The first step is to delete the social media apps from your phone. The problem isn’t the phone but its usage.
Sent from my iPhone.
Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
11–20 of 28 posts
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#12It has the negative effect that your means of communication with other people (especially “normies”) are severely limited.
Also, many services I’m used to turned to depend on them - taxi, payments, organization for all kinds of events with friends and colleagues, etc.
In the end, it turned out I’m just blaming social media for flaws in my own character. Once I pointed these out and started working on them, I started having a significantly more beneficial relationship with social media.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#13I deleted social media and don't miss it at all. I started removing it from my phone and therefore only checking it at nights on my laptop. Before long I wasnt even doing that. Make sure to download your content before deleting (if you want your pictures for example). It would be harder for me to give up certain messaging apps, ride share apps, maps and travel apps. Only unintended negative consequence were some people thought I blocked them rather than deleted my social accounts.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#14I tried switching to a flip phone for a few months. It was an interesting experience but I wouldn't recommend it.
As another person mentioned, fix the problem with yourself, don't blame the technology.
Any benefits you gain from fewer distractions is outweighed by how much harder everyday life becomes.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#15I only got a smartphone about 3 years ago. Prior to that it was plain sms and phone calls. The only lifestyle improvement the smartphone offers for me is being able to look things up at any time, and being able to provide internet to my laptop though tethering. It can be difficult to go without internet when navigating new places. Google used to let you send sms messages to get directions, but they killed that many years ago. Otherwise experience is mostly down to which apps are installed and their notification settings. When i first got the phone i tried social media apps, and my ability to concentrate noticeably worsened. Removing them and locking down notifications for other apps restored my overall quality of life to what it was pre-smartphone.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#16Ditched my smartphone 2 years ago, have no social media accounts - and no interest in whatever either is offering. If I don't code, which I do 12+ hours a day, min. 5 days a week, then I'm doing another activity which requires solitude and long, undisturbed sessions. Everything I need done, I can do from a normal phone or my computer.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#17I have never had a smart phone. The flip phone is mostly for emergency or purely tactical communications.
It means I have two modes. When I am out and about I can fully experience my immediate surroundings. When I am at home I interact with the online world using full sized monitors and keyboards.
Smartphones strike me as technologically primitive. I carry a light laptop with me at all times so I always have access to comfortable and capable computing. I carry it in a narrow knapsack that stays out of my way.
This works quite well for me. Out is where there are new things to experience. In is where everything is the same so it is more worth the bother to get out in a virtual way.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#18I haven't joined any social networks so I don't know how quitting those will work out for you. However, at some point I found that I was reflexively using my smartphone to read irrelevant stuff, watching dumb videos, checking whatsapp for new messages etc. just to kill boredom. I did not like how addicted I had become to that habit, so a couple of years ago I bought a simple Nokia phone without an internet and ditched the smartphone. There is a certain spartan feel to it, and to be honest at first it was kind of rough, but now I have adjusted. When boredom strikes, I just don't do anything. It doesn't bother me as much nowadays. By ditching the smartphone I also lost the ability to listen to music or podcasts when outside home, but surprisingly I haven't really missed those. Same thing for email, gps, google maps, looking up random facts etc. Somehow I have just managed without them? I'll call or text someone if I have something urgent to say, which is surprisingly seldom.
For me it has worked out well, but YMMV.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#19tl;dr; Just do it, it's an amazing hack for increased focus, productivity and peace of mind. I recommend
Personal phone -> A feature phone Business phone -> Smartphone if you're in primarily customer-facing role(e.g. sales, customer support)
My Story:
3 years back, I gave away my smartphone and switched to a simple feature phone. I had to get a smartphone for a duration of 6 months in between this period(when a lot of my day job couldn't be finished without accessing whatsapp groups/messages and travelling)
For my job as a programmer/founder, I prefer no smartphone at all and use following formula
1. For Personal Use: phone on feature phone 2. For Business Use: iPad with only business whatsapp, toto app, book reading app(and that too only when I am not able to lure any other team member to handle it for me)
Location services, cabs, all these things can be handled without smartphone. Although, it takes little longer and inconvenience but also gives an opportunity to live in the moment, ask people for help.
Re: Ask HN: What's it like to not own a smartphone?
#20I got 90% of work/opportunities from Facebook. Quitting FB for a month dropped leads from 2/month to once every 2 months.
Over 80% of your opportunities come from your network, but over 80% of your time needs to be spent on actual work. That said, social media isn't your only way to network, but it really helps if you're not somewhere full of talented people.
If you're planning on going more into work, keep in mind that mentoring also comes from your network, and that also includes book recommendations.
But personally I'm stopping with Facebook and most social media, because it is taking up more than 20% of my focus.
Use the best tool. Phones and social media are the most popular but may not be best.