Please do not take this as me being flippant, but it is also an option to reclaim your independence and not use a smartphone, or any phone at all. Since I started doing this, the effects on myself were as expected, better focus, etc, but the secondary effects on my social circle were unexpected. People take more care to be on time when they say they are meeting me places, no more calls as I arrive saying "oh okay, youre there? Im walking out the door". No more "drive by" social interactions that spawn new storylines and gossip that I dont need to be a part of.
What was most unexpected is how, unprompted, a lot of the most ardent phone abusers in my social circle started gradually releasing themselves from their phones, putting them in a drawer, or just outright turning them off for weekends.
I have a single prepaid phone that my wife has the number to, it has no apps, no email, no scrolly things. When we are apart, it is turned on, otherwise, my time is otherwise occupied.
There are some real-world issues with that, all of which a friend recently encountered (they don't even use a credit card). Firstly, if you don't set up internet/mobile banking, it does leave you open to someone doing it "for you." Luckily money in the bank is insured, but that doesn't help the stress experienced by a 70 y/o (who was doing all the right stuff, as she's retired intelligence). Secondly, you're going to struggle if you're forced into some situation away from your landline, such as a hospital visit.
I was able to repurpose my Pixel 4 with GrapheneOS for her: no app store, no email, no scrolly things, data disabled, no e-waste, nothing but phone calls over LTE.
Thanks, giving it a thought. I might be too in love with tech to go to the deep end, but it’s never a bad idea to consider that option either. I’d need to learn to use a paper calendar and to carry it with me at that point for sure :-)
There’s definitely going to be a market opportunity in publishing the James Joyce’s Ulysses in a limited edition shampoo bottle format. The perfect vanity gift for that special someone who already has everything, but tends to forget their phone when heading to the ministry of magic :-)
What was most unexpected is how, unprompted, a lot of the most ardent phone abusers in my social circle started gradually releasing themselves from their phones, putting them in a drawer, or just outright turning them off for weekends.
I have a single prepaid phone that my wife has the number to, it has no apps, no email, no scrolly things. When we are apart, it is turned on, otherwise, my time is otherwise occupied.