Most Americans think they spend too much time on their phones, and I was definitely one of those Americans. I tried deleting certain apps from my phone, but then caught myself obsessively checking my email. I tried deleting my email app, but then just scrolled through the latest news headlines.
I’m an extreme person, so I was looking for a more extreme solution. That’s why I pre-ordered the Light Phone III last year. And that’s why I waited and waited and waited some more. But it finally arrived, and I finally figured out how to set it up. And now I’m in love.
My dumb phone is set up to text and call people. It can use Wifi for texting and calling, which is super helpful for people like me who live in places with unreliable cell service.
My dumb phone also has an alarm, directions, and a camera. And that’s it. I could try to figure out how to upload some songs and podcasts, but I like that it’s just a texting and calling device. I like that it’s a phone and not a pocket computer.
The fact that there is no browser, and therefore no internet, on my new phone is a real game-changer. I can no longer Google things when I can’t figure it out. I can no longer catch up on some headlines while waiting in line. I can’t download an app that traps me into mindless scrolling. My phone just doesn’t do those things, so I can no longer do those things.
I’m not a total Luddite because I have a job and live in a community with other humans. That means sometimes people want me to Venmo them. Sometimes I want to listen to Spotify while taking a jog. Sometimes my doctor sends me an invoice that cannot be paid with a check.
I kept my old smartphone without the SIM card. I just use it to play music at the gym and pay people who still really love Venmo.
I also use my laptop more now that I don’t have a pocket computer. Things I used to be able to do on my smartphone now have to wait or require me to grab my laptop and get to typing.
But my dumb phone has broken my habit of constantly checking my phone after only one week. I feel more in control of my technological life now. I no longer feel at the mercy of my phone’s dings and pings. In fact, my new phone rarely dings and pings. Turns out, people rarely send me text messages. And they extremely rarely call me. Which means my phone is boring, which was exactly what I was hoping for.
That said, the Light Phone III is sleek. It looks cool and gets people talking. Most people shudder and say they could never switch to a dumb phone. But some are intrigued and considering making the switch.
The other good news is that you can switch your SIM card back and forth. You could use your dumb phone over the weekend and your smartphone during the week.
It’s been fascinating experiencing how reliant we’ve all become on smartphones in just over a decade. You need them for museum maps, restaurant menus, banking, working, and even checking your vital signs. Or do you?
I’ve been printing out directions, printing out movie tickets, and memorizing addresses ahead of time. I feel like I’ve been using my brain more this past week, becoming more conscious, more my old self, my 90s self. I loved my 90s self. He was more in the world. I liked him a whole lot.
I know that dumb phones aren’t for everyone, but I want you to be okay with the idea that it might be right for you. If nothing else, it will open your eyes to how much you rely on your smartphone. What you do with that information is totally up to you.