I just had a thought related to this post...since the smartphone has so many different functions and has replaced so many other devices, as in the August Lamm picture here, why do we even still call it a phone, when the phone function is not the primary one for most people most of the time? 😄
I was born in 1997 and I remember I had no phone until I was 4th grade. Heck, I didn't even have an internet connection. We couldn't afford those things - and oh - how blessed we were!
I remember vividly how we used to gather around to play with the neighborhood kids; how one by one, they all started carrying phones. They would play silly games instead of playing football. I remember I'd get angry and shout at them: "Leave the stupid phone alone, come join us!".
I was also the last in my high school class that had a smartphone. I never gave a f**k, honestly. I always had better, analogue, things to do. To this day, I avoid looking at my phone. I feel a deep sense of time running out. It's scary. I want to make sure most of my living moments are full of joy, progress, learning, love.
Thank you for being one of the many writers on Substack that makes me want to unlock my phone without feeling crap about it, Tugba!
I have Fitbit that I only take off to shower (!), and I try not to use that to check the time at night as it is SO bright that I feel like it’s one step away from giving me laser eye surgery!
I have a (very old) alarm clock on the other side of the room. I should move it really as I wear glasses - not in bed, obviously, so find myself really squinting through the darkness to try and read the digital display on it! Note: it needs to be digital, as ticking clocks annoy me.
I own a Kindle, but do prefer a physical book. I work with screens all day, so it’s nice to not look at one from time to time!
I have a puzzle book and pen on the little table next to my usual spot on the sofa. How’s that for analogue…?
This is really good, and you inspire me to pursue further digital detoxing and reintroduction of analog in my life. I already use a lot of analog in my work, thankfully, as an electronic musician, but lately I have been thinking about my beautifully soft leather bound Filofax from the 80s, and I think I want to get one. Where to go from there I don’t know, but I’m thinking about it and looking around …
Thank you so much, Cato! I really appreciate you taking the time to read. Aww, that sounds so cool! Do you think Filofax might still have it, or maybe an updated version?
One thing I’ve realized with analog tools—especially while traveling like I am now (six weeks on the road!)—is that they do add to the packing list haha But it’s all good! I love that I can still maintain some of my routines from home.
For your electronic music, do you use just your laptop, or do you have controllers as well?
My pleasure, I need to find out if the company still exists and makes these. That would be very cool indeed.
That makes sense, it does add to what you have to carry around, but that’s doable, still!
For my music I usually work in my main studio with a Mac desktop and a vertical mouse, but have a laptop for travel. I don’t use a lot of controllers, just some basic faders and wheels on my keyboard, plus pedal etc.
I could have written this or something highly similar! In 1997, I left town and spent 3 months in isolation in a small town and only saw my meditation teacher. It was life altering. Since then, I've been in the tech industry since 1998.
What I have found is that I can maintain a balance between having one foot in one world and one in the other. I don't own an e-reader, but I do bring an iPad with me when I travel to download my camera's images. I also bring a film camera with me. I have only ever written in a journal by hand since age 12 and still own an old Olympus mini cassette recorder for taking notes. We have Apple HomePods for automating tasks but we listen to most of our music on vinyl, when we're not playing our own instruments. I still work in tech, but moved away from development and into consultation. I deactivated my Meta accounts and use focus modes during most of the day, but at night and on the weekends I catch up with what my MacBook Pro reminds me to do.
It all works for me but I am extremely disciplined and always have been. (It's not fun, trust me!). That said, it's not easy for a lot of people, so I find this post extremely important! Thanks for sharing it.
I loved reading this, Juliette! Thank you for sharing. It’s so refreshing to read about someone else’s experience and day-to-day life who also works in tech—and I love how you’ve found balance. I know discipline is tough, but it’s really the only way.
I mean, I even bought a kSafe in December to lock up my phone on certain days. My sister laughs at me, but our devices are just so addictive, and I’m as prone to it as anyone else—even though I’m fully aware of the negative impact. Locking my phone away makes it easier for me. Out of sight, out of mind!
Of course, everyone has their own methods, but I’ve realized we need to be proactive about these changes. Our attention is the most valuable thing we have, and I want to protect it for the things that truly matter—my relationships, my passion projects, and all the things I care about way more than endless scrolling or looking at strangers’ pictures.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
Glad to connect!! I am way too big of a gadget nerd for my own good... I too really SHOULD lock up my devices! Nevertheless, as you said, our attention is the most valuable thing we have so the caveat for me is that above all things, I want to stay as present as possible. When I do that, no rules are needed because I make all the right choices :). Thanks for the topic.
Yesss, exactly that, Juliette! I don’t even see these things as rules anymore—they’re just intentional choices I make. If I called them rules, they probably wouldn’t last that long—haha!
In the end, when you know what’s good for you and start acting with intention, making these choices just becomes natural.
I agree with everything you said! I write in my journal and keep a daily calendar-analogue style. I also love writing on notions, which is on my phone. It’s a balance. Also, thank you for sharing my “notes to self”. I needed to re-read that today!!
Yesss, exactly! I think it’s really all about balance, just like the examples you gave. In some cases, digital is still the best solution for certain things.
Thank you, Spencer, for reading and sharing your notes to self. I still have one more to share 🫶🏼
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve gone to make a quick note or look something up on my phone, only to unlock the infernal device to find Facebook or Instagram there (because it was the last thing I had open). Which leads to being sucked in, scrolling for 5 minutes and then realizing I’ve forgotten why I unlocked the phone to begin with! So much for optimizing my life… I keep flip flopping between digital and analog for things like todo lists, but I think I need to be more deliberate with my choices there. The reminders app is handy because I can share a shopping list with my wife and can use the smartwatch to check things off as I shop, but I tend to just ignore the reminders for todo things!
I feel you, Paul. As much as I try to embrace analog habits, I still find myself in similar situations every day. I’ll go to reply to my mum on WhatsApp, and suddenly I’m scrolling through my emails. It’s actually crazy—it's like you snap out of a dream and think, “Argh, I wanted to reply to my mum! How did I end up in my emails?”
But honestly, even if it’s not always smooth sailing, I do think that being a bit more intentional with our choices helps reduce these moments. For example, thanks to my alarm clock, I never start my mornings scrolling anymore. I’m traveling right now, and I even brought my alarm clock with me!
Thank you so much, Paul, for taking the time to read this.
Thank you, Tuğba! It’s all about self-discipline and what’s important to you. I live with my phone and computer. I don’t have any other gadgets. I removed apps from my phone like reminders and only stayed with contacts and a few that are useful. I don’t use an alarm since I trained myself to wake up at a certain time daily. I work in an environment that still functions the old way; lots of paper and behind in technology over 10 years. Again, we are responsible for how we want to live. I prefer analog.
Yes, and I honestly think more and more people are waking up to this. I keep reading that vinyl sales have increased and people are craving printed magazines again. So, I guess we’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed and leaning towards analogue.
I do wish my job was a bit more analogue too—haha—but it’s not really possible since I still work in tech. Even though it’s nothing to do with phones or apps anymore, we still use internal communication tools like Slack in the company.
Thank you so much, Yolanda, for taking the time to read this. I hope you’re doing well. Sending you the biggest virtual hug!
This is great, Tuğba. I am excited to see here some of the same things that I have been inching toward myself. These days I prefer paperbacks to ebooks, and I use notebooks and writing pads instead of my phone or computer. Your alarm clock is a great one that I should also think about. Single-purpose devices are just preferable if a device needs to be involved. I dumped the Apple Watch and went for a fitness tracker that I only wear when I'm fitnessing. And, of course, my analogue camera always goes with me. I also considered dumber phones, but first, let's see how 2025 goes with some other efforts to be more analogue! Maybe it's time to share some of these and my other strategies in a future post...
Same with the fitness tracker! I actually never got an Apple Watch, even though I was tempted many times, but I didn’t want another device with notifications. I only wear my Garmin when I work out, and that’s it.
And yes, the alarm clock is a total game-changer—do it! Get one! I even brought mine with me while traveling. I could never go back to using my phone. I leave my phone in the living room anyway since my bedroom is a no-technology zone, except for my old Kindle—but you can’t really go online with that properly.
Also, have you heard about the Light Phone? Everyone’s been talking about it, but who knows—maybe in the future!
I’d also love to hear from you in a post! I already loved your last one—so beautifully and eloquently written.
Also a Garmin here :) I found an alarm clock secondhand on ebay and it's on the way now. I'm gonna lay all this out in a new post sometime in the next month. Thanks so much for the kind words on the last one!
Oh and... I'm very curious about the Light Phone -- especially v3 which I've considered ordering since it will work properly in Germany. I didn't know it had gained so much traction, but I am happy it has.
Yess! A couple of people have mentioned it to me in real life too, so it’s not just my online bubble. I’m not ready yet, but who knows what the future holds.
Yaaayy for the alarm clock! 🎉 Looking forward to reading about your experience! 😊
Oh, and my Garmin watch is actually pretty cool—I should really make more use of the map feature. Downloading maps to use offline for hiking or running would be super handy!
Love this! Excited for the ebook. I recently started using a paper planner and love it😊 Next goal is to get the alarm clock, then the ultimate would be a typewriter 😂
OMG, a typewriter haha that would actually be so nice, but I’m not sure about it in the long term. One of the tools I mentioned in the ebook is the reMarkable—do you know it? I’ve read about a couple of writers using it with a keyboard. I don’t own one, but it feels like a modern version of a typewriter since it’s offline.
Thank you so much for your support, Tara! Also, the alarm block is a total game-changer—I could never go back to using my phone. I’m traveling at the moment, and I even brought my alarm clock with me!
Tuğba please let me know if you’re ever visiting Kyoto — I’d love to chat more about all the things you write here on your Substack because every damn post is like you’ve reached inside my head and pulled out a topic I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. The relatability is mad! Do you have any plans to visit Japan?
I almost visited Tokyo at the end of March as I’m currently traveling around Asia, but it would’ve been a bit of a stretch, so I had to change my plans. But definitely, Simon—I’m planning to come to Japan and travel around the country, maybe for a month. Let’s see if it happens next year or the year after.
I visited Tokyo many years ago, and I’d absolutely love to come and meet in Kyoto—that would be amazing! Your message truly made me so happy. Even though we’re just strangers on the internet, I feel like our exchanges are always so genuine. Thank you so much for your support; I really appreciate it.
By the way, what have you done to bring more analog moments into your life? I feel like you probably have so much to share on this topic, and I’d love to hear all about it.
The first time I discovered the Internet was in 1994 on my family's first desktop computer, a Gateway 2000. I was 14, the computer sat on a desk in my parents' bedroom, and my father had recently started his doctoral degree in educational leadership. It was the first "hybrid" educational program, meeting in person once per month with the rest of the work being done online via email. He used a completely text-based browser called Kermit that we had to install on the computer with a "floppy" diskette. I can remember the wonder of being able to access and read so many things online. A simpler time, and yet it still felt magical. And now here we are, innocence gone, attention monetized. May we all have the strength to finally realize that there is no such thing as effective multi-tasking and fully embrace that we were only meant for single-tasking!
Ohhh, it’s so nice to read about someone else’s first time, Tim 🥰 I hope more readers will share theirs too. I probably should have added that as a question at the end. I really love nostalgia, even though in this case, it didn’t end the best for many of us—haha—but hey, we’re all just trying to live.
Wow, so your first internet experience was three years before mine and already in your own house! Mine was on the school computer, but not long after that, my dad bought an Amiga 500. He was, and still is, pretty tech-savvy.
I really miss those desktop days, you know? There was a dedicated space for the computer, and that was *the* only spot you could use the internet. Now, with our phones, we use it everywhere—from the kitchen to the toilet, the bedroom to the street.
Thank you so much for reading, Tim. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday 😊
I have been thinking about this topic a lot, but, guess what, have not taken much action.
However, I did buy a watch not too long ago, because I hated having to look at my phone to check for the time. It has helped some. I think one other big thing is to ban my phone from my bedroom for good. I haven’t yet, but that’s my goal.
I also intentionally leave my phone at home now when I go on walks or even some other outings.
It’s amazing how addicted we are!!
Thank you for these important reminders and for setting an example!
Lol, let me tell you—although I didn’t explicitly say it—it also took me *years* to make these changes. I consider myself a pretty self-disciplined person, but oh my, when it comes to the internet and phones, I’m no different from anyone else. It’s so hard! But honestly, we shouldn’t be too harsh on ourselves. There are people out there getting paid loads of money to make these things addictive.
About the bedroom rule—**DO IT!** Oh my god, I implemented it a couple of years ago, and it’s been *life-changing*. The only tech I allow in my bedroom is my old-school e-reader, but honestly, most nights I end up reading a paperback. I’ve got this little reading light, and it’s just perfect.
And get this—even when I have someone stay over—haha—I don’t let them use their phones in my bedroom. So far, no one’s run for the hills thinking I’m crazy, so I’d say it’s working out pretty well 😂
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and support my work. It truly means a lot. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!
I just had a thought related to this post...since the smartphone has so many different functions and has replaced so many other devices, as in the August Lamm picture here, why do we even still call it a phone, when the phone function is not the primary one for most people most of the time? 😄
I was born in 1997 and I remember I had no phone until I was 4th grade. Heck, I didn't even have an internet connection. We couldn't afford those things - and oh - how blessed we were!
I remember vividly how we used to gather around to play with the neighborhood kids; how one by one, they all started carrying phones. They would play silly games instead of playing football. I remember I'd get angry and shout at them: "Leave the stupid phone alone, come join us!".
I was also the last in my high school class that had a smartphone. I never gave a f**k, honestly. I always had better, analogue, things to do. To this day, I avoid looking at my phone. I feel a deep sense of time running out. It's scary. I want to make sure most of my living moments are full of joy, progress, learning, love.
Thank you for being one of the many writers on Substack that makes me want to unlock my phone without feeling crap about it, Tugba!
This was a great read. You’re inspiring me!
I have Fitbit that I only take off to shower (!), and I try not to use that to check the time at night as it is SO bright that I feel like it’s one step away from giving me laser eye surgery!
I have a (very old) alarm clock on the other side of the room. I should move it really as I wear glasses - not in bed, obviously, so find myself really squinting through the darkness to try and read the digital display on it! Note: it needs to be digital, as ticking clocks annoy me.
I own a Kindle, but do prefer a physical book. I work with screens all day, so it’s nice to not look at one from time to time!
I have a puzzle book and pen on the little table next to my usual spot on the sofa. How’s that for analogue…?
This is really good, and you inspire me to pursue further digital detoxing and reintroduction of analog in my life. I already use a lot of analog in my work, thankfully, as an electronic musician, but lately I have been thinking about my beautifully soft leather bound Filofax from the 80s, and I think I want to get one. Where to go from there I don’t know, but I’m thinking about it and looking around …
Thank you so much, Cato! I really appreciate you taking the time to read. Aww, that sounds so cool! Do you think Filofax might still have it, or maybe an updated version?
One thing I’ve realized with analog tools—especially while traveling like I am now (six weeks on the road!)—is that they do add to the packing list haha But it’s all good! I love that I can still maintain some of my routines from home.
For your electronic music, do you use just your laptop, or do you have controllers as well?
My pleasure, I need to find out if the company still exists and makes these. That would be very cool indeed.
That makes sense, it does add to what you have to carry around, but that’s doable, still!
For my music I usually work in my main studio with a Mac desktop and a vertical mouse, but have a laptop for travel. I don’t use a lot of controllers, just some basic faders and wheels on my keyboard, plus pedal etc.
I could have written this or something highly similar! In 1997, I left town and spent 3 months in isolation in a small town and only saw my meditation teacher. It was life altering. Since then, I've been in the tech industry since 1998.
What I have found is that I can maintain a balance between having one foot in one world and one in the other. I don't own an e-reader, but I do bring an iPad with me when I travel to download my camera's images. I also bring a film camera with me. I have only ever written in a journal by hand since age 12 and still own an old Olympus mini cassette recorder for taking notes. We have Apple HomePods for automating tasks but we listen to most of our music on vinyl, when we're not playing our own instruments. I still work in tech, but moved away from development and into consultation. I deactivated my Meta accounts and use focus modes during most of the day, but at night and on the weekends I catch up with what my MacBook Pro reminds me to do.
It all works for me but I am extremely disciplined and always have been. (It's not fun, trust me!). That said, it's not easy for a lot of people, so I find this post extremely important! Thanks for sharing it.
I loved reading this, Juliette! Thank you for sharing. It’s so refreshing to read about someone else’s experience and day-to-day life who also works in tech—and I love how you’ve found balance. I know discipline is tough, but it’s really the only way.
I mean, I even bought a kSafe in December to lock up my phone on certain days. My sister laughs at me, but our devices are just so addictive, and I’m as prone to it as anyone else—even though I’m fully aware of the negative impact. Locking my phone away makes it easier for me. Out of sight, out of mind!
Of course, everyone has their own methods, but I’ve realized we need to be proactive about these changes. Our attention is the most valuable thing we have, and I want to protect it for the things that truly matter—my relationships, my passion projects, and all the things I care about way more than endless scrolling or looking at strangers’ pictures.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
Glad to connect!! I am way too big of a gadget nerd for my own good... I too really SHOULD lock up my devices! Nevertheless, as you said, our attention is the most valuable thing we have so the caveat for me is that above all things, I want to stay as present as possible. When I do that, no rules are needed because I make all the right choices :). Thanks for the topic.
Yesss, exactly that, Juliette! I don’t even see these things as rules anymore—they’re just intentional choices I make. If I called them rules, they probably wouldn’t last that long—haha!
In the end, when you know what’s good for you and start acting with intention, making these choices just becomes natural.
Absolutely true!! I look forward to reading more wisdom from you in the future!
I agree with everything you said! I write in my journal and keep a daily calendar-analogue style. I also love writing on notions, which is on my phone. It’s a balance. Also, thank you for sharing my “notes to self”. I needed to re-read that today!!
Yesss, exactly! I think it’s really all about balance, just like the examples you gave. In some cases, digital is still the best solution for certain things.
Thank you, Spencer, for reading and sharing your notes to self. I still have one more to share 🫶🏼
It’s really a pick-me-up getting to see those notes shared in your post!
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve gone to make a quick note or look something up on my phone, only to unlock the infernal device to find Facebook or Instagram there (because it was the last thing I had open). Which leads to being sucked in, scrolling for 5 minutes and then realizing I’ve forgotten why I unlocked the phone to begin with! So much for optimizing my life… I keep flip flopping between digital and analog for things like todo lists, but I think I need to be more deliberate with my choices there. The reminders app is handy because I can share a shopping list with my wife and can use the smartwatch to check things off as I shop, but I tend to just ignore the reminders for todo things!
I feel you, Paul. As much as I try to embrace analog habits, I still find myself in similar situations every day. I’ll go to reply to my mum on WhatsApp, and suddenly I’m scrolling through my emails. It’s actually crazy—it's like you snap out of a dream and think, “Argh, I wanted to reply to my mum! How did I end up in my emails?”
But honestly, even if it’s not always smooth sailing, I do think that being a bit more intentional with our choices helps reduce these moments. For example, thanks to my alarm clock, I never start my mornings scrolling anymore. I’m traveling right now, and I even brought my alarm clock with me!
Thank you so much, Paul, for taking the time to read this.
Thank you, Tuğba! It’s all about self-discipline and what’s important to you. I live with my phone and computer. I don’t have any other gadgets. I removed apps from my phone like reminders and only stayed with contacts and a few that are useful. I don’t use an alarm since I trained myself to wake up at a certain time daily. I work in an environment that still functions the old way; lots of paper and behind in technology over 10 years. Again, we are responsible for how we want to live. I prefer analog.
Yes, and I honestly think more and more people are waking up to this. I keep reading that vinyl sales have increased and people are craving printed magazines again. So, I guess we’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed and leaning towards analogue.
I do wish my job was a bit more analogue too—haha—but it’s not really possible since I still work in tech. Even though it’s nothing to do with phones or apps anymore, we still use internal communication tools like Slack in the company.
Thank you so much, Yolanda, for taking the time to read this. I hope you’re doing well. Sending you the biggest virtual hug!
Super hugs Tuğba! 🙏🏽
This is great, Tuğba. I am excited to see here some of the same things that I have been inching toward myself. These days I prefer paperbacks to ebooks, and I use notebooks and writing pads instead of my phone or computer. Your alarm clock is a great one that I should also think about. Single-purpose devices are just preferable if a device needs to be involved. I dumped the Apple Watch and went for a fitness tracker that I only wear when I'm fitnessing. And, of course, my analogue camera always goes with me. I also considered dumber phones, but first, let's see how 2025 goes with some other efforts to be more analogue! Maybe it's time to share some of these and my other strategies in a future post...
Same with the fitness tracker! I actually never got an Apple Watch, even though I was tempted many times, but I didn’t want another device with notifications. I only wear my Garmin when I work out, and that’s it.
And yes, the alarm clock is a total game-changer—do it! Get one! I even brought mine with me while traveling. I could never go back to using my phone. I leave my phone in the living room anyway since my bedroom is a no-technology zone, except for my old Kindle—but you can’t really go online with that properly.
Also, have you heard about the Light Phone? Everyone’s been talking about it, but who knows—maybe in the future!
I’d also love to hear from you in a post! I already loved your last one—so beautifully and eloquently written.
Also a Garmin here :) I found an alarm clock secondhand on ebay and it's on the way now. I'm gonna lay all this out in a new post sometime in the next month. Thanks so much for the kind words on the last one!
Oh and... I'm very curious about the Light Phone -- especially v3 which I've considered ordering since it will work properly in Germany. I didn't know it had gained so much traction, but I am happy it has.
Yess! A couple of people have mentioned it to me in real life too, so it’s not just my online bubble. I’m not ready yet, but who knows what the future holds.
Yaaayy for the alarm clock! 🎉 Looking forward to reading about your experience! 😊
Oh, and my Garmin watch is actually pretty cool—I should really make more use of the map feature. Downloading maps to use offline for hiking or running would be super handy!
Love this! Excited for the ebook. I recently started using a paper planner and love it😊 Next goal is to get the alarm clock, then the ultimate would be a typewriter 😂
OMG, a typewriter haha that would actually be so nice, but I’m not sure about it in the long term. One of the tools I mentioned in the ebook is the reMarkable—do you know it? I’ve read about a couple of writers using it with a keyboard. I don’t own one, but it feels like a modern version of a typewriter since it’s offline.
Thank you so much for your support, Tara! Also, the alarm block is a total game-changer—I could never go back to using my phone. I’m traveling at the moment, and I even brought my alarm clock with me!
Tuğba please let me know if you’re ever visiting Kyoto — I’d love to chat more about all the things you write here on your Substack because every damn post is like you’ve reached inside my head and pulled out a topic I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. The relatability is mad! Do you have any plans to visit Japan?
I almost visited Tokyo at the end of March as I’m currently traveling around Asia, but it would’ve been a bit of a stretch, so I had to change my plans. But definitely, Simon—I’m planning to come to Japan and travel around the country, maybe for a month. Let’s see if it happens next year or the year after.
I visited Tokyo many years ago, and I’d absolutely love to come and meet in Kyoto—that would be amazing! Your message truly made me so happy. Even though we’re just strangers on the internet, I feel like our exchanges are always so genuine. Thank you so much for your support; I really appreciate it.
By the way, what have you done to bring more analog moments into your life? I feel like you probably have so much to share on this topic, and I’d love to hear all about it.
The first time I discovered the Internet was in 1994 on my family's first desktop computer, a Gateway 2000. I was 14, the computer sat on a desk in my parents' bedroom, and my father had recently started his doctoral degree in educational leadership. It was the first "hybrid" educational program, meeting in person once per month with the rest of the work being done online via email. He used a completely text-based browser called Kermit that we had to install on the computer with a "floppy" diskette. I can remember the wonder of being able to access and read so many things online. A simpler time, and yet it still felt magical. And now here we are, innocence gone, attention monetized. May we all have the strength to finally realize that there is no such thing as effective multi-tasking and fully embrace that we were only meant for single-tasking!
Ohhh, it’s so nice to read about someone else’s first time, Tim 🥰 I hope more readers will share theirs too. I probably should have added that as a question at the end. I really love nostalgia, even though in this case, it didn’t end the best for many of us—haha—but hey, we’re all just trying to live.
Wow, so your first internet experience was three years before mine and already in your own house! Mine was on the school computer, but not long after that, my dad bought an Amiga 500. He was, and still is, pretty tech-savvy.
I really miss those desktop days, you know? There was a dedicated space for the computer, and that was *the* only spot you could use the internet. Now, with our phones, we use it everywhere—from the kitchen to the toilet, the bedroom to the street.
Thank you so much for reading, Tim. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday 😊
This is so good, Tugba, and so needed.
I have been thinking about this topic a lot, but, guess what, have not taken much action.
However, I did buy a watch not too long ago, because I hated having to look at my phone to check for the time. It has helped some. I think one other big thing is to ban my phone from my bedroom for good. I haven’t yet, but that’s my goal.
I also intentionally leave my phone at home now when I go on walks or even some other outings.
It’s amazing how addicted we are!!
Thank you for these important reminders and for setting an example!
Lol, let me tell you—although I didn’t explicitly say it—it also took me *years* to make these changes. I consider myself a pretty self-disciplined person, but oh my, when it comes to the internet and phones, I’m no different from anyone else. It’s so hard! But honestly, we shouldn’t be too harsh on ourselves. There are people out there getting paid loads of money to make these things addictive.
About the bedroom rule—**DO IT!** Oh my god, I implemented it a couple of years ago, and it’s been *life-changing*. The only tech I allow in my bedroom is my old-school e-reader, but honestly, most nights I end up reading a paperback. I’ve got this little reading light, and it’s just perfect.
And get this—even when I have someone stay over—haha—I don’t let them use their phones in my bedroom. So far, no one’s run for the hills thinking I’m crazy, so I’d say it’s working out pretty well 😂
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and support my work. It truly means a lot. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!