I was born in the Gen X/Millennial cusp years, so while I learned to use PowerPoint in high school my first two cell phones were the old workhorse Nokias where you texted by hitting the numbers to get the right letters. I drove my beloved 2006 Focus for 13 years and 8 days, there was always a pile of CDs in the door even after I updated the stereo to stream from a 2016 SmartPhone. Until recently I’ve tended not to be totally dependent on my phone. I hate it going off randomly and keep it on vibrate a lot. Even working out I use an iPod or an Alexa and not my phone for the music.
Good Friday I inadvertently left it sitting at home as I left for the day. I didn’t realize until I went to pay for gas on my way to work half an hour later. A day being phone less made me realize there’s a reason I enjoy the quiet sometimes. It forced me to be present in the day.
- I’ve realized I don’t need to check Instagram twice an hour. Nothing is ever that urgent.
- I took Facebook off my phone years ago, anybody that really needs me can call or text.
- I don’t need a Linus like security blanket, for some reason if it was on my I would randomly check things throughout the day.
- I’m relieved I was a teenager in the 90s and not the TikTok era. I had enough angst not seeing everything pop up on my phone.
So for now I’m going to aim to leave my phone in another room when I’m home and stick with keeping a good chunk of notifications silent. 2023 is about recentering to the best me I think a digital diet will make a major difference.