Why I Decentralized My Smartphone

Comments · 463

• LO

  @lorenzoschwanz9014 · 1 year ago (edited)

  I started decentralizing my smartphone this year and it's changing my life so much. I removed social media from my phone and started using more single-use devices like a physical alarm clock and calendar, and even a pocket radio. Thanks from Brazil

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• DE

  @dezmond91_hu · 1 year ago

  Con: inventory space<br>Pro: battery life

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• NO

  @nonmeerz · 1 year ago

  i’ve gotten back into playing my ds more these past few months, i even re-shelled it to make it more my own (had a great time, might do it again) and bringing a physical book to more places. as much as i love filling my downtime with more dedicated activities, ive also been allowing myself to “be bored” in those 5-10 minute periods of inactivity, waiting in line or for a friend to pull up. just sitting in my thoughts or people watching or whatever, not looking at anything in particular. really helps reset your attention span

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• NO

  @nockmaz · 1 year ago

  I recently moved to make my desktop computer my base of operations. I only allow myself to do any of the scrolling on that, so that when I leave the house it has to stay here. Having deleted everything off my phone except for necessary communication apps, now I have to choose what I get to take when I leave. <br><br>I went to a concert tonight and didn’t have to bring anything other than my phone, for the tickets, and my wallet. I didn’t need my ereader, iPod, or headphones. Just got to enjoy a nice night out because anything that could have bothered me was intentionally left behind.<br><br>A piece of advice for anyone looking to decentralize: find a way to get your smart phone out of your bedroom as first priority. Most charity shops sell regular alarm clocks for 5 bucks or less. Life gets so much better when you don’t start off your day with your phone

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• PA

  @patchacuti7338 · 1 year ago

  I recently got back into reading and now my screen time is down to less than an hour per day and often times close to 20 minutes, I carry like 4-5 books at a time including websters dictionary. I have never felt more fulfilled or happy in my life. It started with doing a &quot;Phone-free day&quot; on saturdays and it just kinda snowballed from there.

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• JE

  @jessechuff · 1 year ago

  Over the past couple years, I’ve gotten a point and shoot, a kindle, an iPod, and I’ve only worn my smartwatch for fitness and I am so happy with all those decisions. Apart from it being fun and nostalgic, I think there’s something to be said about the effect a lot of this has on anxiety levels and mental states. Of course, decentralizing tech is not a solution to anxiety or what have you, but pulling myself away from social media and the news more has improved my quality of life personally.

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• TO

  @tomparkin2068 · 1 year ago

  I really want to ditch the smartphone for a dumbphone, in practice it sounds so simple but it’s much easier said and done. The main obstacles for me are ticket apps, parking apps, and the authenticator app I use for work - there’s no alternative. Why does everything require an app these days?

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• AN

  @Anomaly28mm · 1 year ago

  As I&apos;ve been scaling down the use of my smartphone it really becomes less and less enticing to use. I&apos;ll open say Instagram for about 1 minute, and then I can&apos;t stand it anymore. There&apos;s just too much information bombarding my senses at once, I actually get slightly naseus/feel hungover if I watch too much. It&apos;s interesting, I don&apos;t remember feeling like that at all before. I guess it shows just how taxing it actually is to digest that much information in such a short time. My phone stays off most of the time, and I love the feeling of actually getting to be by myself. No buzzing or sudden phonecalls, I can just focus on what I want. It has actually made me enjoy stuff way more. I find that I actively engage with my hobbies on my spare time and that I can sit down with my interests for way longer than earlier, in some ways, I haven&apos;t felt like this since I was a teenager/early twenties. It&apos;s great!

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• CR

  @CrystleDragon · 1 year ago

  I love decentralizing my smartphone as well. Heck, you could have mentioned your watch as a tool. My watch is a cheapo one but the bright color makes me feel so happy to wear it, and I don&apos;t have to check my phone just to check the time.

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• HA

  @hamzahahmed3226 · 1 year ago

  THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT&apos;S BEEN ON MY MIND SINCE A YEAR NOW. I plan on researching the impact of single purpose vs multi purpose items in human mental wellbeing and productivity, because I&apos;m certain single purpose items keep you wayyyyy less distracted. Love seeing how I&apos;m not the only one thinking this way

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• DA

  @daviddunmore7076 · 1 year ago

  I&apos;m with you, I have cameras, radios, Physical alarm clock, Minidisc, cassette and MP3 players. I do use my phone via bluetooth for radio in my car as I live in a fringe a FM/DAB reception area. I use a and (mainly ) physical books and a Tablet for reading. ANd I use the tablet, laptop and deskttop for most computer related tasks as I find a phone screen way to small to be any use.

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• QB

  @qbgabe12 · 1 year ago (edited)

  This past year, I too decentralize my tech:<br> <br>Sony Walkman for music (SD card storage FTW) &nbsp; <br> <br>3DS XL for gaming<br> <br>Color e-ink reader for books and comics &nbsp; <br> <br>Yellow legal pad + the perfect pen I found after testing every pen in the stationery store for notes and brainstorming <br> <br>I don&apos;t bring everything out at once. Reading mood? E-ink reader. Gaming vibe? 3DS XL. Each gadget has its purpose.

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