I recently downsized from an iPhone 5s to a simple flip TracFone. I made this decision for a variety of reasons, including decreased cancer risk, increased brain function, and overall sense of well-being. It’s a decision I’ll never regret.
I bought my smartphone in the spring of 2014 with fear and trepidation. Not because I was nervous about electromagnetic fields or taxing my brain. I was apprehensive about learning the new technology. My fears were quickly assuaged as I caught on quickly. Within a month, I was relishing my instant access to email, Facebook, and Google searches. I used it in the car for navigation and enjoyed sharing photos on Instagram.
My Awakening
In December 2014, everything changed. I had an electromagnetic radiation inspection done on our home and “saw” the fields emitted from wireless devices. I was shocked. (See more in the post From Wireless to Wired: Our Family’s Journey.)
I began to think differently about my smartphone. I didn’t take action, except to keep it away from my head as much as possible. My focus was on the home, with particular attention to sleeping areas. (I detail these changes in Sleep, Melatonin and Electronic Devices.)
In the spring of 2015, I began to consider a transition away from my “not-so-smart” phone. The task was daunting; I was afraid to give up my navigation and photo sharing. I was overwhelmed with the process of leaving my provider, even though my phone was paid for and I was not on a contract.
Instead, I removed all applications including Facebook and Instagram and noticed an immediate reduction in use. I liked the decreased dependence on my device.
For Christmas, I asked my husband to help me take the next step. He helped me pick out a basic TracFone, and we purchased a three-month supply of minutes.
Pros and Cons
It’s been more than a year, and I’ll never go back. The benefits far outweigh the costs.
- The ease of texting
- Quality photos
- Navigation
- Not being tied to the Internet
- Less distraction while driving
- Improved navigation skills (ironically, my sense of direction is coming back)
The Top 8 Reasons I Got Rid of My Smartphone
1. Radiation Exposure
The Federal Communications Commission relies on thermal testing to maintain its position on safety. Since human tissue is not heated by exposure to these forms of non-ionizing radiation, it is assumed radiofrequency radiation (RF) is innocent. BioIniative 2012 suggests otherwise, compiling more than 1,800 studies that demonstrate these fields are hazardous. Even your cell phone manufacturer recommends that you keep the phone away from your body. (See Cell Phone Manual Warnings.)
Furthermore, non-ionizing radiation has been shown to contribute to DNA strand breaks in the brain cells of living rats (study here), and microwave radiation increases the rate of micronuclei (DNA fragments with no known purpose) in the body (study here).
DNA strand breaks and DNA fragments have been implicated in cancer growth. The World Health Organization now classifies RF as possibly carcinogenic. As one who is actively seeking to minimize my risk of cancer, I want to keep my RF exposure to a minimum. (See 8 Ways I Am Minimizing My Breast Cancer Risk.)
** From what I understand, the HTC Desire Smartphone emits less RF than the iPhone, so may be a better bet for those seeking to reduce their exposure. For more suggestions on safe cell phone use, see 10 Cell Phone Safety Tips.)
2. Nomophobia
Within a month after getting my smartphone, I found myself agitated if I was without my phone. I was experiencing what is now known as nomophobia (a contraction of no-mobile-phone phobia). Coined by researchers in the United Kingdom, nomophobia is defined as “the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.”
According to the UK study, nearly 53 percent of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they “lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage.” Still another study found that respondents check their phones, on average, 34 times a day.
Recently I left to pick up my daughter and forgot my flip phone. I didn’t panic like I might have when I had my smartphone. I regretted leaving without it, as I had to stop at a store and ask to borrow a phone to clarify our meeting time. How I wished for an old-fashioned pay phone!
3. Anxiety
My phone phobia was contributing to my overall heightened sense of anxiety. Round-the-clock access to social media and email and the constant decision-making was compounding my anxiety. I was more irritable and easily distracted. Anxiety has been a big issue for me in the past; the smartphone was doing me no favors.
Anxiety and My Twenty-Something Daughters
Two of my adult daughters recently got rid of their smartphones. Each has seen a difference when it comes to anxiety.
- Megan
Because I now turn on my phone only when I need to, my friends have learned I’m not the texting type. This has thinned out my social circle tremendously. I only communicate with people who need to talk with me, or express a sincere desire to do so. This deletion of friends is such a relief. I am no longer stressing out about the wrong emoji to a colleague, or the wrong text or wording to a friend. This has significantly lightened my anxiety load.
- Shannon
I’ve noticed a significant, direct impact on my connection with emotion. I’m increasingly aware of loneliness, which turns into a genuine desire for real-life relationship. Face-to-face contact ends up providing more serotonin and positive feedback loops in my brain. Where an iPhone gives me a quick little boost, the enhanced depth of desire for human contact, and the process of that contact, as well as the payoff from that journey is far more rewarding.
I would highly recommend it to those who have social anxiety and those who struggle with depression.
4. My Kids
My increased irritability led to issues with my children who are still at home. I found myself torn between them and my phone. I was less apt to sit and talk. I was preoccupied and distracted. If I wanted them to spend less time on their devices, what kind of example was I setting? We had already seen the benefit of a technology fast; I was ready to move in a direction away from my device. (See more about our fast in the previous post Our Family’s Digital Detox.)
5. The System
I have had serious concerns about the government’s oversight of the wireless industry. The primary mission of the Federal Communications Commission is to make communication services available to everyone. It is not to monitor the health effects of these services.
Part of the system involves subsidy programs for expanding wireless service to schools and libraries. With the growing concern over Wi-Fi in schools, my goal is to contribute as little as possible to the system. (See more about these subsidy programs and consumer bills in the previous post 6 Surprising Facts About Cell Phones.)
Now that I’ve downsized, my monthly payment has gone from $60 to approximately $10, which means I’ve substantially reduced my investment in what I consider a flawed system.
6. My Eyes
My eyes have been aging well so far. I’ve stopped wearing glasses or contacts unless I absolutely need them and I no longer wear sunglasses. (See Health Benefits of Natural Light.) I still don’t need reading glasses and I want to keep it that way as long as I can. Research suggests that too much small-screen time disrupts focusing and causes eye strain. “Dry eye” is a common symptom of screen time, since the mind focuses so strongly on the screen the user forgets to blink, which affects eye lubrication.
Consider the findings of an Israeli team of researchers who discovered that prolonged use of mobile phones can lead to permanent eye damage. According to the study Non-Thermal Electromagnetic Radiation Damage to Lens Epithelium,
Environmental stress, including electromagnetic radiation, has a negative impact on the lens and is considered a risk factor for cataracts. In this study we show non-thermal effects of microwaves at the same frequency that is used in cellular phones on the intact lens in organ culture. Microwaves damaged the lens optical quality, as measured by focal length variability. Microwave damage was dose-dependent and at the doses tested was reversible when exposure stopped.
The fact that the study found the damage was reversible increases my resolve to limit my screen time.
7. Driving
My smartphone escalated my phone use in the car. I knew it was a bad habit, but I had a hard time stopping. It was easy to check at a red light, or while waiting in the carpool line. I continued to take calls, even though I knew it was distracting. My anxiety increased since I now felt guilty checking my phone in the car.
My daughter and husband’s recent car accident affirmed my decision. The tow truck driver who arrived on the scene emphasized the importance of keeping cell phones out of sight when driving. (See Lessons From a Car Accident.)
8. Reflective Thought
The need for reflective thought played the biggest role in my decision to get rid of my smartphone. I used to get lost in books of poetry and classic literature. I would spend hours in a bookstore browsing and journaling. Now my only browsing was on the Internet.
When I came across Nicholas Carr’s book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, I knew I was not alone. Carr shares a similar experience and then looks at the subtle and not-so-subtle effects of modern technology. Carr notes that while the Internet has helped our ability to multitask, we are less able to tolerate downtime and are slowly losing our ability to think deeply and creatively. According to Carr (emphasis mine),
It’s not only deep thinking that requires a calm, attentive mind. It’s also empathy and compassion. Psychologists have long studied how people experience fear and react to physical threats, but it’s only recently that they’ve begun researching the sources of our nobler instincts. What they’re finding is that, as Antonio Damasio, the director of USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute, explains, the higher emotions emerge from neural processes that are “inherently slow.”
The Internet is anything but slow. The constant stimulation quickly overwhelms our quiet modes of thought. Greg Hochmuth, a former product manager for Google, Instagram, and Facebook agrees with Carr. Hochmuth and computer scientist Jonathan Harris founded Network Effect in August 2015.
This is how Harris and Hochmuth explain the 10,000 video clips, 10,000 spoken sentences, news, tweets, charts, graphs, lists, and millions of individual data points found on their site.
All of it is a mirage — there is no one here to watch, there is no secret to find, and the data, which seems to be so important, is actually absurd. In this sense, the project mirrors the experience of browsing the web — full of tantalizing potential, but ultimately empty of life. We do not go away happier, more nourished, and wiser, but ever more anxious, distracted, and numb. We hope to find ourselves, but instead we forget who we are, falling into an opium haze of addiction with every click and tap.
Getting rid of my smartphone is one of the best things I’ve done for my overall health and well-being. I still love my computer and access to the Internet but am grateful to be free of the anxiety, extra radiation, and the temptations of a smartphone. I may be a little less “connected,” but as the Roman philosopher Seneca noted two thousand years ago, “To be everywhere is to be nowhere.”
I talk more about my decision to downsize my phone in this episode of The Connecting Place.
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Have you noticed any health benefits since you switched? Was there a particular health symptom that sparked the research? I have considered switching back as well, but I love the ease of information with my smart{ish} phone. ?
Hi Dana,
It’s really just an overall sense of well-being. Far less distracted, more focused, calmer, etc. There wasn’t a health issue, it was more about quality of life. I definitely have noticed improved quality of life without question. Thanks for the question.
I noticed feeling calmer the very first day I got my flip phone. And, your comment about not being distressed about leaving your flip phone is so true. I left my phone at home yesterday and wasn’t concerned at all. Such a difference! I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t already experienced the change.
You are my hero. I could NEVER do it. And I learned a new word: Nomophobia. I totally have it!
on the opposite end….I had a basic tracfone (didn’t even do text grouping by contact) since 2012. It went through a lot of damage and lasted, finally replaced it january 2016. I feel anxious and weird around this new smart phone. It’s bright blue, big cameras watching me on both sides, makes the inside of my head feel like its being pulled, and on top of that –the touch screen is so annoying!! It’s way slower than I can type with buttons, it’s not accurate, it replaces words as I type. Just the whole thing is creepy, invasive, and makes me feel like I’m not real any more. Halp!!!
i actually ordered the old version and plan to switch back
Thanks for sharing your story, JJ. Your description helps to hear.
Wow that is so brave of you to do this!
Hi, Andrea. I loved this article. I would love to go back, as well. Do you still text? And I have teens that are moving into the communication world and no one will call or email. They text (on iPads)! I felt it hard to keep up with parents when they had my kids. They would only text me. I’ve had an iPhone for a year. Things are much easier — but yet, more hectic! I do most of my texting thru iPad at home but love the iPhone just to keep all family members in sync.
Texting is the hard part. We have a home phone that I encourage my kids to use, or sometimes they message me on FB. That makes sense about parents and communication. Of course, texting is much safer in terms of using a cell phone. It keeps things short and away from your head. I still can text, but I miss the convenience.
I actually dropped Facebook to settle my life down. I will sometimes hop back on and use Messenger to get a hold of some people.
I tuned in on the tail end of a radio broadcast and they were saying something about digital broadband will be next to take over and that all this scary WiFi EMF stuff will be resolved. Can’t quote me on that but that was my takeaway. But until then…..arrrgh!
Something is going to have to change, that’s for sure. It’s going to be tough to switch directions, but eventually we’ll figure out this isn’t the way to go. Nice to hear from you, Rebecca as always.
I think that’s awesome that you did this!!! I bet it relieves so much … plus the EMF thing is huge. It’s not something I could do with my business, but I really admire you for doing it. So cool!
Wow! That takes some courage. I use my smartphone a lot less than many people do, because I’ve noticed many of its bad effects in my life, but I haven’t had the guts to let it go entirely. I’m encouraged by reading your experience. Thanks!
It was a bit overwhelming to take the step that’s for sure. Thanks for your encouragement Dawn.
Wow – this is VERY brave! I am clapping big time! Bravo!
I have contemplated doing this for many of the same reasons…but I’m just not there yet. Good for you, though, for doing this and thanks for sharing your experience. It really gives me more to consider. I don’t think my sense of direction would improve though…I couldn’t find my way out of a paper bag!
.. I’m trying to understand how a flip phone would emit any less radio radiation than an iPhone. They’re both cellular devices?? WIFI is going to be different; if it’s only wifi you want to disable, you can do that and still have the benefits of your smart device. Genuine health questions aside, yes, the devices can have an influence on your mental state, but other than #5, these points are too subjective for me, personally.
The Tracfone absolutely emits radiation. Thank you for the comment. I hardly use the tracfone, so my exposure goes way down. But all the steps to use a cell phone safely such as keeping it away from the head, dialing and then stretching, air tube headset etc. apply to a simple flip phone. Good point, Michael.
Wow! Your post was a real eye-opener for me. I am really addicted to my phone (yes, I realise I have nomophobia!) but I like to think I could survive without it. I would like to be phone-free (or just get a simple flip phone like you) but I don’t have the willpower yet, but for now I am definitely going to try to distance myself from my phone. Or keep it turned off during the day (I keep it turned off overnight already 🙂 ). Thank you for sharing this post!!!
I’m so glad to hear, Kyra. That’s how I started – with distancing myself from the phone. It made a big difference. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Keep me posted!
I have to applaud you! You’ve made such a huge, positive change. In the past few months I’ve made a more deliberate effort to not always have my phone physically on me (in a pocket, usually) and this has helped me use it less. I’ve also started putting it in airplane mode at night, but I’m not sure how smart that is saftey-wise since my network will send out alerts when there are weather watches and warnings. If I had a home phone that’d be a little different. You’ve defintely given me some food for thought, especially in terms of its impact on anxiety.
Airplane mode is still better for sure. Thanks for your comment, Elaina. It’s not easy to navigate all of this. It’s a process, isn’t it?
You are so brave. When I am in the house, my cell phone is never near me. I like using the real phone. Sharing! Great article.
Dear Andrea,
I am local activists and educator against smart meters and wireless technology after my health was compromised in 2012 from a smart meter that was installed on my home. It has since been removed. There are over 150 million of us and growing every day who are ill from smart meters and wireless devices. I have not had a cell phone for 2 years. I also want to tell you that I teach people to get wireless out of their home by hooking everything up with an Ethernet cord. My computer and my printer are all “wireless free”. It is has been this way for over 3 years now. I also use a screen over my monitor to deflect EMF’s and RF’s. I am hopeful that your home is set up this way too. The “man-made” wireless technology is emitting a very high amount of EMF’s and RF’s which a human body cannot endure. Thankfully, there are wonderful way to reduce this all in your home. Also, I encourage you to get rid of any cordless phones. They are very high emitting devices. My best to you and your family, Gloria Frank.
Yes, Gloria we have moved completely away from wireless. I shared it in this post:
http://it-takes-time.com/2015/06/from-wireless-to-wired-our-familys-journey.html
Thank you for your comment.
Great post!
I have a “dumb phone,” and have struggled with whether to “upgrade” to a smartphone. So many friends send pictures of their kids and texts with emojis, etc. that sometimes I feel left-out. Plus, my husband works at a college. All of the students he’s around have smartphones and are obsessed with texting and being “connected.” We feel pressured to “upgrade.” That said, I have hesitated because of many of the reasons you list for giving-up a “smartphone. . . ” but also because when I ask myself “Is this really necessary?” The resounding answer is “No!” Fifteen to twenty years ago none of us had cell phones and we were perfectly fine! You should know that many of my reasons have mostly come from the great content you share on your site – thank you!
In the meantime, I have two small children and we live in building in an urban area. . . so many of our neighbors have wifi that comes straight into our unit :(. It’s so discouraging. I try so hard to protect my kids, but at this point, I am unable to really reduce their exposure. We cannot afford to move and cannot afford a lot of the materials that can help protect against wifi radiation/EMFs, etc. So, I pray and ask God for wisdom and protection. I try very hard to feed our family well and hope that their little bodies will be able to cope with the stress that EMFs, etc. cause.
Additionally, I find that I am more connected to people and my kids when I have the phone off/on air-plane mode and when I turn-off the computer during the day. We are all happier when mama is engaged and mentally and emotionally available.
Thank you, again, for all you share!
This is very encouraging, Roxana. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. As for wireless exposure, thankfully your lifestyle choices will have an impact over the long run. As will your knowledge. Great to hear from you.
Smartphones are for people with no social skills. Let’s hide behind emails and texts. I wouldn’t pay more than $20.00 a month at all for a phone. Track home works great, verizon is a scam and all these big companies are sticking the bills right up the consumer’s asses..truth, fact. In fact I would rather get a beeper. Smarter and frugal.
Roxana, if you can focus on blocking out RF EMFs from the sleeping area, that is where to focus your attention and expenditure to reap the most benefits, prioritising yr kids’ because they are considerably more susceptible. Perhaps an EMF shield curtain for their bed – if they slept side by side or in bunks, you might be able to get away with just one curtain. I haven’t done a cost comparison between one of those versus EMF shielding paint for a bedroom. When the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant during sleep, for healing, processing & repair, that is when the pulsed EMFs wreak their most damage because they disturb that healing process.
Wonderful article, Andrea! I have been using the same old Trac Fone for years now, with no speaker phone feature, and I can not text with it…so when I do use it (rarely at this point), I must hold it next to my head. Very bad, I know. In the future I will not be able to have a land line for some time, and will depend upon a cell phone exclusively for a period of time (we are moving). My question is, can I buy a flip up Trac Fone that allows for texting and has a speaker phone feature, which I feel is far more useful than an air tube device.
Plus the fact that I understand air tubes are not all that safe. If your Trac Fone features what I need, I’m wondering where it can be purchased.
Thank you so much!
Ruth
Yes, the newer Tracfones have speaker and texting. Walmart has them as well as Amazon. You can add a ferrite bead that stops the radiation for added protection with an air tube headset.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cUt9DSJDpc
I am always blown away and inspired by you Andrea. Thanks for sharing this at Savoring Saturdays linky party!
Thank you, Emily. The feeling is mutual. 🙂
I have deleted most apps from my phone. Seems so much money for not using to capability. I feel that we need to connect in person more. I was neglecting my family so I have to get in computer for Facebook or email. Use it for phone, texting(baseball coaches rely on it for practices etc.), pictures, navigation in car(son has it), and I think that’s all.
Feel it has helped me feel more connection.
I really appreciate this, Kata. These small decisions can make a big difference.
Hi, Andrea.
I just found your blog through twitter (re: wireless wake-up call.)
It is good to see the information getting out regarding the health hazards of smartphones/wi-fi. I’ve blogged about this topic as well. Keep up the good work!
I’m also a Tracfone fan. 🙂
Thanks, Tina. So great to connect with you!
My name is faiza. i use my husband”s email id. So, this gives u an idea, how technologically backward i am! There”s good and bad in everything. The good that i find on the net is pinterest which is how i found you!! I didnt want a smartphone but my husband gifted me one. The main reason was that my three growing up daughters would want it all the time. i am soon going to buy the old unsmart phone for the rare occasions that i need a phone. We dont have landline cos it has its own problems, like me yapping away for hours on it. The technology is here, now its in our hands to know how much to use and when to move away.But, i feel most people these days are too selfish to give up their smart phones even when they know its affecting their family life.
I appreciate hearing your comments, Syed. Thank you so much for taking the time to share!
Last year, I deleted my Facebook account for many of the reasons listed here in this article. It was absolutely refreshing! Then about 6 months later, I started using the internet more and more, via my Kindle. I notice the same patterns emerging, of isolation from others and dependency on device.
I think this just may be the motivating factor for me getting rid of my smart phone… and disconnecting my Kindle from the wifi.
Thanks for chiming in with your experience, River! I love hearing about the FB change. Sounds like you’re close to a big change.
How do you keep up with online social network marketing? I would love to use my phone less, but I’ve got marketing for online work I’m trying to get off the ground.
I do everything online with a hardwired computer. I schedule through Buffer, so I no longer feel bound to the social media aspect of what I do. It was a difficult transition, but once I started to spend only a set amount of time each day and let it go the rest of the time, I found I was actually more productive. It’s very hard, though.
Hi Andrea,
Do you have a recommendation for a GPS device for those who ditch smartphones?
Something like this handheld device might be better. If it connects to any network there will still be EMR, but the fact that you use it only when needed would help reduce exposure over the long run. See what you think, Beth.http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-eTrex-Worldwide-Handheld-Navigator/dp/B00542NV32/ref=as_at?tag=mak041-20&linkCode=as2&
I have found your blog post to be a wake up call! I better get rid of my iPhone ASAP!
I’ve had only a “dumb” flip phone for many years, not caving into the so-called smart phone “gottahave.” Your words have re-inspired me, just in case I was considering getting “smart.” Thanks for a great read!
Wow, good for you, Amanda! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi, I’m only a teenager but I find that I’m getting addicted to my iPhone. I think it’s drastically decreasing my productivity and focus on the more important things in life. I will really miss my music and Snapchat. I guess I have to prioritize. I don’t have a ton of interest in Instagram and I rarely get texts except for my best friend and cheer team. I feel like a lot of my social life is from Snapchat. I like sending silly things to my friends. I also like taking pictures and if I replace my phone I won’t have those things. What would you do?
I applaud your willingness to ask this question, Mady! It’s ultimately a trade-off. You would miss out on sharing photos (although tracfones have improved their cameras)…but the benefit may outweigh the loss. You could try a period of time without Snapchat and see how you feel. Either way, you are smart to be asking questions. If you decide to make a change I’d love to hear back and hear how it goes!
I got rid of my phone too, girl! It’s LIBERATING!!
Good for you, seriously you just saved your life and your daughters as well.
Not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.
I had a smartphone for 1 week and the anxiety it gave me was thru the roof. I actually just bought a pre paid one to see if I would like it (in 2016 lol I never got rid of my flip) and I hated every aspect of it.
And was so happy I didn’t get rid of my flip.
People are truly slaves to those things and I always laugh cuz these are the same people who don’t have anytime to work out or cook.
Since I never jumped onto the ‘must be connected all the time’ lifestyle I have realized that I have jumped light years ahead of my peers in life, life skills, goals, goal accomplishment, making and saving money, travelling etc. It is honestly hard for me to talk to and relate to most people because everyone lives in the fantasy world their phone provides.
I am so happy I just missed being raised by computers and cell phones, I was born in 1980, just made it in time to remember what sanity really is.
This society we live in and what is accepted and pushed as the norm is beyond unhealthy and is in my opinion insane and illogical.
And smartphones are the epicenter of it all.
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective, Melissa. You’re right – you’ve been spared.
Hi Andrea, what flip phone do you recommend? Im with my baby and realized I HAVE to get off my smartphone for her safety and wellbeing. Thank you. Many blessings. Im just weary about getting one with internet
I have a simple tracfone, but there may be better ones. I don’t use it much now, so don’t worry too much about EMF levels, or quality. It serves it’s purpose well. The key is keeping internet off the phone, so I think you’ll be good with whichever one you choose.
I am 14 years old and felt like I never talked to my parents and felt like I was turning into a bad person who can not talk to people in person. So I wanted to build a connection so decided to get rid of my smartphone and get a flip phone. Now my friends can just text me and I dont need to worry about keeping my streaks on snapchat. Honestly if anybody is considering getting rid of their smartphone it was the best decision I ever made. My life feels so good and my grades have improved so much. The world seems so much better so I would 100 percent suggest this for anybody. Even if you dont think you are addicted it is just so much better.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience Katherine!! This will no doubt help others.
Something I noticed that is completely different is people are on their smartphones even when they are talking to their best of friends. I realised that I was doing that to. I recently got rid of all of my social media apps because thay are just pointless and they make people depressed. There is really no point to having them and I would recommend getting rid of all soical media completely. I went back to a flip phone and live my life happier.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Nina! It’s true that people can get more depressed with all of the social media.
being IT expert I can’ help but notice the greed of people being reason that the technology sector is now turning into drug supply industry, drug being apps and ever needed updates, and ever needed input for some kind of that is behind this diabolical infinitum propelling itself into conversion of human experience into money via commercial greed that has no value for any kind of privacy just serve progress of itself.
people that were marginalized 50 years or so ago got into power now across most western nations, and use technology to revenge and gain power. I firmly believe that there is no better, there is only balance-and-or-Chaos, and we seem to be having later now.
I sold my smartphone on auction site, and never felt better Email can be done on 2010 era ThinkPad (they use them on ISS in orbit so they would know whats reliable)
dropped 10 kilos got super healthy zero anxiety of not being able to be ontime replying some email or text. sadly non of my friends call anymore being afraid that text is now replacement for voice and its rude to JUST CALL.
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Today was the first time in a few months that I felt an inkling towards using my smartphone again (mainly for Whatsapp as I’ve been missing certain important group information lately). Upon turning it on, I felt an instant wave of stress. There’s just too much going on with a smartphone, even after I decided to delete all unnecessary apps. I’m doing a 1 month trip of West Coast USA soon and was considering taking it as a backup but I’m partly tempted to completely ditch it and just take my Nokia 3310. People used to travel without them. Much more exciting I’m sure! Any thoughts?
I’d love to hear what you decided!