I am addicted to my phone, so I went to a stupid phone

My life revolves around my phone.

As difficult as it can admit, it is the truth. For mainly all my awakened life, I am attached to my smartphone and I hate it.

As a mobile publisher of technological advisor, using my phone regularly is a necessity. There is nothing intrinsically bad with this – a smartphone offers tons of features that can improve our lives.

But too often, it is almost impossible to separate these advantages from the well -published disadvantages. Most of the time, I don't reach my phone to use one of its many practical tools; I use it as a form of distraction.

Whether it's procrastinating or escaping a moment of discomfort, my phone has eliminated the boredom of my life. Unfortunately, this had the same effect on any real relaxation.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

I knew something had to change, so I put myself a radical challenge. Can I survive for an entire week without using a smartphone? The switch to a Flip phone had not completely had the desired effect, so I knew that I had to go further.

There was only one device for that: a “stupid phone”. In other words, a basic functionality telephone that offers access to key tools such as calls and SMS, but nothing else. I went for the Nokia 110 that I already had – he has 4G connectivity, which is crucial at a time when many 3G networks are extinguished.

However, fundamentally, all the other comforts of creatures on which I leaned are missing. No chrome! No WhatsApp! No Google cards! A terrible camera! What did I register?

Despite all these apparent drawbacks, I was strangely excited to make the change, which probably shown how much I needed it. Here's how my week went without a smartphone.

Friday

It is 6.30 p.m. I finished working for the week and I have a full week to wait. I also do not intend to leave the city where I live – there will literally never be a better time to do it.

I finally bring together the courage to deactivate my Nothing (3A) Pro phone, remove the SIM card and put it in the Nokia 110.

And just like that, the experience started. My discomfort too, so I immediately reached the next most addictive device I have – my laptop – and I am quickly soothed. Ah, the sweet stroke of dopamine!

Except that … it's not as good when you have to play with a keyboard and a mouse instead of just type and slide. My laptop has a touch screen, but watching youtube shorts and facebook rolls on such a massive display just feels bad.

It also goes against my goal for this experience: using technology more consciously.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Thus, in another radical movement, I block the sites that I know will be the most distracting. These are the usual suspects: some information and social media applications. The restrictions are quite easy to get around, but I hope there will be enough friction there to make me think twice.

After dinner, I suddenly realize that I had planned to call my grandmother. Will it even be able to hear me on such a cheap basic phone?

But that's what stupid phones are doing the best. The quality of calls throughout our 30 -minute conversation is excellent, and at no time is a downgrading compared to a smartphone. I doubt that my grandmother can say that I use a different phone – she certainly did not mention it.

SATURDAY

I visit my parents today, which I know, will facilitate the fact of not having a smartphone. I rarely use it when I am with them anyway.

However, I did not consider the morning walk that we are going first, where there are several opportunities to take great photos. You should have seen the look on my father's face when I whipped the Nokia of my pocket! MEFFED would be an understatement.

While it starts with the Xiaomi 13 Pro, I can't help but feel a pinch of envy, even if I only copied the blows he took. But I also like to be free from the usual pressure to document my life. It is a refreshing feeling.

Most of the rest of the day, I really like not having a smartphone. Except when my parents' printer does not work and I have to take one of their phones to get the manual. Ugh.

Before you know, it has been more than 12 hours since I checked Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger. Meanwhile, I missed a large total of … zero messages.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Sunday

I call a friend in Malaysia this morning. May confirm: WhatsApp calls work very well on a laptop, even when the phone to which it is linked is off. 2.5 hours pass with nothing more than minor problems, which, I think, is linked to the Internet anyway.

In fact, the only real problem I encounter today is my shopping list, which generally lives on Google Keep. The transition to a paper version is probably the simplest exchange I make all week, however, while abandoning my virtual loyalty card for the physical card is not really difficult.

However, getting used to looking at only one screen at a time (I know, I know) is a challenge. Sometimes I give up and use my laptop, but I try to keep my attention on the football match as much as possible. It is not helped by what could be the most boring Manchester derby of all time.

Monday

I reserved a massage for my first official day. It would be slightly trying nerves in the best of cases, but I must also navigate to an unknown location and I have no proof of my reservation. Shudder.

Picked by looking at the 7 -minute walk on Google Maps about 20 times. In the end, it's easy to find, and an hour later, I feel like a brand new man.

A few minutes after my afternoon of newspaperLing (on my laptop – I'm not perfect), I feel a feeling of calm and concentration that I have not had for weeks. It took a few days, but not using a smartphone makes me feel much more present.

Tuesday

Another frightening navigation on Google Maps has arrived. This time, it was 45 minutes walk from a country park that I have never visited. Am I crazy?

No, no, I'm not. The verification of the obsessive route before leaving may have helped, but it turns out that there are these things called signs that point you to the right direction when you try to find something. Who knew.

In the end, going to the park is a breeze, and I appreciate a few hours of a few hours to read and walk in the lake, before heading for the neighboring coffee.

Sitting alone around many couples and families makes me feel a little embarrassing, so I instinctively turn to my phone. But let me tell you that when Snake is your only distraction option, it is better to stay in the real world (please don't come for me, snake fans).

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Wednesday

Today is the simplest day so far. Apart from a short walk in the morning, I stay at home all day, uncluttering the apartment with my mother. Before I know, seven hours have evolved and I barely watched a screen.

I use my laptop for a few hours in the evening, but it becomes annoying quickly when you can't go on social networks, consult the news or watch YouTube videos. There are only so many reddit messages that a man can read.

THURSDAY

Being without a smartphone feels almost normal now. Instead of counting on the GPS, I'm just looking where I want to go to my laptop and believe that I can find it.

The withdrawal of a local coffee is simple, just like the take -out restaurant that I had identified for dinner.

I expected more problems in the cinema, which normally uses digital tickets. Despite the e-mail clearly saying “it's your ticket”, I convinced myself that they will reject my printed print and send me.

But it turns out that no one even checked my ticket! Everything that was worrying was for nothing. At least the film was pretty good.

In the evening, I finally have to charge the phone for the first time – I could get used to this six -day battery life. But I never want to go back to micro-USB. Ugh.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Friday

This is the last day of my experience, and I can't wait to go back to my smartphone. But I have no choice – the Pixel 9a will not be revised.

I use my last hours without a smartphone to perform some of the most common -known man's tasks of humans: food purchases, cleaning and laundry.

As 6:30 p.m. arrive, I am mentally ready to return to the world of almost constant distractions. As soon as I come back, I am struck by the size of what the 6.3 inch 6.3 inch and 186g device. It is relatively compact according to modern telephone standards, but about twice the size of the Nokia.

I quickly slip into my old models of use, but I cannot shake the feeling that it is not good.

What the way to a stupid phone taught me

Exchanging my smartphone for a stupid phone had a deep effect on me. During my seven -day experience, I felt more calm, more concentrated and generally less stressed.

Of course, this is not exclusively a consequence of not using a smartphone. I had a deliberately silent week of leave with only a handful of tasks to be performed, to prioritize rest and recovery. I also did not leave my hometown, which means that all the streets were familiar to me.

But nevertheless, it shows the power to reduce distractions and become more present, which I really want to continue.

I have no desire to abandon my full -time smartphone. It is simply too useful in too many scenarios, especially when traveling or in an unknown place.

Instead, my goal is to find a happy common ground where I can benefit from many advantages without being sucked up in insane use. After seeing what is possible, I am more motivated than ever to understand it.

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