The Curse of the Smartphone Addiction
Just two years ago, I celebrated my anniversary without a mobile phone. No texting, no emailing on-the-go, no Tweeting, Instagramming, or Facebook Messengering. No Waze, Shazam, Spotify, Lyft, or Uber. No video camera, alarm clock, calculator, stock market ticker, fitness tracker, or daily weather forecast. Just silence. Serenity. A life unplugged.
You see, I used to be one of those people who was glued to their smartphone. I got my first iPhone back in 2005, and it quickly became an extension of my very being. That cartoonish cube of metal and glass had taken complete control of my life, manipulating my brain’s dopamine levels and hooking me like a fast-acting controlled substance.
As I wrote back then, I was haunted by the image of myself looking at my phone to the exclusion of everything around me. The endless and proper work of paying attention, an essential part of my job as a branding and organizational consultant, was being compromised. I knew I had to make a change.
Regaining Creativity and Productivity
So, I did the unthinkable – I ditched my smartphone and replaced it with a no-frills Nokia. At first, my colleagues weren’t exactly overjoyed. But over time, they came to love it. They told me I was nicer, more relaxed, and much more agreeable to be around.
Why? Well, without that constant distraction in my pocket, I was able to truly focus and be present. My creativity and productivity skyrocketed. As Tristan Harris, the former Google design ethicist, explains, our phones and our brains have become indistinguishable. We’re unwilling to turn off our devices, and as a result, we pay less and less attention to our intuition, our senses, our memories, and the pattern recognition that has guided our species for centuries.
But, without a smartphone, I was able to rediscover that lost capacity for boredom – the very thing that serves as the incubator for creativity and innovation. My productivity has, by my estimation, doubled in the past year. I see the world clearly now, unencumbered by the constant pull of digital distractions.
Punctuality and Likability
Another unexpected benefit? I’m always on time these days. Why? Because I can no longer call or text clients or friends and tell them I’m stuck in traffic. In my experience, smartphones have contributed to a worldwide delinquency around time, oddly enough.
And you know what else? My real-life friendships have become deeper and richer. Without the constant pull of social media, I’m able to be fully present in my interactions. My colleagues tell me I’m nicer and more relaxed to be around. I spend my free time reflecting and preparing, instead of firing off countless emails.
Sure, there have been a few minor inconveniences. Like that time in the Vancouver airport when a customs officer told me I needed a special visa that I could only download on my phone. But you know what? I simply ran to the waiting area, opened my laptop, and got the job done.
As the team at The Nature Conservancy would say, there are so many ways to make positive change for our planet. And sometimes, that change starts with the simple act of unplugging.
The Addictive Trap of Smartphones
When I tell people about my one-year anniversary without a smartphone, nine out of ten have the same response: “I’m so envious! I wish I could do that.” But, they quickly add, “I can’t. I have kids, a crazy job, a hectic life.”
Well, no offense, but despite not having children, my job and life are pretty crazy and hectic too. As a branding and organizational consultant, I work with the biggest companies in the world and am on a plane 300 days a year. And yet, I still managed to break free from the shackles of smartphone addiction.
The truth is, most cell phone users don’t want to admit they’re addicted to their devices. They use flimsy justifications, just like alcoholics do to explain why they drink. “My music is on my phone. So are my contacts and my photos and, uh, my meditation timer.”
But the reality is, we use our smartphones as a shield, a light saber, a one-handed defense against our own fear, anxiety, aloneness, self-consciousness, stillness, sadness, and mortality. We’re afraid to be alone with our thoughts, to confront the quiet, to face the unknown. And so, we cling to our devices, desperate for the dopamine hits they provide.
Reclaiming Your Attention and Your Life
To anyone interested in following my example, my advice is to go slowly and celebrate each and every small victory. Start by getting rid of time-sucking apps and creating boundaries around your phone time. Pledge not to look at your device when you wake up in the morning, and extend that embargo to breakfast, then lunch, and so on.
Experiment with a phone-free weekend. Freedom, it turns out, was in your hands this whole time. Welcome back to your life – wild, precious, and above all, attentive.
At Plug ‘n’ Save Energy Products, we believe that true sustainability starts with reclaiming your attention and your presence. That’s why we’re committed to providing the tools and resources you need to unplug, recharge, and thrive.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to ditch the distractions, embrace the quiet, and unlock the true power of your mind. The future is unplugged, and it’s waiting for you.