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Unbundling my phone, Taking photos with my eyes

It is sometimes said that in the beginning, online was a place you went to and then left when you were finished. In most representations this was the usage of a desktop computer on a 56k connection, which basically meant when the internet connection was turned off it was off for everyone in the house.

Now, most of us realize that the online can follow us everywhere in our pockets. Data streamed to us everywhere, on the pocket computer.

As I found, sometimes circumstances (inflated battery in my Pixel phone) and a good deal on a new phone (new Pixel 10a) that seemed worth the wait can leave you without a cellphone. There is a longer piece of writing thats been in the works about a nearly 2 week journey where I was able to live without a cellphone: It was not always easy or convenient but it taught me a great deal. I want to capture the entire journey later.

Many phones now are not just a number to take calls, as everyone knows. To some degrees its impossible to get around the need for smartphone features especially in work contexts. But what if you could reduce its footprint to almost just that?

The first part I thought to share was a generally efficient way of thinking about minimizing phone usage in your life even if you have a phone. One person made me aware this is not an entirely new concept, and apparently trendy with some age groups. Anyways, this is my experience, it really came down to a few steps:

1. Make a list of things you usually do or want to be able to do with your phone. Second, make a list of things you want to be able to do without using the phone.

2. See if you can replace individual or multiple items on the list of phone features with single or multi-purpose tools that allow you to leave the phone as a core communication device and potential authenticator if required. Or, see if you can do the item on a desktop computer for a limited duration each day for example.

3. Incrementally, at a relaxed pace, shift things from the first list to the second.

Basically if unbundled to the max, your phone evolves back towards being a phone- calls and SMS with superpowers that you may sometimes if required access its full features. Just imagine pulling the crisp, lighter used phone out of your pocket or bag only if you really need or really want to use it.

In order to achieve this clarity, if your brain is anything like mine, I suggest that you need to lighten the load of what your phone does to provide useful space. Put more things in between you and the internet, without any loss of experience, and in some ways an even better experience.

These suggestions that follow come from finding the first tier of suggestions I received in life about my phones to be not quite enough. Greyscale mode, airplane mode, screen time limiting or tracking apps… these were not quite enough to pry the phone in my head away the physical phone.

This unbundling process continues for me:

  1. Writing notes and drafts -> Unbundled in the form of a nice journal booklet. The Obsidian app will remain on my phone app as a sync with my desktop, but I primarily opted to write notes into a journal instead of tapping with my thumbs on a phone. I made this decision to unbundle this, after re-evaluating what I was taking mobile notes about and deciding it mostly all worked in a physical journal.

  2. Music -> I unbundled music into a Mp3 player and file and folder organization like the bad old days. The player - a Surfans F20 - I bought cost about $125. I find a distinct joy in using it, as it allows me some space from checking messages when I want to actually listen to the music. Bandcamp mp3 downloads give me an initial burst of energy and consistent starting point for owning my own library again.

  3. Photos -> In progress! Researching getting a single purpose digital camera. In the meantime, per the title, I have felt a strong visual attention span that has allowed me to remember a little more by paying more attention: it feels like taking photos with my eyes.

  4. Communication -> Partially unbundled, using Signal Desktop reduces the quick on-hand access of the phone app I find. This approach reduced feelings of needing to quickly reply.

  5. Email -> Not yet moved over to the second list! But how I use email has adjusted. I often think more about using email once a day at a desktop or more but not all the time access.

  6. Maps -> Ok… gonna start sounding like a wild eyed person over here… I first decided to learn by studying maps before going somewhere and writing down in my journal the address. I did not make any mistakes but I am prepared to ask someone for directions if it really came down to it. Thats how much I decided I was ready to unbundle Google Maps. Potentially to partially re-bundle a different maps provider onto my phone if I had to do a big journey.

  7. Multiple Smartphone specific Apps (Uber, Spotify) -> Decided I could do without.

  8. Clock: I decided to opt for my PlayDate console! Many would use a watch

If your journey is anything like mine, you get closer to taming the online world to have a reduced footprint in your life and attention.

You may find a number of benefits, in no particular order:

  • Reduced stress
    • Removing the internal or external expectation that you must respond quickly, or are available to respond at all times
  • Resilience - not reliant on your phone for everything
    • More on this later… having some things in multi factor authenticators not reliant on coming from the phone allowed me to prosper during the two weeks without a phone
  • Increased battery life of your phone, potentially able to turn it off for extended periods as not needed as much
    • You might be able to experience the actually claimed 30 Hours of battery life if its just for light usage
  • Less overall wear and tear on the phone
    • Resale, re-gifting, whatever you do will help preserve the phone.
  • Joy and relaxation associated with single purpose items for example rather than everything on the same screen

My process of unbundling continues…

I recognize some caveats to this approach. It sometimes costs money, but if you need less phone, you can potentially buy a cheaper phone. Ultimately, multi factor authentication aspect of phones is hard to replace, which is why I decided to keep having a phone.

Many businesses and services do rely on a phone number to call, so the traditional phone call also still has a place.