In a much less drastic move, I switched from my google calendar to an actual planner, and I love it. It's become a little scrap book of my life, and I feel as though I've reclaimed a shred of privacy now that big tech can't look in on how I spend my days. For those interested in converting, I use the appropriately simple Marjolein Delhaas A6 planner https://shop.marjoleindelhaas.com/product-category/planner-2026/
I actually switched to a paper planner myself! The only thing I put in my phone is one off important events now. Like do I need to have every minute of my day blocked off? I find it more enjoyable to open my planner and see what the week looks like. Makes me have to use my brain more to remember too
I have effectively dumb’ified my iPhone (not upgrading it at all now and I’m about 4 years behind). No social media; no apps for the sake of apps or trying new habits things or recipe finders or whatever the fuck is next.
I have Spotify; my email; WhatsApp for client comms; and … that’s about it. It doesn’t need anything else.
Thanks for writing this. I’ve been considering doing something like a light phone but I think what I’d need the most to switch is actually being able to see my email on my phone, and have my kindle…maybe I’m not there yet, but I think I could be in a couple years.
You lost me at spectrum at 30$ a month. Milwaukee is 50$ for 6 or sometimes 12, and the jumps to $90. :). Otherwise a great read! I am interested definitely!
I did the first light phone. I love the concept. The texting was not efficient enough for me. I now use the Brick, which is helpful, especially when I keep it at home and brick my phone for the day. I have my brick settings down to 25 functions. This may sound like a lot, but a few multiple apps fall under banking and credit cards, etc. so I can quickly check or turn these off if I lose a card or get a fraud notice. I turn off every “entertainment” and social media app (including substack), and I like the results. That said, I’m still always thinking about what I would have done in a pickle pre-smartphone era. I always come back to the same conclusion— I’d be ok and stuff gets remedied. I can’t really think of a time when the smartphone was so critically important that it prevented or remedied some sort of disaster. At best, it’s kept me from getting lost. Either way, the exercise is important in shedding what isn’t critical and the realization of the overwhelmingly false sense of urgency and immediacy created by big tech. The point being, there are a number of ways to get back to old school that can fit each personality. Either way, getting back to old school as much as possible is a worthwhile pursuit (imho).
The first light phone just had calls and you could only add 9 contacts to the device the second one the Light Phone 2 was a eink screen device the one i think you had then the 3rd device the new one has a camera and a LCD screen they put in black and white mode.
Well, Young Master Robert, it would appear that you have now wisely chosen to take yet another better path to lead you to more impactful life enrichments than what the lemmings’ relentless social media proffers. Good on you. (And, btw, don’t concern yourself at all about the fashionability, you always seem to cultivate a unique personage unhampered by such trivialities.)
What will be your next essay? ‘Flip Phone saved my marriage’. Or perhaps ‘I changed my mind Smart Phones can be dumbed down before they ruin the social fabric ‘.
How about ‘Self Improvement Movements like Lemmings Have found their Cliff’.
My biggest issue is that working remotely I can handle a lot of what I need to from a device. I’m not glued to a device at all, and fully separate work from pleasure. I don’t even have games on my phone because I really don’t play any (I also hate mobile games). For me it’s slack, occasional email, Duolingo, a few banking apps and mapping/navigation.
I haven’t seen the need to jump yet for me personally. But I think it’s fantastic others are and it’s needed.
In a much less drastic move, I switched from my google calendar to an actual planner, and I love it. It's become a little scrap book of my life, and I feel as though I've reclaimed a shred of privacy now that big tech can't look in on how I spend my days. For those interested in converting, I use the appropriately simple Marjolein Delhaas A6 planner https://shop.marjoleindelhaas.com/product-category/planner-2026/
I actually switched to a paper planner myself! The only thing I put in my phone is one off important events now. Like do I need to have every minute of my day blocked off? I find it more enjoyable to open my planner and see what the week looks like. Makes me have to use my brain more to remember too
I have effectively dumb’ified my iPhone (not upgrading it at all now and I’m about 4 years behind). No social media; no apps for the sake of apps or trying new habits things or recipe finders or whatever the fuck is next.
I have Spotify; my email; WhatsApp for client comms; and … that’s about it. It doesn’t need anything else.
“The car phone stays in the car. Period. End of story.”
this guy doesn’t live in the bay
..sent from my smartphone
Good write up. Loved my LP2. Love my LP3.
I have had the same experience. It is very drug like to me now, when I do scroll. And I have little appetite for it
Thanks for writing this. I’ve been considering doing something like a light phone but I think what I’d need the most to switch is actually being able to see my email on my phone, and have my kindle…maybe I’m not there yet, but I think I could be in a couple years.
You lost me at spectrum at 30$ a month. Milwaukee is 50$ for 6 or sometimes 12, and the jumps to $90. :). Otherwise a great read! I am interested definitely!
Helpful!!
My goal!
I did the first light phone. I love the concept. The texting was not efficient enough for me. I now use the Brick, which is helpful, especially when I keep it at home and brick my phone for the day. I have my brick settings down to 25 functions. This may sound like a lot, but a few multiple apps fall under banking and credit cards, etc. so I can quickly check or turn these off if I lose a card or get a fraud notice. I turn off every “entertainment” and social media app (including substack), and I like the results. That said, I’m still always thinking about what I would have done in a pickle pre-smartphone era. I always come back to the same conclusion— I’d be ok and stuff gets remedied. I can’t really think of a time when the smartphone was so critically important that it prevented or remedied some sort of disaster. At best, it’s kept me from getting lost. Either way, the exercise is important in shedding what isn’t critical and the realization of the overwhelmingly false sense of urgency and immediacy created by big tech. The point being, there are a number of ways to get back to old school that can fit each personality. Either way, getting back to old school as much as possible is a worthwhile pursuit (imho).
The first light phone just had calls and you could only add 9 contacts to the device the second one the Light Phone 2 was a eink screen device the one i think you had then the 3rd device the new one has a camera and a LCD screen they put in black and white mode.
Well, Young Master Robert, it would appear that you have now wisely chosen to take yet another better path to lead you to more impactful life enrichments than what the lemmings’ relentless social media proffers. Good on you. (And, btw, don’t concern yourself at all about the fashionability, you always seem to cultivate a unique personage unhampered by such trivialities.)
Haha thank you Ted!
Got some feedback on some of my issues with Light Phone 3. Will post an update once I have some verified solutions!
Not having a smartphone is white privilege. Check yourself
What will be your next essay? ‘Flip Phone saved my marriage’. Or perhaps ‘I changed my mind Smart Phones can be dumbed down before they ruin the social fabric ‘.
How about ‘Self Improvement Movements like Lemmings Have found their Cliff’.
LOL
My biggest issue is that working remotely I can handle a lot of what I need to from a device. I’m not glued to a device at all, and fully separate work from pleasure. I don’t even have games on my phone because I really don’t play any (I also hate mobile games). For me it’s slack, occasional email, Duolingo, a few banking apps and mapping/navigation.
I haven’t seen the need to jump yet for me personally. But I think it’s fantastic others are and it’s needed.
AI will improve the functionality of these phones by intelligently obscuring distraction, while providing the basic features that are still necessary.