Will switching to all "analog" tech really improve my life?

[akyra00]

i can only speak of my own experience, going full analog is a little extreme and almost impossible to manage in todays time, but due to my adhd, deleting social media, switching to a flipphone, really improved my life quality. I get bored more often, therefor im more active, things are more fun to do, it kind of feels like being a kid again?

What i would really recommend you is cutting instagram, tiktok, youtube shorts, any kind of "short video serotonin boost" platform. Having a Japanese keitai (with whatsapp installed or line) also helped me alot. The phone is less appealing and helps me concentrate more on my surroundings.

Also if you dont like reading books, dont read books. Dont force yourself to stuff you dont like, you dont have to be a bookreader to be super smart, happy or whatever. U could consider audio books, but really if you dont like certain hobbies, dont do em. I made the mistake and tried to like stuff i simply dislike, leading to burnout or being unhappy all the time. 

[windit]

I liked reading through this thread. I haven't used a smart phone or been on social media since ~2017, and proudly embrace the 'luddite' label, but it's interesting how out-of-the-box that seemed when I first did it, versus now when everyone is much more curious when they hear I don't have a smart phone, or say "I need to do that too!"

The transition was HARD though, and some things about it are getting harder - my bank is making it so that the only form of 2FA they accept is through their app - with no support for people who don't use smart phones, so I'm having to change banks this week. I can't access Whatsapp and am often having to ask for events / communication channels / etc to be accessible for offline peeps.

BUT the reason I keep at it is because, yeah in my case it 'improved my life'. To an extent we always return to an emotional baseline after life changes, but getting off infinite-scroll apps and social media immediately REMOVED stressors that I had been encountering every day. I'm (generally) more emotionally regulated because I'm not being pulled into spirals of upsetting content or having my attention constantly split. I'm able to be more intentional and present with my friends. If I get a notification on my phone, it's always from a real person who I've given my number to, it's not from an app or an upsetting news notification or a social media friend request or or or

A while ago I was thinking of writing a zine with tips about the process of actually getting off smartphones and how to navigate life without one. Maybe I still should? Wait, am I now trying to sell a self-help book? Oh God.

Okay look my final point - it improved MY life, but I had really clear reasons for doing it - I'd recognised specifically what aspects of my digital life were damaging my mental health, and it was in line with my values to put in the effort to build other ways of living. The steps we take are all trial and error, but follow your values and you'll be all good 

[DiffydaDude]

Okay look my final point - it improved MY life, but I had really clear reasons for doing it - I'd recognised specifically what aspects of my digital life were damaging my mental health, and it was in line with my values to put in the effort to build other ways of living. The steps we take are all trial and error, but follow your values and you'll be all good 

You have some good points. I do wanna get rid of my phone, but because I hate how people are always calling me and how nullifying watching YT does feel. And also phones just suck for browsing the web.

[KatiePla.net]

This is just my own personal experience - but I've found that I am much more productive and a lot happier with a clear separation between technology and my life. I actually don't think that technology is a bad thing so much as it's deep integration into every waking moment of our existence. Our relationships with phones, TVs, and the internet feels more symbiotic than a tool anymore, and by creating boundaries I've personally been a lot happier - Deintegration makes me feel like I use technology, technology isn't using me.

Some deintegration tactics I utilize to create a boundary between tech and self, without abandoning tech entirely:

• I have a "Home" stationary computer that stays at my desk. By sitting at the desk when online, I am much more conscious of how much time I spend on it - and I'm more likely to "respect" the time I spend online - I don't waste my time as much as I used to! Note: Before I had a home PC I used to take my laptop and leave it at my desk - and when I was finished I fully turned it off and put the cords and laptop in a drawer to limit easy access to it - I only used it when I really wanted to spend time on it.
• Converted to a text/call only data plan. I pay like $8 a month using Tello, and my phone only has text and calling. Its still a smart phone, I just need to be connected to wifi to use the internet on it. Technically my phone has 1gb of data for emergencies, but I never use it as its very limited. I've actually never found an instance where I wish I had data and didn't! It stays in my pocket 95% of the time. I feel like I have all the benefits of a "dumb phone" without having to give up essential smart phone capabilities like qr code scanning, cameras, geocaching (I'll never give that up!), notes, etc. I view my phone like a very smart tool over a toy! It also means I keep no soc. media apps or anything "fun" on my phone.
• I use no social media at all. I try to live an "algorithm free lifestyle" and preserve my free thinking as much as I can - if it has a feed or algo I try my best to avoid it. To stay on top of local events I rely on email lists and posters! I miss things, sure, but I also gain a lot in living this way, so its a trade I'm happy to make.
• Finally, I use an e-ink e-reader! Used to when I couldnt sleep I'd scroll my phone or lay in bed wishing I WAS scrolling my phone. Now when I'm craving screen time, I break out my Kobo and read! I paid like $50 for mine used(ebay is so great!) and get all my books for free online.    I have been reading SO much more, and I love taking it with me places. Its also "e-ink" so it doesnt use an LED screen, which is great on the eyes.

This list is some of the things that work best for me. Ultimately I've found that the best way to crush any habit is to make the thing harder to do. Tired of sitting on the couch all day on my laptop? Use a stationary PC. Tired of scrolling my phone all day? Keep my phone on its charge pad in the kitchen like a home phone - I can always walk over there and search if I really need to (but it keeps me standing since I'm in the kitchen). The inverse works for habits you want to keep! Want to read more? My kobo is always by the couch. Wanna draw more? My sketchbook and pencils are right on the desk!

This is just what works for me. The lesson I hope to impart is that you also need to find what works for you! It took a lot of experimentation and creativity to find a tech lifestyle that works for me. I encourage you to try anything that sounds good to you, and then have the courage to try again when things (eventually) go wrong. At some point you'll settle into a routine that fits your needs best - you just gotta be brave enough to hang in there and be creative! Good luck!