spent a week without a phone and it was liberating. Now, I had turned off all my notifications, I put my phone out of sight when at work. I put it on my desk when I get home and I don’t bring it to bed with me until I’m about to go to sleep. I still need to work on reducing my phone use, doom scrolling sometimes, but I’m getting there. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this.
Thank you for sharing this, Dawud 🙌🏼
I highly recommend getting the film camera, or at least a little digital camera. I bought the little point and shoot film camera that I had when I was jn high school from ebay, and it’s so fun. Then I bought a Nikon ZFC (digital) because it has all the manual controls like the one my dad had back in the 80s, and developing film can be expensive. ALL THAT to say having any sort of camera again that is NOT your phone is so fun! Do it!
Taking this as my final sign 😌 I will get a film camera!!! I just adore the look of film photos and seems like such a great hobby. Thanks for the push!
This is from earlier this year, using my little point and shoot I got on eBay. I take it with me when I got out, and when I remember I take some snaps with it: https://sethw.xyz/blog/2024/03/06/some-black-and-white-photographs/
Awesome photos. There is just something so special about the look of film :) like the static scratch of playing a record, it just has such character
Everything you wrote spoke to my SOUL. I have been struggling so much with exactly this. Loved the whole piece - also highly recommend film cameras, I love mine! I also recently hosted a birthday bar crawl for myself and bought some disposable camera for everyone to pass around. I didn’t see any phones all night :)
Yesss I am diving into film camera research right now - may I ask which one you have? 📸 That is such a lovely idea for your birthday too - I bet those photos turned out awesome!
I have a Yashica T4 (cute, tiny, trendy) and a Nikon N6006 (bigger camera, crisp photos)! I love both for different reasons but am also new to film photography so still exploring both cameras. :)
An important topic and one I intend to write on soon, after I've finished what I want to say about neurodivergence. I have similar thoughts about my phone - and like you, have it next to my bed at night. Why do we do this to ourselves? Oh yeah, that little thing called convenience (which has actually turned out to be more of a ball and chain than I thought 🤷🏼♀️).
My experience is that distraction often masquerades as convenience. Have you read Digital Minimalism?
I haven't yet, but I want to! I have a stack of other books to get through first :)
What a great, insightful article!
Thank you Naomi 🫶🏻
This is exactly what I’ve been thinking and have trouble putting into words! I got a film camera last year and will never look back. I just ordered a flip phone to switch to in the new year. I feel like I’m the only person I know who is willing to take these “drastic” steps, but I want to be free of it. I fear there’s no real way to have a healthy balance with a smartphone… at least for me. Thanks for sharing!
Very jealous of your film camera! I am certain that your friends will follow suit… eventually!
insightful post! one thing i've been testing out recently is making my phone more boring -- putting a wallpaper on it that i don't like, turning on grayscale to remove all color, taking photos off of my contact names, deleting all social media apps off of it, etc -- these have definitely helped as i enjoy looking at it less with these add-ons -- would highly recommend :)
Those are very cool ideas. Changing the colour definitely works - I configured a “red mode” on my phone, which gives everything a red tint. It’s horrible to look at, removes a lot of blue light and also notifications are no longer visible!
I love that so much, I’ll definitely give it a try!
I have been feeling this in my sooooul lately.
Hey, thanks for this absolute right on point article! I suffer SO MUCH trying to talk people into realising that they are wasting their intelligente, time, and life on the technology, and it feels as if my words don't reach them. They are so addicted that they become protective of this lifestyle.
I'm actually really struggling to be accostumed with the fact that people will maintain this habits as long as they want, and that I unfortunately may have to watch it in my own home. Everytime I come across this situation, I shiver and get super stressed and sad. If anyone goes throught the same worrieness, I would love some advice on how to deal with this without damaging my relationships with family and friends. 🌷
Woah, I resonated with so much of this. This summer i started using an old-fashioned alarm clock and not starting my day with my phone has proven very helpful, but I'll definitely be implementing some of your other suggestions! Exciting!
Thats awesome Jessie 🙌
Not me blasting the Cocteau Twins on my commute today
Hahaha, relatable 💗
Relate to this so strongly. I read recently that phone addiction is dulling our real life experiences too, our brain releasing less seratonin for real life marvels. I felt the impact of this on a trip to New Zealand recently and it was scary - feeling the need to read for my phone while in Milford Sound was WILD. Was the impetus I needed to delete Instagram from my phone but I will probably need to put stronger boundaries in place soon too
Oh wow, that is crazy 😳 I can totally relate to it though. Nothing worse than being on holidays and feeling like things aren’t as “good” as they looked online. It’s taken all the marvel out of travel especially :/