The first thing you notice when you ditch your social media and all the smart stuff is that nobody notices you missing. Then you realize how many friends you really have. It might hurt, but it actually helps you keep going on the healthy path.

@user-360johnn

Жыл бұрын

💯

@killerwhale5

Жыл бұрын

So true

@tamara435

Жыл бұрын

100% true! Those people weren't my real friends anyways. There's a difference between "friends" and friends. I prefer the latter.

@emmaschauer5409

Жыл бұрын

Right? I HAVE a Facebook, but I haven't updated it since I got married. The ones in my life that matter are the ones that actually reach out to me.

@CB_4216

Жыл бұрын

Facts. Before I permanently deleted my FB and Instagram in 2020, I deactivated my FB for about 8 months but kept the Messenger open. I got a grand total of zero messages while deactivated. Speaks volumes. Permanent deletion was not hard.

When my colleagues saw my Nokia they laughed and asked me why I had it. I told them I found smart phones too addictive. They all stopped laughing and started nodding in thoughtful agreement

@shamha1626

5 ай бұрын

And then they went back to their smartphones

One thing I've enjoyed about the dumb phone life is rediscovering journals and books. My calendar and to-do lists are in a notebook. I write by hand -- it feels great. I throw a book in my backpack if I know I'm going to be waiting around somewhere. Interacting with the material world offers a lot pleasures we've forgotten.

@emward6858

2 ай бұрын

I use those things with or without a smart phone

I have tried simply removing apps but I fall right back into the hole and re-download. I miss the times of present and not looking down at phones every waking minute.

@rob2662

11 ай бұрын

Well. It’s simple. Leave the smartphone at home on WiFi and buy a dumb phone for outdoors. Then you simply haven’t the opportunity to watch. I do this and it works. I bought a simple Nokia 225 4G. No need to buy a marketing trick like a Punkt or a Light Phone etc…. They do the same and are unnecessary expensive.

I'm 47 years old and had dumb phones for the last 19 years. I don't want a Smart phone. I have a laptop. I watch KZread. I have no social media. I get out and bike in the morning and try to be productive. I'm still alive and doing just fine without a Smart PHone. Many people think I'm weird but I don't care.

@nidhishshivashankar4885

Ай бұрын

I’m sure you’re more productive than the perpetual scrollers !

@simonstaub9870

18 күн бұрын

You are as weird as i am

@user-su9jg7wp4c

3 күн бұрын

Then how come ur watching this video and commenting?

@simonstaub9870

3 күн бұрын

@@user-su9jg7wp4c your dumb or smth.?

@stevel1451

9 сағат бұрын

User, didn’t you read his post. He CLEARLY said he has a laptop to watch KZread

Thanks for coining the term "digital minimalist". I got rid of my smartphone, streaming services, etc. some time ago and I really like that term to describe a lifestyle that is basically "a normal person in the 2000s"

@morganmacdonald3043

2 ай бұрын

Just an FYI and a book recommendation: “The term Digital Minimalism was coined by Cal Newport, a computer science professor and author. He introduced the concept in his book "Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World." The philosophy emphasizes the intentional use of technology to maximize value and minimize unnecessary digital clutter in our lives.” (Source: Microsoft CoPilot). I’ve read a couple of Newport’s books. Well worth looking into at your local library or bookstore. 📚🤓

One of the problems about dumbphones in general is that their market is focused on elderly, which I found really ridiculous and that keeps the youth from buying them. Every time you ask for one of those phones they assume you are buying it for your grandma... It's disturbing.

@AlejandroP1980s

Жыл бұрын

Buy cat s22 TMobile Flip phone

@user-360johnn

Жыл бұрын

Because if they work in sales for tech they are probably addicted too and expect you to be

@jorgerodriguez-ku4fw

Жыл бұрын

Who gives a shot what anyone thinks

@emward6858

Жыл бұрын

Or if you use a basic phone they ask you why you haven't got a smartphone

@mad_scientist5597

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I noticed this with the descriptions of the button phones on eshops. Enjoy the benefits of 4G network, explore your opportunities on the internet with built-in Facebook, Whatsapp, etc... lmao this is all laughable for a young person who is used to being able to do all this and a million times more since they were ten with smartphones. But then maybe the phone has tiny buttons which are simply unfit for the elderly, so who is it for?

Thanks for the update, glad to hear the "dumb phone" life is still treating people right here in 2022. I grew up in the 80's and 90's; I vaguely recall the better days before social media and "apps" ran everyone's lives.

@emward6858

Жыл бұрын

I too grew up in the 80s and 90s and I remember very well how much better life was before phones took over

I think life is richer in so many ways without a smart phone, I also grew up before the era of mobile phones, I cycle to work most days and pass people walking along interacting with their phones the whole time, I think they are missing out on the world around them and it's beauty. The questions people asked you show how dependent young people are on smart phones now, it seems sad to me that they are. I'm glad to see that some young people are fighting against this.

@folksurvival

Жыл бұрын

Smartphones playlist: kzread.info/head/PLnkhjkRyBrHYiQThZAvOQp4ya0deIykMI

@claireglendenning1

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. I was on public transport and no word of a lie EVERYONE was glued to their phones. Shame they missed the beautiful majestic stag I saw on my way to work. I also hate it when people play videos or have a loud conversation early in the morning. I also hate it when they hold the speaker up to their ear and then talk into it. People are dumb.

@grahamwallis6568

Жыл бұрын

@@claireglendenning1 it does feel like we are swimming agains the tide the way everyone around us is becoming addicted to these alien devices

Its ironic.. we got all of this amazing technology . .we are able to communicate with one another over fast distances in seconds.. and still .. we go back to a simpler time where things went slower .. maybe back in the day many things where indeed better..

I switched to the same Sunbeam phone a few months ago and it has been life changing. I love it so much! There's truly a major difference in my behavior with my phone since I made the switch. I don't think I'll ever go back!

@ashtonwomack

Жыл бұрын

awesome! so glad you are enjoying the sunbeam too.

@StigmaSam

Жыл бұрын

Are you both still using the Sunbeam phones? I haven’t heard of anyone using one past a few months. Thank you 🧡

@zainaprice7424

Жыл бұрын

@@StigmaSam Hey! Yes, I still use my sunbeam!

Life was truly lived before smartphones came along. Now everyone is lost to their phones never really concentrating on the real world

It’s interesting to hear your experiences. I don’t see myself giving up my iPhone, because as a blind person I use my iPhone just for a lot of daily tests in addition to what most people already use their phones for. But it’s definitely interesting to watch.

@austinhhollinger

Жыл бұрын

Well, there are phones out there designed for those of us who are blind that don't have all the unnecessary stuff like smartphones. I have legit been thinking about downgrading because everything is well, a bit too much these days

Nice work, Ashton. Great summary. I switched from a Galaxy Note 8 to a Nokia 2720V flip four months ago - it's been a great experience. I simultaneously ditched 90% of social media. It's hard to describe the feeling, but I feel like I was just released from jail. 😁 Thanks again, best of luck.

I had the same issue after switching to a dumb phone. Navigation was something I could not live without. Solved that by cutting open the car dash and gluing the phone permanently into it. I had an old car and am ok paying for a connection just for navigation. It might be a bit extreme but it worked !

@AlexR_44

Жыл бұрын

That's pretty cool. Plus, nowadays, aftermarket head units with nav screens can be found pretty cheaply.

@anand6277

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexR_44 I know, and I realized that after I had done the damage to my car. Guess I was frustrated with my addiction and acted without thinking !

Great video - I am a flip phone user and I find that a lot of what you have experienced is the same for me too. I think if I traveled more I'd use an external GPS but I am usually in my home town. I remember street names, directions, and where things are SO much better than before and it sure is a confidence boost! Looking forward to your next video on this topic. Also, I've gotten so good at T9 texting that if I am texting someone in a conversation they don't even notice - I type just as fast as them. I guess that's because my first phone was a flip phone, it's like riding a bike, you don't forget! lol

A nice aspect of carrying a paper notepad are in those situations when being in the company of people, info that needs to be shared or a message needs to be passed-along to another person; where doing it between smartphones could be awkward; or not possible at all. In addition, no battery charge is needed with using paper and pen.

@SATALIT3

Жыл бұрын

maybe a change of pen if the pen suddenly dries out. 😄

@bloqk16

Жыл бұрын

@@SATALIT3 That's true! In addition, in the hot summers where I live, I keep a pencil in the vehicle, as it tolerates the heat better than an ink pen; which can get messy.

This video really resonated with me. Many of your points are things I’ve been thinking for years. I grew up & learned to drive without a phone of any kind. Many things are still possible without carrying around a tiny computer in your pocket ALL the time. Thank you for this!

I’d really like to see a video about not having a GPS in car! Also I found you really mature, calm and steady, I don’t know if you were like this before switching to a flip phone but I’m sure that it helps a lot. Wish you the best from France 🇫🇷 !

Good for you in deciding how you want to live. The problem with using your iPhone is that it is more tempting to build an addiction to even internet access. A smartphone is an addiction, an addiction that is purposely built into social media. I hope other people can see the light and decide for themselves how they wish to live. I personally, like you, am on the computer all day, and don't need yet another device. There are so many more experiences in life I wish to do that I cannot when I am on a smartphone.

I've tried limiting my smartphone use but I eventually just use my internet browser to go to the websites I send time on for hours, after deleting the apps. I'm sleeping through work. I was awake for basically 3 days last week because i couldnt get off my phone. i couldnt stop thinking about what i might be missing (logically nothing) when i try to force myself to sleep. it's time.

@rob2662

11 ай бұрын

And this was 8 months ago. What happened?

Yours are by far the best videos on this subject, thank you. Like others here, I find myself returning to listen to your experience as I prepare to make the dumb phone downgrade myself. Regarding the music dilemma, why not get an mp3 player so you can have all the songs you want on hand? That's what I'm going to do. Looking forward to hearing more!

@ashtonwomack

Жыл бұрын

right now, an mp3 player feels like just another device i'd have to manage that still doesn't offer the convenience of streaming services. thanks so much for watching!

@austinhhollinger

Жыл бұрын

@@ashtonwomack I already have a 40 gb Apple Music library, so I would probably just use one of my older devices as a de facto iPod

@rob2662

11 ай бұрын

A lot of dumb phones have the capability of putting an SD card in it. And have a music player on it. No need for an extra device.

@davidhannaford5511

11 ай бұрын

@@ashtonwomack Thankyou for the video. I find you answer the questions very well which is most helpful. It seems that you don't seem that bothered about listening to specific music so don't want a complicated answer. I have attempted tech detox in general. I find that listening to the radio helps because it takes away the stress and distraction of having to choose. Alot of the solutions you have are old skool and work because they are closer to natural human behaviour. Before we had streaming services people would build their own music libraries. So my sugestion is that if you want to listen to music of choice- In the same way that you would look up directions before leaving the house, you would purchase music from itunes in advance and download it. It doesn't have to be a large colletion so it could be mindful(quality not quantity). If your radio has a usb input you don't necessarily need another device you could use a flash drive and keep it on your keyring. As i remember you always used to be able to subscribe to podcast etc and just have them sync to your flashdrive when you inserted it in your computer. The same thing would happen if you createeed a playlist. this is the closest you would get to convenience without a mobile data connection.

I really like your video. When I was a kid I wished I had the same teenage experience like my siblings who grow up in a time where you rarely use your phone. And today the time flies and I have not so many teenage memories. So I am kinda sad. I am still young going to 21 but I wished I didnt spent so much time on the phone and the others also. Like now I have to fill the expectation of the society: job etc. But now I deleted Instagram and I feel so much better. And I can connect more with the people around me. So many people are glued to their phone. Sometimes I am very delusional and dreaming about movies who they join adventures or no phone.

Hey, Ashton. I’ve seen almost every youtube video on dumb phone experiences and yours is the one I come back to the most. I must have cycled through it three times already. Surprised and delighted this one auto played just now as I’m playing your play list. Great job with the channel. Gonna review your Trello/iCal method right after this one. Good day.

For those asking about Whatsapp - I thought switching to a flip phone would mean Whatsapp would no longer work on other devices. But if you have a computer you can still access Whatsapp on there. Personally I still use my smartphone at home when on wifi, so I can communicate on Whatsapp at those times.

@ashtonwomack

Жыл бұрын

that's good to know, thanks for sharing!

@GaricsPeter

Жыл бұрын

If something is important enough I do a phone call. Otherwise it can wait until I get in the vicinity of a PC.

I have a flip phone for my kids and at first we were frustrated about how difficult it is to text. Unexpected upside is my kids now just call rather than text which is a good skill to have.

Mp3 player with blutooth solves the car issue! I love it

Great update!! Keep it up!

I've used dumb phones for about 20 years now. I do own a smart phone that I bought because I needed it to get internet access at home, but I've never used it for anything else. After I got fiber there's no need for it any more, so now it just lies in one of my drawers. I have no plans of ever start using a smart phone as a daily device, but I have considered taking my smartphone when I go travel to places were there are far between English speaking people to have a translation app on it. I was in Ukraine this summer and I forgot to bring it with me, but I managed to communicate with everyone I needed to.

I love how you find the positives in everything. It's so motivating.

Hi Ashton, I found you yesterday on KZread and you're becoming very inspiring to me as I start to embark on a 30-day dumbphone journey, putting my iPhone away for a time. I really want to reset my relationship with technology, read more books, start drawing again and hopefully becoming creative once again. I have no problem with being online, using a computer for work and at home all the time. I just don't want a computer in my pocket 24/7. Thank you for your videos, I am enjoying your journey.

@ashtonwomack

Жыл бұрын

that's great! let me know how it goes!

I like your Digital Minimalism playlist in that it offers insight into the everyday life of having a flip phone and answers some less known questions (props for using CDs). Been thinking about switching, but now I'm gonna try diving into it for real. Thanks for the videos, Ashton. :)

Thanks for the super q's and a's!

Thank you so much for making this video and answering my questions! I've been using my sunbeam as my primary device (thanks to your videos) since June.

Thank you, I love your message! I have a flip phone and love it!

I definitely resonate with great ideas showing up during downtime. We need to give ourselves more opportunities for that to happen!

my 2 cents (and what worked for me): for the most part, we don't need smartphones when we're around, because we go around to live life, we do things, we don't have time to arch our necks and scroll. BUT there are very specific cases in which we need to go hyper-technologic and do things that otherwise would be impossible, for example, we're shooting a scene around and we need to calibrate the DSLR's gymble's app. SO i bought a twin sim card. I put one in my iphone, and 1 in my Motorola Razr (the old one). So when i have to go out, i can immediately pick one of the two according to what i'll need to do out. Do i need to be hyper-technologic? or just being able to receive calls? and, when i'm travelling, just carry both, so in case of emergency, i can go hyper-tech and pull out the smartphone from the backpack.

@thewonderer9551

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! This is what I was thinking about. When you need smartphone, use it. If calling & texting is the only thing required, use dumbphone.

@cabbie83

Жыл бұрын

I didn’t even know they had twin sims!! This would make this more possible for me

@Andy-zp3mv

2 ай бұрын

are you paying more than you would for one sim card?

This video is super comprehensive! Thank you for sharing! I want to switch over to a flip phone, and this answered basically all of my questions!

This was really interesting, my iPhone hasn’t been working properly for ages and haven’t been too fussed with it. Been wondering about just a normal call someone phone and watched this. Brought up some good points and had a think about them and the work arounds, brilliant thank you Sam .

I switched to a Nokia 3310 for about 3 months in 2020 and loved it. Unfortunately my work was suffering due to my slow responses to emails and I had to put the leash back on (I'm a field inspector for a private engineering firm on infrastructure projects). I like that you've taken a more serious approach to your photography as a result of dropping your iphone. Photography is a passion of mine and I usually have a camera close by, so I haven't really used my phone for photos other than for mental notes in years.

Love this video, thanks for the inspiration and insight. I will make the switch to a LP2 this week. Much love from Germany 🙂

For the car/music issue - why not pickup an ol’ school ipod? The OG versions are roughly the size of a deck of cards & offer no function beyond music storage - which is does PERFECTLY (btw this is what created apple mania). I still have mine (in the ‘electronic graveyard’ box) - it was AMAZING for carrying around ur entire music library! Note about Boston situation: I JUST realized how life has changed since we all stopped getting lost. It used 2 be SUCH a normal part of life & also served as a graceful excuse whenever u needed some head space before arrival…saying “I got lost” now is inconceivable. Also, getting lost on vacay or during free time resulted in some of my life’s most memorable experiences!

I did remove distracting apps, I had a gray scale for 6 months too, plus no notifications. It didn’t make a difference… yes, it reduced the time but sometimes I would literally check nothing. It’s so annoying!! So, I am going back to a flip phone - can’t wait!!

After I watched your dumb/flip phone videos yesterday I deleted a lot of the apps on my iPhone. There have been many times when I was so frustrated with the tempting and time wasting character of my smart phone (or myself :) ). Sometimes I tried to stop using the "bad" apps, sometimes I went back to my older phones like the Nokia E65 or the Siemens S35. But slow texting with T9 brought me back to the smarter phone.. After deleting the apps I found my iPhone this morning that very unattractive that I grabbed a book and enjoyed reading it. Hopefully it will stay that way. Thanks for encouraging to make the first step (again).

The audio is vastly improved over the 6 month video. Great content thanks.

I saw your vids on dumb phone on another creator's you tube channel. Wish I could remember which one! I am sure you know about it. I was so glad that I had already seen three of the bids you have already made on this subject. And happy for you.

As a millennial who used a dumb phone in his entire life I'm so happy about your journey. So rare to find people like us. I draw the same conclusions as you but since smart phones and social media was never big part of my life I had to realize the advantages as I went on and saw the effects on other peoples life. The older I get the happier I'm that I never was a mainstream smartphone user. I do own a (cheapest in the market) smart phone because occasionally I need GPS, internet or some utility app but I use it like once in 2-4 week and even then the battery is usually drained:D

Great comments, Ashton. Simple living is the best. I liked your comments about picture taking. I know people that get upset if you don't take them looking good. Too many people are depressed by social media and what others think of them. I do park my phone and have recently purchased an inexpensive Casio watch for knowing the time.

For music I use an ipod, you can either use something you load mp3 files onto like an ipod nano, or if you get an ipod touch 4th gen you won't be able to go on social media etc. with it, but spotify still works somehow

I think I am ready!

Thank you 4 answering my question abt the sim card!!

I watched your experience talk in " Cold fusion Tv". Me & my some friends are using this type of phone from last year as a second phone. So much peace of mind because of that.

Awesome! Congrats on breaking the chains!!!! Thanks for sharing. Traveling without the gps mapping is fascinating. I read an article how not using your brain for that really stifles the creativity part of our brains also.

Much like a couple others here in the comments, for music, I've been using an mp3 player (technically called a DAP, but same thing that is just able to play audio formats other than mp3). I think I get a lot more out of music this way than I did when I was largely using Spotify on my iPhone. First, for anyone where high fidelity audio is important (I know it's not a majority, but still), even a really cheap DAP will get better quality sound than an iPhone playing from Spotify. Secondly, the limitations on what music I own on my DAP gives each album loaded more meaning. It's a lot closer to ownership of the music than streaming, which makes something as simple as listening to music a lot more special and less something I just take for granted in being able to call up any song I want. Also buying hi-fi audio from artists on a platform like Bandcamp is a way better form of support than the micro pennies an artist will earn on streams from Spotify.

@LLG47

Жыл бұрын

Which one did you choose?

@samuelbigus1185

Жыл бұрын

@@LLG47 I chose the Hi-Fi Walker

The navigation question always surprises me. I've never used a smartphone for that. We have had Garmin gps stand alone in the car since they first came out and I've always found it superior to the phone for it.

for music in the car: you could fill your old iphone 8 up with mp3s and use it as an ipod basically? or if you subscribe to spotify or some other paid streaming service you could download songs on there while at home and connected to wifi. and your sim card wouldnt be in the iphone so when youre driving you couldnt use anything besides music on there basically.

I think the key word is "intentional". Most of us who used to have smartphones just went to them automatically the moment we became bored. I have a "dumb phone" and only use my computer at home when i need to plan anything or check my calendar. It is a better way to live.

honestly i’m thinking increasingly lately that i could really go for a phone that has a physical qwerty keyboard (don’t think i could do t9 again but i love the idea of physical buttons on a phone so much) alas, there just aren’t that many to choose from, especially being in australia

Thanks to you, Ashton, I have a Sunbeam Orchid arriving tomorrow. I've been wanting to do as you have for a few years. Thank you for showing the way. // alex

@ashtonwomack

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Hope you enjoy the sunbeam 😊

@Kk-mp5mx

Жыл бұрын

How do you like that phone so far?

@lexi0006

Жыл бұрын

@@Kk-mp5mx I like it and I would recommend it. I've been using it about a month now and this is my experience: I purchased the Orchid with maps/gps nav and weather. I don't have cell service where I live. So, that is a known frustration. Everywhere else, it has been excellent. Some points I didn't know until I had the phone and played with it, (1) you can attach a bluetooth keyboard to it and type notes and texts on it. (2) My cell service (Verizon) supports texting over wi-fi. That helps. Maybe this is the phone itself. I'm not sure at this point. The maps are totally useable and navigation is reasonably good. (3) Weather reports are standard and an animated radar image is supported along with hourly and daily forecast. (4) I subscribed ($40) to one year of premium service for voice-to-text. ABSOLUTELY A MUST HAVE. Worth every penny. On the down side, batter life is not good. I wouldn't call it terrible either. I'd love to see a brick phone from Basic LLC / Sunbeam Wireless with a larger battery. I'm an amateur radio guy and I wish I could attach an external antenna to the phone for better transmit/receive service. I live in an area where service can be spotty. Lastly, I like the feature set of the phone and wouldn't change a thing. Simplicity achieved while maintaining functionality. Mission Accomplished! // alex

I think this is a path I will have to take. I've tried to use my Smartphone minimally so many times and have failed. I am in the group of people that just barely remembers what it was like before all phones had screens, and it is my opinion that our brains functioned better; especially when it comes to attention and awareness. I think there's a reason why so many of us have begun to wonder if we have ADHD. Massive changes have massive impact, even if those changes are sneaky and slow. I think a lot of my issues are from the changes tech has made to my escapist brain.

The questions folks asked her prove more smartphone users need to ditch the newer devices and smell the real world. Great video !

I used to love Thomas Guides in the 1980s -1990s! I used one in Los Angeles and it was great.

@theashleybash

Ай бұрын

I loved those too! I miss having to look up the street in the index and then find the page and grid. 😂 I think using that while learning to drive is why I have such a good sense of direction now.

Fantastic video, I’m 33 so I was part of the last era to grow up without a smartphone and I remember how much better life was before everyone was chained to a pocket computer 😅 I did have smartphones for a number of years throughout my 20s and I found them very addictive, especially the social media apps. I think at one point my usage was around 7 hours a day but I made the switch after me and my girlfriend got a new puppy and I noticed that rather than playing with her me and my partner spent more time looking at our phone screens….was defo the wake up call I needed. Overall it’s been a very positive experience, my head always feels a lot clearer, my eyes are less sore and I find I enjoy life a lot more…we really don’t realise just how much passes us by when we spend our spare moments looking at a phone screen. Only downsides I have found is since Covid a lot of restaurants and bars here in the UK seem to have switched to app ordering which can be a pain especially using a Nokia however there is usually always someone at the table who has an iPhone or android so I just get them to order for me 😅 Keep up the great work!

I'm getting a lot out of your journey - thanks for sharing it. Please DO MAKE A DIRECTIONS AND DRIVING video!

Thankyou so much miss. I didn't think of the idea of parking my smartphone in my home in some certain area until now , Thanks alot again. That helped alot .I am currently studying for exams and I needed this very much. Your videos are a lifesaver. Lots of love from NE India.

Thanks for the update! I really appreciate these videos. You gave me the push to try it! I deleted all my apps (and my browsers!) off the iphone today. Obviously there's the app store and if I search a word it searches the internet. And there's Siri. But I'm hopeful that will be enough barriers to the internet to change my relationship to my phone. I just really want a camera on the phone because I have a child, otherwise I would go fully dumb phone for sure.

Id like to say thank you for posting your dumb phone journey. For a long time i had wanted to revert back a flip phone or landline phone as I saw my addiction to my smartphone grow exponentially. At first i looked at the usage of smartphones in our generation very cynically, and never thought i myself, could devote as much time as I ended up to my phone. I tried deleting notifications, then tried uninstalling apps, then limiting screen time, but nothing seemed to stop me personally from doom scrolling any app I could on the smart phone, or thus feel defeated and redownload other social media apps. During my last year with a smartphone I grew so frustrated with it, the only thing that actually helped, was turning off my phone completely for weeks at a time. I knew then i didn't need my smart phone, but seeing your videos helped me finally make the switch. I first watched your "I used a dumb phone for 6 months, here's what i learned video". And about a week later, on Apr 19 i made the switch. Like i said, it was something i thought about for a long time, but honestly just kept being lazy in making the switch. But I think seeing your videos helped inspire me and feel a sense of community or like minded-ness I hadn't yet experienced. I'm so thankful to have been recommended your video that one day, and to become unplugged in a way that I've already felt such significant difference in my mental health, and awareness in my surroundings. Thank you

@ashtonwomack

Жыл бұрын

it means so much to know my videos inspired you. thank you!!

before smartphones but after the internet we used to go to sites like mapquest and have websites do the route but then print out a paper version of the route to your destination. your car also has a resettable trip odometer that you can use to gauge how far you have gone since your last poi on the route paper.

While I didn't trade in my smartphone for a dumb phone, I did turn off all the notifications except text messages. That has been a good compromise for me. In fact, I don't consider it a compromise. It's been a good SOLUTION. I still have access to the apps and services I need while limiting distractions.

Ashton , I have NEVER had a "smart" phone , and never will . I own a TT970 flip and love it . I do not do social media on my phone nor email & I do not live for my phone. It is not connected to the web . My choice . I detest touchscreens block of plastic .

I'm transitioning to living alone now, so for safety and to have fun group conversations with my family and friends, I have upped my use of my smartphone quite a bit. Before I would actually use it as a simple and lightweight work station or to play casual games and decompress a bit. For the car I still use a usb stick with my favourite songs. I can also connect an old phone I use now as an mp3 player (the battery duration, seriously). I haven't suffered too much, not even in my smartphone I have any streaming services, and I'm big about music.

thanks for good content in your video. I myself use a nokia 8000 as my main mobile and with an extra sim card for data only which is in my iphone, which I only turn on to take pictures, pay, park, find the way otherwise it stays switched off all the time.

Really digging the fingernail color!!

Ever since I started using a dumb phone I was forced (in a good way) to get library memberships to get books I can read while on commute.

I just got my Sunbeam Daisy today ... I need to get it setup!

@prknride453

Жыл бұрын

I got my Daisy on April 1st! I’m either an April fool or really trying to change my life for the better 🤣 Let me know if you have any newbie questions and I’ll see if I can help.

For music maybe you can download the tracks and put them on a MP3 player, or the dumb phone and use a double jack cable to listen in the car, it depends on your car radio of course, if there is the jack imput. You can also use a USB key for that.

A compass is useful in the car. Then it's much harder to get lost.

I admire the way you can live without your smartphone but it would definitely not work for me. I deleted social media from mine in the past but I keep coming back to them (I am learning to manage that) but my smartphone helps me in my minimalist life since I have my health trackers, boarding passes, calendar, cards and a reliable GPS on it. I guess I got too comfortable with the way you just click on an app and you can get a cab or take away food within minutes haha.

As for portable music you could use a iPod classic or a old fiio, or you could use a old Sony discman CD player

Even though I've thought about using a dumphone, for me that would definitely be a more difficult task because I'm from Brazil and we use WhatsApp a lot, not the regular messaging app that comes preinstalled on our phones. It's a must to have WhatsApp installed. So a simpler phone that got a few apps installed on it could be a solution.

For portal music, have you considered using something like an Astell&Kern player? I wish it has some phone features so it would be the only device that I carry around.

I got the Nokia Tough 800. Great phone with wifi hotspot for when you need to tether to a device on the go.

As a delivery driver, I am curious about you going deeper into the GPS part of the video.

@JeansRSDSlife

Жыл бұрын

Since switching to a flip phone I use a Garmin GPS unit. I can put the unit into whatever vehicle I am in.

@LLG47

Жыл бұрын

If you do delivery, there is still the separate GPS option. I have had a dumbphone and now have a smartphone again and am planning to move back, but I have a Garmin unit and often I find on trips its a better option. Besides the lack of traffic data, its a better display of information anyway. I would say a Garmin unit, even used, is a good option.

Here’s an idea for the music solution- you could always get an old iPod, like a shuffle, you can’t get apps on there it’s only music! You could put the songs you listen to a lot on there.

as a person who was born in the 80s, this gives me so much lols

Try and old ipod (non touch obviously) or whatever walkman. They are simple and really useful.

It’s funny how many excuses I’m trying to make to keep using my iPhone even though I know that my brain is for some reason clearer when I don’t have this iPhone in my pocket. I’m gonna commit and start using my flip phone for at least a month and see how that goes. Lol. Thanks

Thank you for the inspiring video. Dave Cullen has one KZread channel left called The Dave Cullen Show. His start was as a tech reviewer. The interesting thing was to watch Computing Forever give up his iPhone 4s for a flip phone and move all his work to a set time on a PC. He said that it was a great feeling to leave work at an office without the pressure of feeling like you have to respond to or interact with work 24/7. The ability to be more present with the people around you is something I am trying to cultivate in my social circle.

I'm probably late but for the music question there are cheap mp4 players everywhere on the internet, I bet you could find a good one. I'd recommend one with a memory card and a screen so you can fit a bunch of hq songs and you can actually select what song you want to play. Even then, they should be a lot cheaper than a dumb phone!

please do make the video about navigation. my biggest concern wrt switching to a feature phone is the lack of maps, especially living in new york city and on an unpredictably functioning train line

For driving directions to a new place, someone told me you can look up directions online and send them to your Kindle which you take with you.

After watching a couple of your videos and hearing how it has seemed to bring back a normal life to you.. I've become entirely to stressed and acting a bit to aggressively.. So I'm seriously thinking about going full Dumd Phone.. Enjoyed your videos .👍

In Australia even though we all have smart phones and GPS, I made a point of buying a brand new ‘Melways’ Street directory. Melways being for Melbourne AUS. Yes the old hard copy back up... and it works beautifully. 😊👍🏻

@Lili-xq9sn

Жыл бұрын

I know, what happens when there's an outage and you need to get somewhere. I also have maps in my car.

The main difficulties I have with mine are related to finances (my bank requires mobile authentication to transfer money to new people) and many loyalty cards (e.g. costa coffee) are now digital only. Not sure the way around that for both!

Ooh parking it at home 🏡 good call😊

Best thing I ever did, I never used the other gadgets on the phone, I prefer it, the battery on my Nokia battery lasts a long time, I don't do social media, what else can you do with the technical phones? I don't know what to do with them anyway apart from photos

try using an iPod. I purchased one a few months ago and it's been great. A retro device, slightly inconvenient when having to carry two items, but useful none-the less.

They are actually called a “feature” phone. Before smartphones they were feature phones that had so many features

Still have my ipod but I would imagine that there is an array of MP3 players out there to solve the when you want to listen to music issue. Not only is it only your music when you want to listen to it, but there is no subscription fee & no adds. Its just your music. Sometimes technology advances so quickly that we advance ourselves into a less optimal position that accomplishes less than what the older technology did.

Even if you scale back, the temptation is always there. At 3 supermarkets now, every time I checkout the cashier says "Have you got the app? You could of saved £4 on that shop...." - the Matrix has You!!!