I Got a Flip Phone

Here's how it's going.

A little over two weeks ago my flip phone arrived in the mail. It has minimal features, which was the main reason for my purchase. It has talk, text, weather, maps and a few other minor features. It has zero social media and no web browser.

Before making the switch I averaged around 5 hours of screen time per day. I came to the conclusion that that was ridiculous and unneccessary. In the past few weeks I wrote about why a flip phone was suddenly sounding like a great option. Shortly after having those thoughts, I decided to make the purchase.

Two weeks in, I am here to say that it was a great decision.

The first few days are the most eye opening. You suddenly realize how frequently you check your phone, constantly looking for ways to distract yourself in idle moments. With the limits of this new phone, there is nothing to do besides what is absolutely neccesary.

One of the first days after receiving this new device I was in a waiting area. It was very crowded. There were probably around 75 people waiting for their number to be called. Typically in those situations I’d pull out my phone and find something to make the time go by. This time I had nothing to distract myself. It was very relaxing. All I did was sit and observe my surroundings. Most people’s eyes were glued to their devices, just like mine would have been had I not recently eliminated my distraction.

I enjoyed the stillness. A moment of silence doing nothing but observing my surroundings. I realized how distracted we have become, how much we miss by not taking the time to sit and look around. It’s almost as if there are two worlds existing side by side; the real world that is right in front of us and the technological realm that only exists in our life when we give it our attention.

I feel more free. My mind feels more clear.

I’ve realized that I don’t need to know what is happening at all times. I don’t need hundreds of thoughts floating into my brain at all hours of the day. There’s a beauty in less. In the process you become more aware of the present. You see the things you didn’t see before. You notice the wonders of life that were there before that you never slowed down enought to see.

My screen time has been close to zero. The timing of receiving my flip phone coincided with my family going on a trip to Colorado. We spent most of the time outside enjoying the mountain air, sitting around at different restaurants and coffee shops. There was hardly any time spent in front of a TV. I used my flip phone for taking a few pictures and communicating when neccessary and occasionally checking the weather or using maps. I had my laptop with me which I used for 30 minutes or less over the entire trip.

It’s much easier to be on technology less when you are spending time with people that you love. At times social media gives us the feeling of being connected with others while lacking the truest form of realtionship and communication in the physical.

There are certain things that are more difficult. I no longer have the ability to google things any moment I have a question. That was very odd at first. I’d have a question and start to reach for my phone. I then remembered I no longer had google. The answer would have to come at a later date.

It was also freeing. I don’t need to have the answers to every question at any moment. It helps keep me in the present. If I want to look something up I know that I can when I get home.

I still have my Iphone and have the ability to use most of the features when I’m on wifi. My social media apps are still deleted off of my Iphone. My goal is to use it sparingly. It’s almost turned into an Ipod. I have spotify and can download songs to be listened to when there’s no wifi. I also have a few other apps that are necessary at times, but overall my iphone usage is pretty low.

I have a hard time beleiving that I will ever want to switch back. It is early and my thoughts on that could change, but the benefits have far outweighed the minor inconveniences.

Life is more full, my mind more at ease, and my thoughts more clear.

I will share more of my insights on this topic as time goes by.

~ Luke