I Made My Phone Boring

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In an attempt to “reset” and stop the incessant stream of information, opinions, and entertainment competing for my attention, I made my phone boring. Here’s what I learned.

A few months ago I realized I needed a complete break. I was nearing the end of my maternity leave. I wanted to savor every remaining moment. I needed time away from social platforms to be present. Don’t we all?

If you’ve been following Literally Simple for a while, you know that Sara and I tag team our social media platforms on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. We do this strategically because being on social media is draining, and it lowers the quality of our lives.

Yes, we all get a quick dopamine hit every time we get a new follower, views, or likes, but it’s followed by anxiety if we’ve engaged in an argument on social media, or a sinking feeling after posting something that nobody reads or likes. Don’t forget all the other ways social media influences us to buy more, look prettier, and be busier.

Why I’m Choosing Digital Minimalism

The digital world came upon us quick. Social media just as fast. We humans need time to digest these different realities. We need breaks, and we need them often and for longer periods of time. Like explained in the book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell we can’t just decide to join a commune and completely shut out the world. Instead we need to be continually checking our addictions, tendencies, and habits with the digital world.

We need to be leaders in digital minimalism for others to follow. Why? Because it feels good. I feel great with a boring phone. The only side effects so far have been bouts of boredom. Good, that’s usually when I create something.

What I Learned From My Boring Phone

1. I’m Addicted to My Phone and So Are You

In the process of deleting social media from my phone, I realized I was checking my phone a lot. Without social media on my phone, I didn’t really need to check my phone as frequently. It took about a day to realize I had a bad habit of disrupting my thoughts by looking at my phone. Social media perpetuates this problem with all the notifications, red dots, likes, followers, and the endless scroll just a tap away from any present moment.

2. News Media and Social Media cause Anxiety

Fear drives the news media. Fear makes people read, click, share, and comment. Fear also drives our own insecurities cleverly hidden with filters, only our best selfies, and our “amazing” every day lives. What does fear do when we ingest too much daily? It causes anxiety. Stop the scroll to decrease your anxiety.

3. Social Media Creates Division

I happen to think there is a middle ground. If we are to make progress it will take all of humanity. It might not be as fast as I want it to be, but learning, empathy, and progress take mass amounts of people to buy in and realize a change is needed. Social media seems to promote division instead of common ground. I have had more understanding and empathetic conversations in person, than I ever will on social media. Because when the public social media account is taken out of the picture, people can have real vulnerable conversations about their own shortcomings and character flaws. We can change our perspectives.

4. Social Media Drives Consumerism and Debt

I loved not ever feeling like I was missing out. I didn’t know what other people were doing on a Saturday, or the new shoes, dress, car, vacation they just bought. We used to live in a world where you checked in on 5 of your best friends and that’s pretty much all you knew. Now, we know what celebrities are doing on the daily. I like the simple life. It suits my soul much better.

5. Social Media Gives Away Privacy for FREE

I look at social media “public figures” and I feel sad. Their life is no longer private, and they can’t get it back. People will recognize them at the store. They are basically living on display, and for sure addicted to their phones. I’m a human, trying to do the best job I can most days, and to be honest I don’t want other people commenting on the way I live my life. Privacy is the new fame.

6. I Get Bored, and That’s Okay

In the last 3 months, I’ve trained myself to not reach for my phone at any moment. Yes, I purposely get bored. With this new found boredom, maybe I’ll write more. Maybe I’ll play with my kids. Maybe I’ll spend time away from my kids. Maybe I’ll watch a sunset. Maybe instead of consuming I’ll create.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I’m not quite sure what social media use will look like for me, but I know it will be mindful. I know that social media will not be allowed to interrupt me from my life.

You might also enjoy this posts:

How Digital Minimalism can Boost Happiness

How to Stay Focused in the Attention Economy

Join the Discussion

Have you made your phone boring? Please leave a comment below!

P.S. We practice digital minimalism, so we’re not on social media daily. If you want to learn and engage with our content, please subscribe directly to the blog. If you are on social media, you can find us on these platforms:  Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

Author

Maria Halcumb is a teacher, reading specialist, and mother. You can find her reading books, being in nature, minimizing her life, and spending time with family and friends in the great PNW, or Northern MN. If you want to learn more about Maria or Sara check out the About page. If you want to work with our blog, check out the Work with Us page.