This is such a great and exhaustive post on the subject. I seriously considered switching this year, but for a few important reasons delayed for now. I also agree that it’s a relief not to have the phone in places like museums or travel. Taking photos takes me out of the moment, even if I’m happy to have them later. Also, as digital privacy continues to be eroded, it will just make more sense to ditch smartphones. I really like the idea of the Light Phones, which cater more to current needs but actually see the phone as a tool rather than a driver of the attention economy.
Thank you for reading! On the note of privacy, it reminds me that I read a substack from one corporate professional whose company actually stopped allowing them to have Slack on their phones because of security issues, and instead of making them less communicative or efficient, it had a positive effect on her and her colleague's lives and productivity. The boundaries between professional work and life had been recovered, at least in one arena. I think you're spot on about Lightphones, and hopefully there will be a burgeoning industry of phones that serve more commonplace needs: weather reports, ridesharing and bank access, for example, but not social medias.
I have had a flip phone the whole time I've had a cell phone with the exception of two years (2014 - 2016) when I was a dog walker for a big part of that time and needed it for work. Went back to a flip phone in 2016. I go back and forth with carting around one of the old smartphones we had (first it was my S4 that finally kicked the bucket in 2021 so I got a Samsung Tablet to replace my many dead laptops and now it's the old Motorola G my husband ditched when he upgraded. There's never any reason to throw these older smartphones out!).
People still gasp when I take it out in public, I write directions down on pieces of paper, use physical maps, print things at the library or Fedex, pick up tickets at will call and I hate when people 'like' my texts because it repeats the whole message every time lol.
71 year old woman drinking coffee in my pjs here. I grew up without cellphones, using paper maps, asking directions, writing letters, and reading books. It wasn’t bad.
Incredible. Love the dedication to the game!! The liked messages + a group chat can absolutely blow up my phone... hoping the Lightphone is better for this ha
haha! I was just re-reading your comment and the last line hit me in a way it didn't before... I think just practicing being out in the world without any phone is an incredible effort at first
I suggest people just leave it in their car so they can try places out without a phone in their hand. Don't get me started on driving without GPS! lol. That is much harder and I used to get lost very very easily. Now I drive almost everywhere without GPS (oftentimes I screenshot directions on the smartphone I bring along or pull over to route myself) and have gotten really good at retracing my steps when leaving a place. But truly, I have friends my age who do not go anywhere without GPS on. I think that's silly! Plus, buses and transit (and their excellent maps!) can really help you learn how a town or city is situated.
from one nokia 2780 user to another, thank you for writing this. i think there is so much value in recording what it's like to switch from a smartphone to a flip phone -- because we are among the first people to ever do it! if that wasn't reason enough, reading an essay like this one is what prompted me to actually give the flip phone a try. i'm sure these tips will help someone who wants to quit their smartphone but wasn't sure how.
The most comprehensive account of the feature phone lifestyle I’ve seen yet. I really enjoyed it & it’s pushed me one step closer to actually doing so: even after deleting my socials & removing anything but the tools/music on my iPhone, I still feel life could be better focused with a simpler phone.
Thank you so much for reading! I liked what someone commented earlier: "I really like the idea of the Light Phones, which cater more to current needs but actually see the phone as a tool rather than a driver of the attention economy." I really do agree with this and think that there's a plausible future in which simple phones are the norm because people really just value them as simple, sleek tools for enhancing reality, not replacing it.
does anyone struggle with feeling like you're missing out on something? for me is missing out on recipes, on inspiration, but maybe the point is to find inspiration on my own instead, by looking around and such
Right time, right place. I've been experimenting this week with not using my phone until after noon and it's been so nice to not feel like my dopamine is all used up already. I bungled it this weekend but back to it tomorrow. Also, yes, the Before trilogy is the reason to go analog.
Thank you for sharing! I’m planning to prep for the transition by getting my passwords and details figured out and making sure my laptop is cleaned up and reliable, then getting a light phone for Christmas. Being postpartum and on my phone more than usual has finally pushed me over the edge of wanting a permanent change, not just a seasonal reset. I don’t want to be fake-scrolling in the nursing home when I’m 90, I want them to give me pretend cooking tools or art supplies and for that to be what my hands want to do.
amazing!! I'm excited for you, and I would be so interested in your experience going phone-free with a baby. Especially in regards to will you feel less FOMO, more present, more lonely, less lonely? Incredible point about preparing yourself to age gracefully, love how thoughtful and caring that is
Thanks! It’s my fourth baby and I do have some practices that help keep me off my phone around the kids but I find in my downtime I go from real phone tasks to scrolling for dopamine hits and I want to break that cycle. I think I might feel more bored and more of an itch for real hobbies or work to replace that time I was killing. And im kind of dreading that? Even though its better than killing time. It’ll be hard to have real hobbies with four little kids other than reading.
That's such a good point. I think I can relate to that in the way that without the scrolling addiction, there is a moment where I realized that A) I don't have that many other hobbies, or B) I don't actually have the skill or interest to take on twenty new hobbies to fill my time. Writing is definitely a big one for me, but other than that, I'm not leaping to start basket weaving or anything like that. I definitely realized that boredom and silence is sort of... sacred?
I always think about my mom (who was stay-at-home) and although she of course spent an IMMENSE amount of time just hanging out with us, she had so many hobbies (many related to homemaking) that we had to be into in order to spend time with her. I know it took a lot of effort for her to hold onto those for herself.
Like most people I’ve considered doing this for such a long time now. I dip my toe in the *fully* analog waters only to realize it’s not doable (as the article mentions). Trying to strike a balance between what I’m really required to have as a part of my life versus apps that I’ve come to unnecessarily depend on is tricky and the line is quite blurry. I honestly feel at this point I’m only keeping my smartphone because of two factor authentication apps needed to log into my work computer (yes, I know text or a phone call will work as well. I’m going to have to look into this.) I watched my almost-2-year-old pretend to talk on the “phone” the other day (it was an old remote control), hang up, then proceeded to slide the “phone” into her non-existent back pocket of her pants. I was heartbroken. The balance has to exist. I’m tired of being tethered.
Thank you for reading, and experiences like yours are exactly why I wasn't just like "get a flip phone, life is great!" because it does require a basically insane amount of unlearning/habit breaking/problem solving. Although it's worth it, it is a lot of effort to untangle. I really do believe that you will find that balance of moderation that is right for you, it's truly different for everyone.
In the 45 minutes since I posted my original comment and now I’ve deleted so much from my phone in an effort to pare it back and make it not necessary to lug around. You’re right - it’ll look different for everyone! Baby steps! I also forgot to mention, I actually printed your article out and read it on paper. I only came back here to comment; it was so enjoyable to flip through the pages instead of losing my place in the app.
So inspiring! You so thoughtfully "do you." Thanks for writing about your experience. I wanted to add to the comments about parents and kids-- in my home state, Portland, Maine, high schools began a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in the 2025-2026 school year, requiring students to lock their phones and other personal communication devices in "Yondr pouches" at the start of the day. The Portland School Board approved the policy in June 2025, and it took effect this fall, aiming to reduce distractions, improve mental health, and decrease the burden on teachers. While educators and some parents supported the move, students mostly opposed it, citing concerns about emergencies and their ability to manage their devices. A local news story from 7 days ago had this headline: "Portland students adjust to school without cellphones/Many were resistant to the policy when the district considered it last spring but said this week that the rollout has gone better than expected." Hope springs eternal!
The province of Quebec (Canada) has also introduced this new policy for the 2025–2026 school year! I’m really happy to see that this initiative is being adopted by more and more states and provinces.
Incredible! I'm so stoked that Portland does this. Phone-free life definitely triggers anxiety for some, but learning to cope with it sends a powerful message to our youth. Thank you for reading, Gail ❤️
It’s always so interesting to me to hear how other people use social media as a form of competition. I think the experiment is cool and that I could benefit from using my phone less, but I can’t really relate to the way other people use social media. For me it’s never been toxic because I don’t really care what most other people are up to and I don’t have anyone to impress. Maybe this is because I’m not close to many people? Or I just tend to look at memes and content that is more geared towards my interests instead of people. It can be addictive but it doesn’t have the FOMO element or if I do follow certain people for my interest in their lives they’re usually just normal people not celebrities or influencers who have things I feel like I can’t attain myself.
This was really interesting to read! Good on you for putting in the work to disconnect leisure from phone, that’s really impressive. I was also touched by the description of sharing photos cheapening your wedding, I know exactly what you mean but hadn’t seen it enunciated before.
I have long considered getting rid of my smartphone, but for now have some rules with it that work for me - no phone in the bedroom, no apps that allow me to scroll, no phones in social situations, and I am working on ‘hanging up’ my phone at home and at work.
Great reflections. I switched to a flip phone this summer and a couple additions:
1. Uber has a phone number!! 1-833-USE-UBER but it’s only open 4am - 10pm ET and in the US
2. 1-800 CHATGPT if you have a quick question and don’t want to type into web browser on the flip phone. You can talk to it 30 mins a month free I think
Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience! 💙
I haven’t gotten rid of my iPhone despite thinking about it for the past 2 years. The main stopper for me is my child’s school communication that happens in 100 apps. But I’ve been using Dumb Phone app, and that’s working well. Not as well as the flip phone would, but enough for where I am in life right now.
I cannot imagine how different this must be as a parent! Part of why I do this is to set an example for my future children, but I wonder what different road blocks you run into with kids? The school thing is a great example.
Perfect timing. I'm considering giving up my iPhone for a basic phone as a 6-month experiment. Primarily because I too have had the realisation that "I was never going to get everything I wanted to get done, done, unless I made a radical change to how I view leisure time" - 💯
This may be a long post, but it is amazing. I recently deleted almost every app on my iPhone. The only non-essential app I have is Substack. I said goodbye to my Facebook, IG, and all the others. I was thinking about changing to a flip phone, but I wanted to try minimalizing first and see what benefits I saw. I can honestly say it feels strange but good at the same time. Maybe the flip phone is next on my adventure.
Thank you so much! I really do think that moderation comes in many forms, minimizing is also challenging and I think you'll get a lot of the same benefits.
This is such a great and exhaustive post on the subject. I seriously considered switching this year, but for a few important reasons delayed for now. I also agree that it’s a relief not to have the phone in places like museums or travel. Taking photos takes me out of the moment, even if I’m happy to have them later. Also, as digital privacy continues to be eroded, it will just make more sense to ditch smartphones. I really like the idea of the Light Phones, which cater more to current needs but actually see the phone as a tool rather than a driver of the attention economy.
Thank you for reading! On the note of privacy, it reminds me that I read a substack from one corporate professional whose company actually stopped allowing them to have Slack on their phones because of security issues, and instead of making them less communicative or efficient, it had a positive effect on her and her colleague's lives and productivity. The boundaries between professional work and life had been recovered, at least in one arena. I think you're spot on about Lightphones, and hopefully there will be a burgeoning industry of phones that serve more commonplace needs: weather reports, ridesharing and bank access, for example, but not social medias.
That’s such an interesting anecdote about Slack, thanks for sharing!
I have had a flip phone the whole time I've had a cell phone with the exception of two years (2014 - 2016) when I was a dog walker for a big part of that time and needed it for work. Went back to a flip phone in 2016. I go back and forth with carting around one of the old smartphones we had (first it was my S4 that finally kicked the bucket in 2021 so I got a Samsung Tablet to replace my many dead laptops and now it's the old Motorola G my husband ditched when he upgraded. There's never any reason to throw these older smartphones out!).
People still gasp when I take it out in public, I write directions down on pieces of paper, use physical maps, print things at the library or Fedex, pick up tickets at will call and I hate when people 'like' my texts because it repeats the whole message every time lol.
Some days I leave my house without my phone!
71 year old woman drinking coffee in my pjs here. I grew up without cellphones, using paper maps, asking directions, writing letters, and reading books. It wasn’t bad.
Incredible. Love the dedication to the game!! The liked messages + a group chat can absolutely blow up my phone... hoping the Lightphone is better for this ha
Well, truly the most annoying thing is when someone sends me a screenshot. Like....can't do anything with that! Lol.
haha! I was just re-reading your comment and the last line hit me in a way it didn't before... I think just practicing being out in the world without any phone is an incredible effort at first
I suggest people just leave it in their car so they can try places out without a phone in their hand. Don't get me started on driving without GPS! lol. That is much harder and I used to get lost very very easily. Now I drive almost everywhere without GPS (oftentimes I screenshot directions on the smartphone I bring along or pull over to route myself) and have gotten really good at retracing my steps when leaving a place. But truly, I have friends my age who do not go anywhere without GPS on. I think that's silly! Plus, buses and transit (and their excellent maps!) can really help you learn how a town or city is situated.
So true, love a good physical map
from one nokia 2780 user to another, thank you for writing this. i think there is so much value in recording what it's like to switch from a smartphone to a flip phone -- because we are among the first people to ever do it! if that wasn't reason enough, reading an essay like this one is what prompted me to actually give the flip phone a try. i'm sure these tips will help someone who wants to quit their smartphone but wasn't sure how.
I just subscribed :) thank you so much for reading! I'm glad you resonated with it.
The most comprehensive account of the feature phone lifestyle I’ve seen yet. I really enjoyed it & it’s pushed me one step closer to actually doing so: even after deleting my socials & removing anything but the tools/music on my iPhone, I still feel life could be better focused with a simpler phone.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for reading! I liked what someone commented earlier: "I really like the idea of the Light Phones, which cater more to current needs but actually see the phone as a tool rather than a driver of the attention economy." I really do agree with this and think that there's a plausible future in which simple phones are the norm because people really just value them as simple, sleek tools for enhancing reality, not replacing it.
does anyone struggle with feeling like you're missing out on something? for me is missing out on recipes, on inspiration, but maybe the point is to find inspiration on my own instead, by looking around and such
Right time, right place. I've been experimenting this week with not using my phone until after noon and it's been so nice to not feel like my dopamine is all used up already. I bungled it this weekend but back to it tomorrow. Also, yes, the Before trilogy is the reason to go analog.
Love this!
Thank you for sharing! I’m planning to prep for the transition by getting my passwords and details figured out and making sure my laptop is cleaned up and reliable, then getting a light phone for Christmas. Being postpartum and on my phone more than usual has finally pushed me over the edge of wanting a permanent change, not just a seasonal reset. I don’t want to be fake-scrolling in the nursing home when I’m 90, I want them to give me pretend cooking tools or art supplies and for that to be what my hands want to do.
amazing!! I'm excited for you, and I would be so interested in your experience going phone-free with a baby. Especially in regards to will you feel less FOMO, more present, more lonely, less lonely? Incredible point about preparing yourself to age gracefully, love how thoughtful and caring that is
Thanks! It’s my fourth baby and I do have some practices that help keep me off my phone around the kids but I find in my downtime I go from real phone tasks to scrolling for dopamine hits and I want to break that cycle. I think I might feel more bored and more of an itch for real hobbies or work to replace that time I was killing. And im kind of dreading that? Even though its better than killing time. It’ll be hard to have real hobbies with four little kids other than reading.
That's such a good point. I think I can relate to that in the way that without the scrolling addiction, there is a moment where I realized that A) I don't have that many other hobbies, or B) I don't actually have the skill or interest to take on twenty new hobbies to fill my time. Writing is definitely a big one for me, but other than that, I'm not leaping to start basket weaving or anything like that. I definitely realized that boredom and silence is sort of... sacred?
I always think about my mom (who was stay-at-home) and although she of course spent an IMMENSE amount of time just hanging out with us, she had so many hobbies (many related to homemaking) that we had to be into in order to spend time with her. I know it took a lot of effort for her to hold onto those for herself.
Like most people I’ve considered doing this for such a long time now. I dip my toe in the *fully* analog waters only to realize it’s not doable (as the article mentions). Trying to strike a balance between what I’m really required to have as a part of my life versus apps that I’ve come to unnecessarily depend on is tricky and the line is quite blurry. I honestly feel at this point I’m only keeping my smartphone because of two factor authentication apps needed to log into my work computer (yes, I know text or a phone call will work as well. I’m going to have to look into this.) I watched my almost-2-year-old pretend to talk on the “phone” the other day (it was an old remote control), hang up, then proceeded to slide the “phone” into her non-existent back pocket of her pants. I was heartbroken. The balance has to exist. I’m tired of being tethered.
Thank you for reading, and experiences like yours are exactly why I wasn't just like "get a flip phone, life is great!" because it does require a basically insane amount of unlearning/habit breaking/problem solving. Although it's worth it, it is a lot of effort to untangle. I really do believe that you will find that balance of moderation that is right for you, it's truly different for everyone.
In the 45 minutes since I posted my original comment and now I’ve deleted so much from my phone in an effort to pare it back and make it not necessary to lug around. You’re right - it’ll look different for everyone! Baby steps! I also forgot to mention, I actually printed your article out and read it on paper. I only came back here to comment; it was so enjoyable to flip through the pages instead of losing my place in the app.
whoaaa! I love that!! Creating analog moments wherever you go :)
So inspiring! You so thoughtfully "do you." Thanks for writing about your experience. I wanted to add to the comments about parents and kids-- in my home state, Portland, Maine, high schools began a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in the 2025-2026 school year, requiring students to lock their phones and other personal communication devices in "Yondr pouches" at the start of the day. The Portland School Board approved the policy in June 2025, and it took effect this fall, aiming to reduce distractions, improve mental health, and decrease the burden on teachers. While educators and some parents supported the move, students mostly opposed it, citing concerns about emergencies and their ability to manage their devices. A local news story from 7 days ago had this headline: "Portland students adjust to school without cellphones/Many were resistant to the policy when the district considered it last spring but said this week that the rollout has gone better than expected." Hope springs eternal!
The province of Quebec (Canada) has also introduced this new policy for the 2025–2026 school year! I’m really happy to see that this initiative is being adopted by more and more states and provinces.
Incredible! I'm so stoked that Portland does this. Phone-free life definitely triggers anxiety for some, but learning to cope with it sends a powerful message to our youth. Thank you for reading, Gail ❤️
It’s always so interesting to me to hear how other people use social media as a form of competition. I think the experiment is cool and that I could benefit from using my phone less, but I can’t really relate to the way other people use social media. For me it’s never been toxic because I don’t really care what most other people are up to and I don’t have anyone to impress. Maybe this is because I’m not close to many people? Or I just tend to look at memes and content that is more geared towards my interests instead of people. It can be addictive but it doesn’t have the FOMO element or if I do follow certain people for my interest in their lives they’re usually just normal people not celebrities or influencers who have things I feel like I can’t attain myself.
absolutely iconic. I cannot relate at all but I genuinely love this for you
This was really interesting to read! Good on you for putting in the work to disconnect leisure from phone, that’s really impressive. I was also touched by the description of sharing photos cheapening your wedding, I know exactly what you mean but hadn’t seen it enunciated before.
I have long considered getting rid of my smartphone, but for now have some rules with it that work for me - no phone in the bedroom, no apps that allow me to scroll, no phones in social situations, and I am working on ‘hanging up’ my phone at home and at work.
Thank you so much for reading! Yes, love these efforts at moderation, there are so many ways to reclaim your time/peace/etc.
Great reflections. I switched to a flip phone this summer and a couple additions:
1. Uber has a phone number!! 1-833-USE-UBER but it’s only open 4am - 10pm ET and in the US
2. 1-800 CHATGPT if you have a quick question and don’t want to type into web browser on the flip phone. You can talk to it 30 mins a month free I think
I thought you were punking us so hard at first but these are real
Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience! 💙
I haven’t gotten rid of my iPhone despite thinking about it for the past 2 years. The main stopper for me is my child’s school communication that happens in 100 apps. But I’ve been using Dumb Phone app, and that’s working well. Not as well as the flip phone would, but enough for where I am in life right now.
I cannot imagine how different this must be as a parent! Part of why I do this is to set an example for my future children, but I wonder what different road blocks you run into with kids? The school thing is a great example.
I have been having great success with putting my iPhone in grayscale mode as it makes everything less interesting!!
Yes! Whatever tools for moderation work for you!
This is by far the most thorough account of ditching a smartphone I've read so far. Loved it!
thank you for reading! :)
Perfect timing. I'm considering giving up my iPhone for a basic phone as a 6-month experiment. Primarily because I too have had the realisation that "I was never going to get everything I wanted to get done, done, unless I made a radical change to how I view leisure time" - 💯
thank you for reading! glad you resonated, and I hope its a transformative time for you!
This may be a long post, but it is amazing. I recently deleted almost every app on my iPhone. The only non-essential app I have is Substack. I said goodbye to my Facebook, IG, and all the others. I was thinking about changing to a flip phone, but I wanted to try minimalizing first and see what benefits I saw. I can honestly say it feels strange but good at the same time. Maybe the flip phone is next on my adventure.
Thank you so much! I really do think that moderation comes in many forms, minimizing is also challenging and I think you'll get a lot of the same benefits.