I decentralized my tech as well, but rather than switching to a dumbphone I just uninstalled all distracting apps from my iPhone and instead just have email and social media on my ipad that I check into briefly in the morning and evening. I use a paper calendar and journal in a paper notebook. That way all i use my modified smartphone for are alarms, calculator, short notes, calls, messaging, maps, banking, security monitoring, and the occasional Google search.
this ^^ my phone quite literally just has calendar app, messaging app, music/podcast app and the base apps like phone just so I am always reachable and can tell when I am available, and can listen to a podcast when cycling or on the bus no social media, no youtube, nothing like that Tablet is much nicer for Email, RU-vid, etc anyway and just sits in my bag for whenever I am on the train for a few hours visiting family Average screen time is about 25 minutes a day across both devices on average
It doesn't work for me tho. Maybe I'm bad at it 😂. But I think downgrading to a dumb phone is a great idea to try out. Hope someday I can afford this experiment.
Before you drop reading try this. What worked for me was to listen to the audiobook while reading the physical book along to it. It helps keep me less distracted and i feel more connected with what im reading.
having specific use devices is such a good thing, almost romanticizing the process like using a real camera compared to just snapping a photo can change the way we do things. sometimes multiple thing can get messy to maintain but the fun part is adjusting and improving your individual process. dropping off a smart watch was the best thing for me tho, hated having another device to charge.
Bro I did this for two years. Then got tired of carrying around 6 different devices and keeping track of them. And having them all charged. I got a Asus ROG 8 phone with can play video games, has a 3.5mm jack for music and has a good camera. I just took of all social media and crap on my phone.
That's my exact thought. If you have to charge 6 different devices you end up spending more time interacting with digital devices, defeating the point.
I would get the ROG 8 but it doesn't have an esim :( Ended up with a motorola edge instead cause I liked the 165 hz screen so much. I still carry around a usb c -> 3.5 mm adapter though for my iems.
this works for some, not for others. totally depends on what you like to do while you're out and about. decentralizing my phone works well for me, because i don't play mobile games or watch videos outside of my house. i just have an ipod, my camera, and my little dumb phone. it works well because i can leave my phone at home most of the time and still listen to music and/or take photos. some people do more stuff/have more hobbies so i could see how it would be a pain to have lots of devices for everything
Yeah. The solution is just get a real hobby. You wouldn't even consider picking up your phone if you're doing something engaging. But I must relent that companies DO try to maximize your phone time by feeding your internet slop.
@@GreenSkinGentleman While I agree, the problem with your theory is that I would say 80% time of your day you are realistically not engaging in any hobbies. You are either working, sitting on toilet, eating or cleaning. In my opinion THOSE are the moments where you need to stop thinking about social media. The key is to learn again to be bored and embrace it. Don't use social media as a bandade to your boredom.
its wild seeing this comment because out of all of the screen time reduction videos ive seen I feel like social media was the least significant factor in him stepping away from a smartphone, it seems his issue is more similar to trying to make your bedroom an office and game room and art studio at the same time
My issue with Smartphones are false advertising when it comes to battery life I use a computer most of my time than a Smartphone if I want music I can option an mp3 player for more quality and no ads during music sessions.
I didnt intentionally decentralize, i simply naturally do not use my phone for anything other than calling and texting, and i got no social media fortunately. I get barely any notifications. I do use just my ipad for youtube now, so my laptop can be mentally categorized as being for other certain things and i like it a lot. It definitely helps to separate things to different devices. I dont think there is anything that spectacular or too complicated about how you've decentralized. To me it just seems really normal and like it makes sense to have things set up that way. No one has to use their phone for everything.
I'm a a huge fan of decentralising my phone and split its use-cases to other devices. I find myself getting easily distracted by IG and always regret the time I spent on it scrolling afterwards. Even if you "only play video games" instead, imo it's still better than doom scrolling, because you actually engage with a game in a way that does not feed too much into the short attention span, that is created by Reels and Shorts etc. Especially if you play and beat games with narrative and plot like RPGs, I feel in the end you have something to show for and not just wasted time mindlessly scrolling (at least in my case).
Agreed completely. Reading comics and playing games and things like that on my phone feels like way less of a waste of time than scrolling through apps.
@@NuryPPanaligan not really, i mean, only if you are not willing to take things that are useless out of your life, this dude is clearly a consumist and not doing what minimalism is (*Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life's excess in favor of focusing on what's important*) so this video is 100% dumb because he didnt got rid of excess he just created more excess to his excess.
@@xrazzr1 That's the true meaning of minimalism, removing excess junk. To the influencers though, it's the look that is minimalism. Reusing ice cream containers for storage is true minimalism, but to influencers, it's not minimalism. That's why I say minimalism is consumerism. The true meaning has now been twisted.
I like the concept because algorithms are super addictive. I've been trying to break away from social media/RU-vid for many years and failed. I definitely took minimalist lessons in the past and apply them to my day to day, decentralizing tech seems like a viable way to eliminate distractions. There will however be a grace period for a vast majority of people will find themselves jumping from one thing to the next every five minutes if they attempt this due to short attention spans, focus, memory and dopamine drive. That's pretty normal and with time they'll find they go back to enjoying things without distraction. I might make my phone a dumb phone tonight and start working towards eliminating distractions as you have and focusing on things I wish to do.
It has been a while since I have found a channel that is as easy going and soothing as yours. Thanks for the videos. Super fun to watch, listen and chill.
i think the underlying problem is the insidiousness of adverts and the maliciousness of corporations that pay for and serve them. it is in many companies' best interests to keep your eyes on the screen and watching adverts. it's like a subtler version of the eyelid opening chair from clockwork orange. they're profiting from addiction. but i get this is more of a practical and people can learn from you :)
Not so much of a digital minimalist in the common way, but I do use an iPhone 8 still as my daily driver, a 10 year old Galaxy Tab 4 running android 11, my laptop then a DSi, making the most out of the old hardware you have kinda turns you into a digital minimalist naturally. Typing this comment on that 10 year old Tab 4, I use it for youtube, netflix and other content streaming, iPhone for yknow, the phone things and the laptop for the work i do and the little gaming i do with my friend, loved the video man!
how do you use android 11 on such an old tablet, I've got a similar one, a tab 2 but it cannot even run chrome properly. RU-vids also out of luck due to no updates for it.
Hey, I have a tab 4 too. Model t230-nu iirc. What's your model? I upgraded to a tab s9 a few months ago (no, I never used the tab 4 for anything serious in the past few years)
ive been searching for the right type of "minimalism", you summed up most of what im looking for to be honest. im going to digest this and think about it for a while to see what my plans become. thanks
This is the first video I’ve seen of yours. Then weeks later I randomly find a RU-vid link on Reddit to the floor desk video you have. I guess I should subscribe.
I really like this video you are really how a blogger should be i did decentralized my iphone now using cat s22 flip gopro camera and chromebook for games im usimg my gaming pc and i dont regret this step at all it changed my life
Your honesty about not really being a reader separates you from the rest of the digital minimalists I've seen on RU-vid. You simply want to enjoy the hobbies like photography, cocktail making and games. It adds a lot more authenticity to your rational, I am on a similar path and found this to be one of the most honest videos I've found.
Cool concept. The fact that you're not trying to eliminate things completely but diversifying it to be more meaningful. Liked the part with the gaming console as well. I used to play a lot of games as a kid, but have stopped. Hoping to get a switch lite soon
This is a not a knock against you, but a lot of this video feels like a person who has everything and is looking for problems to solve. I had this issue and tried using a light phone for about 6 months. But after that time, I started to realize the problems I created for myself were never the fault of the devices I was using. It was the fact that I refused to be content and happy not having to struggle to find food or shelter. I'm living comfortably and don't suffer anymore so I'd forgotten what having real issues felt like. Introducing friction into my life with other devices just ended up being an easy for me to pretend to have a phone addiction I needed to fix.
I started to decentralize my phone and using it less by using my tablet for social media and checking e-mail. I can still use my tablet as a companion device for Whatsapp and many chatting apps so I only use my phone when I go outside so people can still reach me.
I tried that too a while back but the problem was I just got addicted to my tablet haha it just shifted my screen addiction to a different device -- glad it works for you!
@@PGBlanks Using tablet is fine for me. It's basically shifting a phone into a larger and heavier form factor which means it'll take more effort for me to use it.
im doing the same thing right now, dumbed down my smartphone (removed the browser and most apps, turned off whatsapp notifications) also bought the same anbernic model should arrive in a week. And overall its a good idea to simplify ones life because its getting too distractful imo.
Nice video. Also, I loved Golden Sun. Actually, I never even played the first one, but there was the sequel The Lost Age also on GBA and I spent so many hours on it and did manage to finish it. I remember really liking the music too
I feel like this video just highlighted how smartphones are even more convenient and fit a minimalist lifestyle. If anyone feels like it's taking too much of their time, then discipline needs to come into play not more tech. Maybe, also delete social media and any unnecessary apps and games.
social media is alot of times needed i have alot of family members who use facebook messenger 100% of texting or snapchat usually android users since SMS is not great i carry this phone just the next gen its smart and very powerful great camera but it stops me from using tiktok in my free time i prefer my 30 minutes a day screen time over my old 6 hous
@@kylespevak6781 yes, but the said device allows you to separate those planes. I don't know about iPhones, but Android devices allow you to create multiple local accounts with different apps installed. You can switch between your work and private account depending on your need but it's not as convenient as to be viable to constantly switch between them. Also, just delete the fucking Instagram, I swear to god, so much of "digital minimalist" youtube channels just talk about phone usage when it's just a regular social media addiction. And I get that you'd want to separate some tasks, such as reading or photography, but smartphones can genuinely be very useful devices. I use mine for task lists, calendars, communication quick, tracking habits and spending and I don't have this problem. You know why? Cause I don't have fucking facebook and instagram installed on my phone. My social media addiction kicks in when I'm using a PC, because it's a lot easier in the full HD browser to waste time at youtube than at my tiny phone screen.
I decentralized my tech accidentally a few years ago. I use an iPhone 13 mini because I wanted to have a phone that easily fit in my pocket and that I could use with one hand. For music, my iPod Classic because I never really liked the sound quality of bluetooth. Bought a kindle to encourage myself to read more and its better for my eyes than reading on a backlit screen. I use my laptop for games and netflix. I use a small notebook and pen for my notes because I prefer writing to typing. It's obvious to me that all these things could be simplified by getting an ipad and an apple pencil. But with what I have, I find that I'm more intentful with my time and minimize the potential distractions.
You've just gave me the mindset I need. Right now, I have my phone for important or addictive stuff and for taking photos and my tablet for watching actual series (even though I also find it useful for e-books I barely read). I am planning to get a Nintendo DS for playing on the go. However, I should probably change that.
I downgraded to a iPhone SE 2020 like u so my phones no so fun to look at. I set a triple press of the button to put the screen in grey scale which I try keep on often - great video! Thanks for making. I’d watch a review if your phone too
everyone has a different balance of convenience vs intentionality. my main hobbies are music and reading so I have single devices for those things. I love my e reader!! a lot of my screen time (phone and pc) is actually youtube videos so I thought about deleting my youtube account but... I keep finding small creators like here that are posting interesting videos and i don't think it would be beneficial for me to stop completely. so I'm thinking about how to make my time on youtube more intentional.
Something interesting about this is how using a smartphone have changed my life in both aspects of life, in other words, as most things have a positive and a negative aspect. Well, I used to play video games back then, but when I started to play modern mobile games I've become and addicted, such as Fortnite, pay-to-win games, microtransactions, etc. About social media, I've never been that kind of guy who is attracted to it, so I ha Facebook and that's all. Only used it occasionally. You got me some cool and interesting ideas to make changes. Appreciate you, and I love the video. Great work.
Thanks for sharing this video! I think you articulated a school of thought around decentralizing tech very well. And you don't need to address caveats much after saying that decentralizing works for your purpose. Because if one approach was to work for everyone, that would just be reintroducing centralization and a one size fits all approach haha. Thanks for educating me on this school of thought of yours. For me, I've started learning how to use the centralized tech device mindfully, where it doesn't use me. This is running the risk of being exploited but my ongoing system and my current broader life doesn't allow it to happen. The passive algorithms fed have helped me greatly. My friend couldn't believe the nyc hotel I found for a great price on our trip and I was fed that info. I do wonder how this relates to broader and deeper motives we all have, such as abundance. Attaining abundance in desirable things is probably helped realized by minimalism too, in a sort of constant dance/balance.
Great video, and good luck at getting better at photography :) I think you are kinda of doing by using offline file based devices but having a files first mentality really removes other distractions and company middlemen from daily interaction. Camera - files, Gaming - files, Music - files, Kindle - files(kinda of).
I’ve actually picked up Golden Sun because I never played it as a kid, and so far 10 hours in im enjoying it. Once i get though the first one I’ll start the second one and the one of the DS.
I'm also doing this, with an emphasis on paper notebooks. I carry an e reader, a digital watch (!!!), my planner, a personal journal, a sketchbook, and an auxiliary notebook for random-ass notes--and that's not counting the pens. My phone has a minimalist launcher with no icons (same as yours?), is set more or less permanently to black-and-white mode, has no social media, and although I've kept the web browser, that browser has a site blocker (all hail LeechBlock!) that keeps me away from time-wasting, scrolly-type sites. I do most of my browsing on my laptop, including email. I've kept the games, maps, weather, and reference/language apps, so it still fulfills a Swiss Army knife kind of slot in my EDC. It also functions as a music player and camera, which I'm contemplating decentralizing soon. I like when a tool isn't designed like a slot machine--that's the opposite of minimalism, and not in a cool way. And most importantly, I actively want to do this. I'm sick of the kind of person being on my phone all the time has turned me into.
i really like the ideia of having the specifics objects to use, like camera for recording, dont like that much of phone, I just use message app, instagram, spotify and camera, I dont know how people just are able to spend hours in reels, like if you do just uninstall for a while or silence people you dont mind. I think is no better to switch for limitad devices, just try a detox using a regular phone, and make sure that you are in control of it
I think I'm not yet decentralizing my tech yet, but recently I bought an alarm clock (not the beeping one) and somehow waking up is far much better than using alarm from my phone.
i just use 2 phones instead, first productive phone just install usefull apps no social media or video stream apps. second phone for other application that can lead to distraction. just limit the the distraction phone screen time as low as possible. just make a rule example throw it in the locker and just use it when you go outdoor, or only on weekend or just use it after dinner etc.
For those less fortunate who can't go out and buy a new device, just try eliminating apps. Don't keep anything on the phone you don't need. You don't need the Instagram app on your phone to interact with PM's, you can do so on your PC, which is a device that requires much more intent to start using. For readers, just go back to books. If you don't have the space to keep many books, sell them once you're done with them or gift them. For time, a watch is never a bad option, but just checking the time from the lockscreen should be quick and easy and not be tempting to unlock the phone. Having a dedicated device for gaming is a good practice, but having it be locked to a fixed location can help in not overindulging. The only thing I don't really have an alternative for is the Camera. I agree that phone cameras process too much, but buying a separate camera isn't an option for many people.
I agree fully with the games part. I ditched all the social media a few months back and only now I can truly sink time into games I would probably never even discover if it wasn't for that decision. I highly recommend getting a Steam Deck and checking some PC indies!
Hey there! Would love a seperate video on the Unihertz Phone and how you use it. I find this phone so interesting but can't find videos on how people use it daily or have theirs set up. Thanks!
I'm starting to do this too, I installed Audible and RU-vid Music onto one of my old smart watches, loaded them up and paired them to some headphones so I can listen to books and music separate from my phone😊 I set it all up with an old phone so it wont draw me back to the phone I'm using the watch is an old Samsung galaxy watch 4 with an extremely minimal watchface👍 would like to get a handheld to as I want to stop gaming on my computer. feeling seperating things out is so helpful for those like me with ADD/ADHD
thanks for sharing! i havent delved into smart watched yet at the risk of getting too distracted from the notifications haha but doesnt seem like a problem on your end?
@@PGBlanks no no, thats why I have the watch haha, it alerts me only with call and messaging apps, this way I don't have to take out my phone to reply and possibly end up on another app , I just take the call on my headphones if I want to pick up and if its a short message or sending a voice message back I'll usually do that on the watch. So I now use two watches separately, also the one connected to my phone is good to use with Maps, can just leave my phone in my pocket, controlling music, paying for things etc etc
I am an expressly minimalism-hating maximalist, but i'm gonna give this video a chance because i love old tech and just preserving a wide array of options in tech. :D
I think i will do the same thing. I usually only take pictures on trips, at races, and particular events, so I will get an actual camera. I will not need to carry it every day, and that will lead to learning a skill and gaining a new hobby. And I have a Kindle Fire already, so I will just make a point to read on it more and bring it along on trips where I would have time to read .
I have been on and off on these digital minimalist mindbending exercises since for a few years now. I went back and forth on what you are doing. Visual clutter vs mind clutter. I don’t really think the phone is the problem, but more that we have a problem letting go of the addictive apps. Before this many years ago, it was texting. That problem wasn’t as big, but then the digital grip wasn’t that big. Anyway, I don’t have a solution for this/my problem. Just reflecting on your insight. I am considering using my iPad mini for my iOS needs and going with the little chunky unihertz boy. Very interested in a review. Thanks for the cool video.
Citizen Eco-drive ftw! Got one last year after about a decade of trying various smartwatches or just using my phone, and it's been somewhat of a relief going back to analog
I'm a Italian guy and I also do this thing of decentralize my smartphone and it's really useful. Also my favourite type so I need to play on a real console and not with a smartphone.
I have a question. I want to minimize screen time, and been making some progress. I do hope to eventually put the smart phone down. Anyway, I have autism, and I personally don’t like anything on my wrist, so I don’t wear a watch, and I tend to fiddle when stimming. I do warehouse work. So I would prefer something durable. Suggestions?
dont understand why so few phone manufacturers chose qwerty layouts, most just went back for full nostalgia with the 9 keyboard layouts, typing on those are somewhat painful
THIS! Wouldn't a qwerty dumbphone be so good? It just goes to show that a lot of the T9 manufacturers don't really care that much about producing a "good" dumbphone that can last you years, they just seem to be cashing in on the nostalgia. That's why I feel it's such a contrast to compare a good old dumbphone from the 2000s from their "modern" dumbphone counterparts.
I miss my BlackBerry 7105...I wish they had a 7105 5G with a minimalist version of BlackBerry OS with Internet via Wi-Fi, calls, email, RU-vid, and downloaded music. That's it. Mine was a very minimalist phone with no Internet or apps, as the App Store wasn't a thing when this phone came out. It was on T-Mobile.
I really love this video! I do the same but in another way: i have a DAP (mp3 player) without internet (20€) and when i listen music i'm so concentrated, i have my bt headphones inhear (59€), my headphone overhear (200€) for home or winter, i have a pixel 7a with grapheneos and mlauncher (like you! 😊), i have two gbasp that i think i must change the batteries for reissue and play a lot of original games, i have also a nokia dumbphone 2G (20€), and that's it, i think. Now i want a camera digital and analog (like polaroid) for better photo.
4:10 as you’re saying this all I can think about it how slow it is not having a qwerty keyboard on my new flip. Pressing some buttons 4 times for one letter is so funny but I love it
YOOO! i remember not finishing Golden Sun as well when i was a kid. Guess i wasn't smart enough too, but also my English skills was pretty much nonexistent back than😅
I do have more than one smartphone in my possession one of them is the Titan pocket the other one is a Titan my flagship phone is a note 20 yet I don't have that much screen time on all my phones combined yet I use my computer a lot researching a lot of other work I do Titan pocket you have is a very good choice definitely
I'm going through the same transition as yours. Gaming is one thing I noticed taking lots of my screen-time especially MOBA games. I moved to Nintendo Switch which I find more manageable coz I can stop playing and taking a break anytime I want.
Love this idea. Going more this direction as well. Have you looked into the Light Phone II or III by chance. Almost feels analogue but it’s intentionally designed to not be distracting.
I use iphone 6s for daily driver, simple desktop computer for work, and a gaming laptop for gaming. 6s is honestly the perfect minimalist phone just dont use a power bank. It takes decent pictures at 4k and dies pretty much instantly from 1hr social media use. So your forced not to do so.
I had used a similar phone (first-gen iPhone SE) with that "features" haha! The problem I had though is that my iPhone SE only had NFC for payments and my company requires an NFC-enabled smartphone to unlock our doors :/
I personally think that to genuinely stop doomscroling, to stop the social media/phone addiction you have to treat the underlying cause of it. Maybe you aren't that social, or you have a bad sleep schedule, and your way of “coping” is to just use your phone and stay distracted. Its like how an alcoholic uses alcohol to “escape” his problems, or how a smoker uses cigarettes to “calm down”.Personally I was a bit of an addict to content, not so much my phone, and once I found and solved the underlying cause I didn't really have a need to watch youtube or to endlessly scroll. I believe that separate dedicated devices are cool, but the world has moved on and we should adapt to it as much as we can and we should look into ourselves more often to find solutions instead of seeking them in material goods. Anyway Its a great video, but we should look into ourselves and find solutions based on that.
I understand your point but it’s a subjective thing what is real minimalism. I have multiple devices but I really like how I can live a minimalist life using mostly my iPad (when I can), anyway, great video I really like it and the premise.
What about reducing habits that these things induced into us? Maybe like placing your mobilr devices outside of the bedroom so you don't doomscroll till you drop unconcious at night, or usually when you are worling on something just not googling or checking the thought that occurred randomly unless it immediately and actually benefits what you are working on. Stuff like that would I think go a long way in getting you less distracted, less hindered for the world and overall cheap because most people can't afford all this
This is a J810-S095905 (rolls right off the tongue haha). Not a watch guy at all all but I think from the more dated design, this might pre-date the Garrison?
I think we all try to justify it rather than just saying… we just wanna have cool shit. Like I just think having gadgets and things that may be less convenient but are cooler
I always find it bizzare when people exclusively use their phone wallet. I think it's good practace to keep some cash in your phone case in case you find somehwere that is cash only or if you run out of battery.
I like this, however in my opinion this is digital maximalism as you now have 6+ things to do this job of 1. Regardless, still cool and it is also what I do myself. (Phone, DAP, kindle's, Miyoo Mini, Cameras)
Haha that's a fair point, the 'digital' part I'm minimalising is unnecessary, low quality screen-time (like endless TikToks and angry Twitter back & forths). What DAP are you using BTW?
yeah digital minimalism is maximalism but digital maximalism i think goes hand in hand with the view that tech in every way is something you benefit from. In my opinion there is a difference. Being intentional and evaluating if the tech benefits your life or not.
@@altersack1324 I don't necessarily agree. Minimalism isn't about less stuff, but rather intentionality. It just so happens that whenever we become intentional about our purchases, we end up with less stuff. Digital minimalism is about the intentional use of our tech, typical having devices with one or two purposes. Each device is purchased with intention and he's not buying more than he needs. Is it overconsumption - possibly. Depends on if you're buying devices new or second hand etc. But it is minimalism. Best example. Someone who is big into DIY is a minimalist, but he has multiple saws or tools etc. But he can tell you exactly why he has each one and the purpose it serves and has used every single one. Whereas, you go to someone's house who may not be a minimalist and you see a single unused tool, they will likely tell you it's a "just because" or "just in case" item. That's maximalism. Buying things you don't need "just because".
