Back in October I ditched my smartphone for a basic phone. It doesn’t even have a camera. Or apps other than Telegram (which I don’t use). It has physical buttons. No it doesn’t “flip” and it isn’t a “burner.” I got it to reclaim parts of my brain. Did it work? Kind of.
Here’s the problem I was trying to solve…
Waiting in line somewhere? Check Reddit. Kids are being silly on a playground? Open the camera app. Got somewhere early and have time to kill? Scroll Instagram. Pass by a house for sale? Open Zillow. Figuring out a nice run? Map it on Footpath. Heard a song out in the world and need to know who it’s by? Shazam it. Questioning my life choices? Begrudgingly install Indeed. There truly is an app for everything.
At some point I realized that I was walking around with a supercomputer in my pocket and no amount of screen time governors would slow me down. I think I have decent self-control. I don’t even like to binge a series. But there’s something about the connectedness in holding a smartphone that feels like a warm blanket half the time and a ball and chain the other half.
Hit where it hurts
My goal wasn’t to go anti-technology or even abandon any of those apps above. It was purely to change what happens when I leave the house. So I snagged this used Punkt phone on ebay for a little under $200 (I know, I know). It’s truly tiny and stops people in their tracks, which wasn’t my intention. I’ve dropped it repeatedly and it’s fine. But this isn’t really a phone review (if it was, I’d say the plastic sucks and the battery life is abysmal).
I needed three things from this and it does them all: phone, text, tethering. That last one might sound ridiculous, if I’m just going to connect my computer (or old phone) to this thing, but it’s more for emergency situations and working in wifi-less places. Problem(s) solved!
Except
I don’t get group chats. Typing things out T9 style got old real fast (intended friction, achieved!). In general, I don’t like this phone, but that’s also the relationship I want to have with it when I’m out in the world. I bring a dedicated camera if I feel like documenting anything. I’ve even written down directions to get places. I’m *this close* to buying a window mounted GPS for the minivan.
If i had read that last sentence 15 years ago I’d probably make sure to be living on a boat in the Caribbean by now.
And what about my old iPhone? It’s still around, and I use it all the time around the house (which is still too often) when I’m away from my computer (not often enough). I even took this photo of my silly Punkt phone that you see here with it. I definitely achieved a new balance at the grocery store, or stop light, but still have a ways to go. Give it a try, I definitely feel like it has been worthwhile. Let me know how it goes. Just, whatever you do, don’t text me any links.