🔗 Smartphones are not the enemy
Thomas reckons our phones aren’t the real problem; the trouble comes from the systems behind them that fight for our attention. But the phone? That’s just a tool.
I strongly agree with Thomas’ thoughts here. When I thought I was addicted to my phone it turned out my paltry 1.5hrs/day was way below the 4.25hr/day average. Even so, I think that’s too much, and my screen time has actually reduced to around 1hr/day now.
I’ve fallen foul of “I need to implement [thing] to force me to use my phone less” in the past, but it’s bollocks. We just need to have more willpower and not pull our phone out every time there’s a moment of silence. I consciously do this now - when I’m alone, my initial pang is to pull out my phone, but I deliberately don’t. Over time those pangs have reduced, but they’re still there.
Thomas mentions turning off notifications in his post. I did that a few years ago now, and it’s done me a lot of good. These days, the only sound my phone makes is when someone calls me. And the only notifications I see are from Signal and WhatsApp, but because they don’t make a sound, I check them when I want to, not when my phone tells me to.
Just writing that last paragraph (in the office, on my lunch break) I’ve heard 4 different phones beep.
Turn. Notifications. Off.
You can thank me later. 🙃