My life revolves around my phone.
As hard as that is to admit, it’s the truth. For basically my entire waking life, I’m tethered to my smartphone, and I hate it.
As Tech Advisor’s Mobile Editor, using my phone regularly is a necessity. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that – a smartphone offers tonnes of features that can enhance our lives.
But all too often, it feels nearly impossible to separate these benefits from the well-publicised downsides. Most of the time, I don’t reach for my phone to use one of its many handy tools; I use it as a form of distraction.
Whether it’s procrastinating or escaping a moment of discomfort, my phone has eliminated boredom from my life. Sadly, it’s had the same effect on any genuine relaxation.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
I knew something had to change, so I set myself a radical challenge. Could I survive for an entire week without using a smartphone? Switching to a flip phone hadn’t quite had the desired effect, so I knew I had to go further.
There was only one device for it: a ‘dumb phone’. In other words, a basic feature phone which offers access to key tools such as calls and texts, but little else. I went for the Nokia 110 I already owned – it has 4G connectivity, which is crucial at a time when many 3G networks are being switched off.
However, basically all of the other creature comforts I’ve come to rely on are missing. No Chrome! No WhatsApp! No Google Maps! A terrible camera! What had I signed up for?
Despite all these apparent downsides, I was weirdly excited to make the switch, which probably showed how much I needed it. Here’s how my smartphone-free week went.
Friday
It’s 6.30pm. I’ve finished work for the week and have a full week off to look forward to. I also have no plans to leave the city where I live – there’ll literally never be a better time to do this.
I finally muster up the courage to turn off my Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, take the SIM card out and put it into the Nokia 110. The latter is a much fiddlier job, requiring the battery to be removed first (a removable battery – what a concept!).
And just like that, the experiment has begun. So has my discomfort, so I immediately reach for the next most addictive device I own – my laptop – and am quickly soothed. Ah, the sweet hit of dopamine!
Except…it’s not quite as good when you have to mess around with a keyboard and mouse instead of just tapping and swiping. My laptop has a touch screen, but watching YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels on such a massive display just feels wrong.
It also goes against what my goal is for this experiment: using technology more mindfully.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
So, in another radical move, I block the sites I know will be most distracting. These are the usual suspects: a few news sites and social media apps. The restrictions are easy enough to get around, but I’m hoping there’ll be enough friction there to make me think twice.
After dinner, I suddenly realise I’d planned to call my grandma. Will she even be able to hear me on such a cheap, basic phone?
But this is what dumb phones do best. Call quality throughout our 30-minute conversation is excellent, and at no point does it feel like a downgrade compared to a smartphone. I doubt my grandma can tell I’m using a different phone – she certainly didn’t mention it.
Saturday
I’m visiting my parents today, which I know will make not having a smartphone much easier. I rarely use it when I’m with them anyway.
However, I didn’t consider the morning walk we go on first, where there are multiple opportunities to take great photos. You should’ve seen the look on my dad’s face when I whipped the Nokia out of my pocket! Miffed would be an understatement.
As he snaps away with the Xiaomi 13 Pro, I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy, even if I’d have only copied the shots he was taking. But I’m also enjoying being free from the usual pressure to document my life. It’s a refreshing feeling.
Most of the rest of the day, I genuinely enjoy not having a smartphone. Except when my parents’ printer isn’t working and I have to borrow one of their phones to get the manual. Ugh.
Before I know it, it’s been over 12 hours since I last checked WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. In that time, I’ve missed a grand total of…zero messages.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Sunday
I’m calling a friend in Malaysia this morning. Can confirm: WhatsApp calls work just fine on a laptop, even when the phone it’s linked to is switched off. 2.5 hours fly by with nothing more than minor issues, which I think are internet-related anyway.
In fact, the only real problem I encounter today is my shopping list, which usually lives on Google Keep. Switching to a paper version is probably the easiest swap I make all week, though, while ditching my virtual loyalty card for the physical one isn’t exactly difficult.
Before I know it, it’s been over 12 hours since I last checked WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. In that time, I’ve missed a grand total of…zero messages
However, getting used to looking at only one screen at a time (I know, I know) is proving a challenge. Sometimes, I give in and use my laptop, but try to keep my attention on the football match as much as possible. It’s not helped by what might be the most boring Manchester derby ever.
Monday
I’ve booked a massage for my first official day off. This would be slightly nerve-wracking at the best of times, but I also have to navigate to an unfamiliar location and have no proof of my booking. Shudder.
Cue looking up the 7-minute walk on Google Maps about 20 times. In the end, it’s easy to find, and an hour later, I’m feeling like a whole new man.
A few minutes into my afternoon of journalling (on my laptop – I’m not perfect), I feel a sense of calm and focus that I haven’t had in weeks. It’s taken a few days, but not using a smartphone is making me feel a lot more present.
Tuesday
Another scary Google Maps-free navigation has arrived. This time, it’s a 45-minute walk to a country park I’ve never visited. Am I crazy?
No, no, I’m not. The obsessive route checking before I left might’ve helped, but it turns out there are these things called signs that point you in the right direction when trying to find something. Who knew.
In the end, making it to the park is a breeze, and I enjoy a lovely couple of hours reading and walking around the lake, before heading to the nearby cafe.
Sitting alone around lots of couples and families makes me feel a bit awkward, so I instinctively turn to my phone. But let me tell you, when Snake is your only option for distraction, it’s better to stay in the real world (please don’t come for me, Snake fans).
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Wednesday
Today is the easiest day so far. Aside from a short walk in the morning, I stay at home all day, decluttering the flat with my mum. Before I know it, seven hours have flown by and I’ve barely looked at a screen.
I use my laptop for a few hours in the evening, but it gets boring quickly when you can’t go on social media, check the news or watch YouTube videos. There are only so many Reddit posts one man can read.
Thursday
Being without a smartphone almost feels normal now. Instead of relying on GPS, I simply look up where I want to go on my laptop and trust that I’ll be able to find it.
Tracking down a local coffee shop is straightforward, as is the takeaway restaurant I’d identified for dinner.
I was anticipating more problems at the cinema, which normally uses digital tickets. Despite the email clearly saying ‘This is your ticket’, I’ve convinced myself that they’ll reject my print-out and send me packing.
But as it turns out, no-one even checked my ticket! All that worrying was for nothing. At least the film was pretty good.
In the evening, I finally have to charge the phone for the first time – I could get used to this six-day battery life. I never want to go back to Micro-USB, though. Ugh.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Friday
It’s the last day of my experiment, and I’m not exactly looking forward to going back to my smartphone. But I have no choice – the Pixel 9a won’t review itself.
I use my last few smartphone-free hours to do some of the most mundane tasks known to man: food shopping, cleaning and laundry.
By the time 6.30pm comes around, I’m mentally prepared to go back to the world of near-constant distractions. As soon as I switch back, I’m struck by just how big and bulky this 6.3-inch, 186g device feels. It’s relatively compact by modern phone standards, but about twice the size of the Nokia.
I could get used to this six-day battery life. I never want to go back to Micro-USB, though. Ugh
I quickly slip into my old usage patterns, but can’t shake the feeling that it’s not right.
What switching to a dumb phone taught me
Swapping my smartphone for a dumb phone has had a profound effect on me. During my seven-day experiment, I felt calmer, more focused and generally less stressed.
Of course, that’s not exclusively a consequence of not using a smartphone. I had a deliberately quiet week off work with only a handful of tasks to complete, prioritising rest and recovery. I also didn’t leave my home city, meaning all the streets were familiar to me.
But nonetheless, it shows the power of reducing distractions and becoming more present, which is something I definitely want to continue.
I have no desire to give up my smartphone full-time. It’s simply too useful in too many scenarios, especially when travelling or in an unfamiliar location.
Instead, my goal is to find a happy middle ground where I can get many of the benefits without being sucked into mindless usage. After seeing what’s possible, I’m more motivated than ever to figure it out.