Disclaimer

Deciding which technology to adopt into your life is a personal decision, and like all personal decisions, I couldn’t possibly guess what’s right for everyone. Or even most people. When I first started making the switch to a non-smartphone 5 years ago, my life circumstances and timing played a big part in making that possible. So, I won’t pretend that making the jump is right for everyone. However, I won’t pretend that technology is inherently neutral in its impact either. I still think it’s a worthwhile change for most people. 

This leads me to an obligatory disclaimer: Generally, I don’t dislike technology. I believe in its utility to further our collective goals and values. But, I also believe in keeping our humanity about it. The reality is when people first see my phone, a good amount of them will tell me they want to make the jump too. I consider these people the already converted, just-not-yet-fully-committed ones. Parts 1 & 2 of this article were written for them and includes everything I wish I had found online 5 years ago. 

Top 3 Reasons Why I Gave Up My Smartphone In the First Place

1. I used to spend an embarrassing amount of time on social media apps and doomscrolling

“Embarrassing amount of time” is of course, subjective. But when night after night, when I’d find myself tapping ignore on my screen time limit notification for the 8th time in a row instead of going to bed, I knew something had to change.

I used to watch myself mindlessly rotate through opening the same 4 apps in a row. It felt like my brain was mining for the possibility that maybe by the time I got back around that first app, something new would have popped up there. Ah finally, further distraction (and a fresh hit of dopamine). 

I’d also catch myself scrolling on my phone before I was even consciously aware that I had picked it up and opened an app, and long after I had forgotten what inspired the impulse in the first place.

This led to several failed attempts to adjust my phone use. I’d ask myself questions like, “What if I just kept it on airplane mode?”, “What about deleting all the apps I spend the most time on?”, and “What if I just make it grayscale to make it look more boring?”. None of these strategies worked for me long term.

2. Texting sucks (meaningful conversations & social interactions out of my life)

Living with the expectation of being in near-constant contact with others at relatively all waking hours has always felt weird to me. 

I still send instant messages on my laptop when necessary and I get that it serves a specific purpose, but the format limits meaningful connection in a way that I think is important to limit. I’m not much of a “film person” (whatever that means) but this book of long-form interviews with Werner Herzog is chalked full of such solid life advice. In it, Herzog perfectly describes how messaging, among other activities, should be limited because they dilute in-person conversation and experiences. I think he’s right. 

3. I was never alone and I avoided discomfort (or killed my phone battery trying)

I never felt alone while connecting to others on my phone and social media sporadically during the day. And I like being alone, for the most part. But I also think being alone is especially valuable when I don’t particularly want to, and that is specifically what I found challenging with a smartphone. Cal Newport in Digital Minimalism shared the best definition of solitude I’ve come across. “Solitude is a subjective state in which you are isolated from input from other minds”, (originally from Lead Yourself First). My smartphone could way too easily provide a constant stream of input from other minds if I let it. I found I was lacking meaningful, uninterrupted periods of solitude. 

Ultimately, the continuity of my experiences and thoughts during the day make up my life as a whole. And maintaining that without low-value disruptions feels worth the inconvenience of not having a smartphone.

My day was also full of moments in which I would choose to avoid extremely minor discomfort by reaching for my phone. Oh, does it feel extra quiet in the elevator with my neighbour and I don’t feel like getting into a conversation? Head down, phone. Wait, is that guy on the escalator at the mall my third-grade gym teacher and I looked at him for too long trying to figure it out? Head down, phone. As long as there was a reliable, consistent shortcut to distraction and avoidance in my pocket, I was reaching for it.  Until battery life do us part. 

Top 3 Benefits Of Using a Non-Smartphone for 5 Years

1. Reclaiming my boredom, mind wandering, and subconscious processing for increased creativity & motivation

Boredom is the most valuable resource I never knew I wanted to have. By interrupting or artificially delaying it with content, I can feel the creative part of my brain slowly start to atrophy. It becomes harder to come by new ideas or insights on things I’m currently working on, I can’t hear them over whatever is happening on social media or the news. 

Or, when I immediately google every question that comes to mind, what happens to first trying to think up my best guess? Or asking someone around me? Trying to figure it out or waiting a moment to remember the answer? It’s only useful to re-learn to sit with unknowns. And when all else fails and I really want to know, I can always jot it down in my notebook to google later.

Having empty space in-between other events and thoughts in my day that is not as easily fillable also helps me get out of myself just long enough to remember I’m a small ant on a spec of a pale blue dot hurdling through space. So, what am I going to do about it? What actually matters? For better or for worse, I can’t escape these micro-existential experiences as easily during the day and they help orient me in more meaningful and grounded ways. 

2. I’m significantly happier, less anxious, and have a longer attention span

This is nearly impossible to quantify but I’m convinced it’s directly related to the decrease in time I spend doomscrolling, my increased tolerance for discomfort, not feeling “on call” during the day and spending more time connecting with my surroundings, myself, and others.

Also, my attention span is less fragmented as I move through life. The micro-urges to pull a piece of attractive, shiny glass out of my pocket have slowly subsided and I’m left with a longer attention span in the moment and on longer-term projects.

3. Conversations feel more meaningful, even the small-talk ones

Sitting at a coffee shop or standing in line anywhere alone without a phone in your hand makes you the #1 prime target for people to start up a conversation with you. At first, I wasn’t always a fan (and if I’m honest, I’m still not sometimes) but it’s grown on me a lot. These short-form, surface-level interactions would rarely ever warrant interrupting someone looking down at their phone so a whole world of what could have been is left unexplored (or undiscussed, I guess). 

Also, a weird sort of kinship is shared the moment you realize there’s only one other person on the bus or in line who’s also not on their phone. Maybe you’re both just daydreaming or taking in your surroundings, no words need to be exchanged but there should be a special word for the moment you realize you’re both there, while everyone else seems not to be. 

As for non-strangers, I actually have things to catch people up on because I didn’t already text it to them and they didn’t already see it on social media. I can even go ultra-old school on them and flip through the photos of my last film roll and share the stories behind them.

So, now what? 

Want to give a non-smartphone a try now but not sure where to start? Check out Part 2 of this article for the more practical parts. 

Are you curious to make the jump? What are your reasons for wanting to? Share them below!