How a tiny smartphone changed my life // digital minimalism and the unihertz atom
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2022
- Here's how I took back control of my time and started spending more of it doing things that matter. It's been a long journey (one that's still going), but I wanted to share my experience so far!
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Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
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Unihertz Atom
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Dumbphone Alternatives
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Atomic Habits by James Clear
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Freedom
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The fact of actually starting a phone stopping journey is something really productive, it helps you build a stronger will. Now, I have to use my computer less, but at least, when I'm out, I do other things than gaming on the phone or watching social media (I don't have instagram since about 3 years thanks to leaving my smartphone somewhere afar)
Underrated comment.
In my opinion technology isn't bad. It opened alot of doors and it works amazing. Alot of people now have a job because of evolving technology. It's just a shame that alot of people don't have boundries and go also beyond that technology. Not everything need to be done through the phone, for example an internet radio can be very useful to also connect people with small radio stations for example, but you need to set some boundries. You can set yourself the goal to only buy stuff real life in the city for example and I think that these boundries are just needed to make sure you keep the time in your control.
Definitely agree that technology isn’t bad, I 100% benefit from it everyday at home, at work…but I do think that we have adopted many technologies because of the benefits without first considering what the possible negative effects are. First thing that comes to mind is social media/smartphones of course, with a large spike in teenage depression rates coinciding with the introduction of the first iPhone. Now I realize correlation is not causation, but I think the link between the two is strong, great book on the topic is iGen by Jean Twenge. And I agree, it’s important to have set boundaries or even create a philosophy of how we approach technology, but I also believe that our environment plays a large role in our behavior and many of these technologies, particularly of the entertainment variety, are set up to be addictive. I know I find it hard to pull away from scrolling on social media or watching Netflix and they are becoming more and more engaging/difficult to leave as the algorithms become more sophisticated.
Hey Luke, great video and message. AT&T caused my ATOM to stop working as well. I told them to take a hike and T-Mobile was happy to have my business. My ATOM still works great on T-Mobile years later and I think it's just perfect for every day life for those of us who don't want to stare at screens all day. All the best.
I agree 100%.......I use my ATOM on T-mobile as well...
im ordering one tomorrow!
Thanks for sharing your long term experience
I feel for what you are saying bro! Great video!
THIS is the perfect video I was searching for. Light phone to too dumb for me and this js a great alternative!
Unihertz Jelly Star is 4G 3" screen on Android 13 with 8gig of ram and 256 Gig of memory. Has an Infrared Blaster that works as a remote control too. Also has NFC for mobile payments. $209!!!
Exceptional editing, Luke! I did enjoy Atomic Habits so I will definitely look into that book.
Thanks brother, both books are 100% in my top 5 books I've read over the last couple years. Let me know how you like it!
Very helpful Video! Thank you!
Very inspiring, thank you for sharing your thoughts ! :)
Thanks Yosi, glad you enjoyed it!
Keep up the good work bro
Damn thanks for the grayscale tip, that's amazing and I just turned it on. Subscirbed.
yo. thoroughly enjoyed this entire video.
You got Wiggins dunking on Luka, nice! 😂
excellent video! Thanks for sharing your journey! Have you thought about trying the unihertz jelly star phone?
Hey Luke, thank you for your Unihertz Atom phone use case and for the mindfulness tips. I just purchased the new Unihertz Jelly Star and it comes today! It is 4g and compatible with all carriers. Have you looked into this phone yet? I used the iPhone SE for a long time and it didn't help me with my focus at all. I also use a Punkt MP02 to disconnect but have the same issues that you had, I can't see photos from my wife well and love podcasts when I run. I can't wait to try the Jelly Star paired with the Indistractable launcher. Keep us posted on your journey!
I've always been a fan of the "lite smartphone" approach. Get a cheap, small smartphone with a decent camera and use it only for basic functions (mine has google maps, music, podcasts/audiobooks, and email with no notifications). I even have a limit set on my browser. For social media, streaming, and browsing, I use my laptop and my cheap tablet. You can have all 3 devices for less than the cost of a $1,000 smartphone and you can compartmentalize your life through your devices in whatever way works for your lifestyle.
Welcome to the journey! This is like the journey of The Deathly Hallows in Harry Potter. Once you start going down this journey it's never ending. But we will strive for a better balance with technology! I use an iPhone 13 Mini with screen time to disable access to safari and email. I also use screen time on iPads in the house to disable specific problematic websites (twitter, linkedin, hackernews). iPhone also in greyscale mode and on my Mac's I use Freedom. I find doing this for long enough without breaking the rules usually breaks the habit. I occasionally also flit between using an Apple Watch Cellular as my single device or a Punkt MP02. I haven't found the perfect setup, but I enjoy the journey. Great video!
Thanks man, that’s awesome, definitely sounds like you got a nice system/philosophy set up, something I’m definitely trying to nail down a bit this year. I like that, a journey. Definitely ebbs and flows in my own journey, but we’ll keep striving to get better every day! Apple Watch as a stand-alone was something I’ve considered in the past, especially because I’d be able to do audiobooks. How do you like it so far? Also, welcome to the channel and thanks for commenting!
Great video
I know a couple of people who use standard samsung non-smartphones and they claim to feel happy even though they haven't been on a smartphone for a long time.
Definitely feel happier when I use my smartphone less!
Love your story Luke. I would still be overusing a tiny smartphone. Apparently I like squinting to see small things. Lol. I just purchased the Light 2. Fingers crossed. Good luck on your journey.😊
Haha, I understand. Over time, as I got used to the small screen, I did find myself scrolling from time to time, but it did help me do it less. I actually have tried the Light Phone 2 a couple of times, one trial actually this past March, but have never really bought in because of the not-so-seamless audiobook experience and difficulty messaging. Let me know what you think though, it may fit your needs better than it did mine. Good luck on your journey as well!
Great video bro thank you !
Welcome to the channel and thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed it!
@@lukezabala you earned a new sub!! Keep up the good work
You could also use an original iPhone SE from 2016 that has a 4" screen. I have one and use it on occasion when I'm not using my flip phone.
What i did on my phone was make it black and white but creating a shortcut that makes it so the apps i want to use turn back colored so I get the dopamine hit on those apps instead of the social medias
My Sister in law uses the Jelly 2 (made by Unihertz, the same folks who made your atom). She loves it! It's a little bit bigger than the atom, but is still super small. It even comes with an IR blaster lol
I have a friend of mine who is considering that phone as well, that’s awesome that it has that feature. Can you use it as a TV remote?
@@lukezabala Yes! They also came out with a newer (slower, but cheaper) version called the Jelly 2e that also has the IR blaster.
That’s awesome man, I may have to check it out one of those days. Unfortunately, no new toys for me this year, which I’m gonna talk about on my next video, but definitely one I’ll keep in mind if the time comes for a new phone!
Its look like a new type of phone Add 😆😆 very smoothly done
Yeah, definitely notice my focus and attention improving when I use my phone less!
great video!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Great vid!
you should probably look into the unihertz jelly 2. It has 4G TDD-LTE (Band 34/38/39/40/41)
Don’t have any money in the phone budget right now, but may try that one in the future, appreciate the tip! Actually using a Light Phone 2 right now and just bringing my internet-less iPhone with me when I want to listen to audiobooks
I think that the application that you have at the end is embedded in the iphone already. If you go to settings you can set a time limit on The applications that you want to limit time on. It will give you infographics on your usage and things of that nature. I was genuinely surprised to see that you had 27 subscribers after watching this video... keep up the good work
I appreciate the tip! I have used a little bit of the screen time feature to limit how much I'm using my browser, for example I allow 15 minutes of my browser, but I find it a bit too easy sometimes to just press "remind me in 15 minutes" or "ignore for today." Although, looking through it more carefully, it looks like you can set a screen time password to prevent you from extending the time unless you know the password. Kind of did something similar on Amazon earlier this year, I had my wife change the password and not tell me so that I'd only be able to access it on her phone. Think I might give it a try and have her set the password on screen time to lock me out. I'm looking forward to trying it out, thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video. This is a topic I'm really passionate about because it's something that I've struggled with and I know I'm not the only one!
@@lukezabala Wow, I never thought of giving the password to someone else so I am not tempted to just press "15 more minutes" ! Lol. I think I am going to try that out more because I also find myself extending the time more, even though I am still aware of the time more.
Get the JellyStar man
i could really relate to this video. i have a tech addiction problem.i have the soyes xs12 and i rarely ever use it. im going to start using it again to replace my smartphone thanks to this video!
Glad you liked it, that's an interesting smartphone, never heard of it before, how do you like it? I think all of us who are drawn towards digital minimalism have some level of tech addiction, but the first step to freedom is recognizing it!
@@lukezabala its pretty cool! the soyes xs12 isnt as strong as the unihertz jelly, but it looks like a mini iphone! and digital minimalism is such a cool concept, not completely cutting out but by using certain devices to boost productivity!
Unihertz Jelly 2e is my daily.
Keep hearing about that one. Thanks for the suggestion, definitely gonna have to add it to my list of future options!
I'd personally use a $150 normal sized phone, say my Galaxy S5, but glad you found something that works
You’re right man, honestly whatever works. The thing I did love about my tiny phone is it was so unsatisfying to use that I didn’t use it very much, which yes, an older phone like the S5 could somewhat reproduce. Plus the fact that every time I picked it up it was a reminder of my goal of minimizing my time on it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Since you got the SE, do you find the battery lasted you two days or do you find yourself charging it often?
Great video!!
I did a digital detox in the summer and went back to a Nokia... It was amazing and I've taken some of those learnings moving forward.
I'm using my phone too much again, so think I'll do it for a month or two every year as a reminder not to get too sucked in.
Keep it up bro 👍
Thank you! Was actually considering doing one to start of 2023, after switching to the iPhone I find myself using it more than I’d like and was thinking a reset would be good. I actually tried out the light phone II and may use that for my next detox. Would love to hear how your detox goes for you!
Soyes mini smart phones are still available and im getting one next month. 😊
I spent 4 years with a t9 keyboard phone, without android and stuff, and I am now needing a phone with android features like bank app and stuff
I discovered unihertz yesterday and I think I will soon spend some money for this :))))
Really loved my Atom, definitely struck a great balance between limiting my phone use and the ability to use certain productive apps. Hope you enjoy it!
Me too but covid did not help from that, i understand your overwhelming and I am nurse too, and it is similar about my life situation. I have iPhone 11 and I love it.
COVID was tough for sure, the extra time at home made it so easy to stay on our devices for extended periods, especially after long shifts!
Hey Luke, Cal Newport is one of my favorite authors. I love his TED Talk about quitting social media. Also, are you a Seventh-day Adventist?
Honestly haven’t seen his TED talk, but I will have to check it out! Yes sir, I am. Was it the EGW study bible that tipped you? Haha
@@lukezabala The Desire of Ages. Nice meeting you here.
I do agree with this and resonate a bit, but jokes on you I'm super into smaller handheld technology XD
I also don't consider gaming a waste of time, but I do agree with the impulsive social media glance point. Big tech companies have been very aggressive with anti-consumerism for the last decade or two, and things like that go unnoticed often. Honestly I think it's more of a problem that we get addicted to technology and not the technology itself. There should be lawsuits over how addictive things are designed to be nowadays, but the governments genuinely do not care.
But I still think video games are like an evolution of board games, card games, etc and have a place and social media is one of communications, although social media is definitely a lot more fundamentally different. I kinda wish tech wasn't so monopolized by big companies, there'd be a lot more healthy and ethical options.
I'm with you, I came to the realization that I own a decent amount of tiny tech. Don't know what it is, but I'm drawn to it haha.
In regards to gaming, I believe many things are good in moderation. I used to play NBA 2K by myself since 2K10 all the way to 2K21, especially the career mode. Maybe that's because I could live my hoop dreams vicariously through my 6'7 point guard, being a 5'8 point guard that loved basketball growing up and always dreamed of being taller. One of the question Newport suggests asking ourselves when deciding to use a technology is, "Is this app/device/game/etc. the best way to fulfill my goals/intentions?" He gives the example of liking a friend's baby picture on social media versus calling and/or setting up an in-person meet up with the friend. While there's nothing wrong with liking the picture and you can definitely do both, are we substituting these less meaningful interactions for deeper ones? In my case, was playing 2K a substitute for actually playing basketball (which adds the benefit of both physical exercise and in-person interaction)? I think it was. After I finished my declutter, I made a rule for myself that I would only play 2K with friends in person, instead of spending hours playing by myself and am happy with it so far!
Newport actually also talks about analog versus digital games in the book as well. I don't think that the in-person social interaction that is created by playing board/card games with friends can be replicated online or digitally. Reading and reacting to verbal and non-verbal cues appropriately is difficult online and is an important skill to learn. It is such a necessary skill for success in school, work, and life generally. Winning or losing graciously, being respectful of others, and teamwork are other skills that can be learned online, but are not as strongly incentivized in comparison to an in person interaction. Online there is a lot more anonymity and myself have been guilty of doing or saying things I never would in-person. I think you'd agree with me that there are some truly awful things that are said online that would be insane to say in person. This is not to completely dismiss digital or online games, but I myself avoid them because I don't personally find them to be the best use of my time.
I one hundred percent feel the same way about wishing tech wasn't monopolized by big companies. There's something called the Light Phone (another phone I tried) which is basically a minimalist phone. They have a slogan that says "your time = their money." The reason these platforms are free is because of the ad revenue generated by these companies is so profitable. The more time we spend on these platforms , the more money they make, so they are designed to be addictive and take our time. The documentary I recommended in the video (The Social Dilemma) talks about this.
In regards to social media, the things we say over these websites such as Twitter or Facebook would often not be said to somebody in person. For example, look at the current political climate in the United States. We often dehumanize those we don't agree with (e.g. Liberals, Conservatives, and some other not so kosher names) and again myself have been caught getting angry with those I don't agree with when I read comments or watch videos. We lump others in categories without getting to actually interact or meet people in-person. By the way, the book Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown has a GREAT chapter about this topic. In my job, I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of different people with differing views and backgrounds. And over the last few years, what I've learned is that the people I disagree with aren't necessarily terrible people, but due to innumerable factors which I will never fully understand, came to that particular conclusion and believe it. It would have been very difficult to learn that over a quick online interaction and am extremely grateful for having that experience because it has made me less quick to judge someone based off their political views.
I apologize for such an unnecessarily long response, but I love discussing this topic and appreciate the comment. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@lukezabala Variety is great in life! Most things are only bad if done excessively.
Yeah some games are definitely more fun anyway with friends than singleplayer, to the point where they were mostly designed that way, NBA is definitely one of them.
Reading people's expression irl is a nice plus for sure, and in the context of some games a part of playing theml. And people that behave differently in online games vs irl is very true, although I don't think that's always the case, a lot of people I've played with seem to have genuine feeling reactions. But there are definitely some terrible people out there, I've heard of a lot of women getting terrible abuse in online gaming and that is not okay. :(
I have run into people who have very negative views but otherwise are decent people, it's true that is probably the case often times. (I mean interacting in person also requires you to be polite and respectful to an extent to get by in life)
I usually just don't reply to negativity, as social media algorithms would keep sending me more negatvitiy if I did. I find that I mostly see nice people on them because of it.
If im not mistaken, the Unihertz atom is now 4G. im about to get it for verizon
I've bought myself a flip phone and gave away my smart phone I hope instead of being addicted to social media i have better habits that i enjoy in life.
Omg.. your journey is exactly as mine... I read digital minimalism and atomic habits and ,I desperately want to cut down screen time...But I struggle all the time. Then I googled tiny smartphones.. thought of buying jelly pro. But I didn't go forward with the idea. What do you think about buying an iwatch with cellular connection...I use audible a lot . That is why I thought I would use an iwatch..what are your thoughts on this idea?
I think that’s a good idea and actually purchased on Apple Watch recently, but am returning it. Didn’t have a chance to use Audible on it, but that is definitely an option and would love to hear the results of that!
Tech reccomendation: Some of the nokia 4g phones come with kaios. I reccomend those sine they have podkast apps
Not in the market for a phone right now, but I will keep that in mind!
Year's ago they used to sell more heavy duty mobile phones that they called military grade phones. Right now I have a iPhone that I'm sure couldn't stand up to any abuse. What case you put it in is it's protection and that is limited and adds weight and bulk to the phone.
Unihertz Jelly 2 my dude.
I’ve never tried it! Is it still working for you? I actually have a Light Phone 2 that I was thinking about using for a future detox
@@lukezaballer I have not purchased one yet. I had a Punkt MP02 but apparently I'm rough, so it did not survive. My oldest kid had the Light Phone 2 and she loves it. I need Signal as our small group uses it to communicate.
The Punkt looks interesting! I trialed the light phone 2 for a bit, but because I’m such a big audiobook fan, it was tough to listen and not be able to auto sync with the Audible app and have to find my place every time. I’ve heard of people using a light phone and an Apple Watch, which I’ve considered here recently as an alternative, but haven’t pulled the trigger on that yet! iPhone SE has been good, but still using my phone more than I like.
Our whole channel is about that. This is very important, because we're all being exploited - including the kids (those that use tech, of course...).
Hi there,
Please tell me the version of the Bible at minute 1:49...
Nokia is coming out with great new 4G flip phones on 11/16/2022 I believe...for $89!
That sounds intriguing, thanks for the tip. Do you happen to know what it’s called?
@@lukezabala The one that caught my eye is the Nokia 2780 flip phone but there are other 4G feature phones too.
Love the bible reference.
How is your experience with the iPhone SE? Is it good for detox? Will an iPhone 13 mini be a good option?
I like the SE, but it is just a normal, albeit smaller, smartphone, so I have to apply my own workarounds to "digitally minimize" it, for lack of a better word. Not my ideal phone, but it does the job! Never personally used the iPhone 13 mini, but I do think that the smaller screens somewhat helps with using the phone less. When it comes to any habit, porn watching included, environment plays a huge role. There's something called a habit loop, where you have a cue or trigger, then your habit, in this case watching porn, and then a reward. So I guess you have to ask yourself, what is the cue that triggers that habit? And is there any way that I can avoid that cue? With any habit, it also helps to find ways to make it difficult to do the habit, so maybe having a phone without a browser or without internet access would be an example. I definitely would recommend the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. I don't remember him addressing porn watching directly, but his advice is applicable to changing any habit! Hope that helps!
This is really very helpful. Do you have any clues on how to get rid of my browsers on my smartphone? I use a Samsung A71
I got the unihertz atom. So good. I still got my Samsung at home though for stuff. However for outside the atom rules. Good video thanks.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Definitely loved my little phone, may have to switch service providers so I can use it again!
actually liking the short hair tho
iPhone 5c is a good minimal phone. or lumia 521.
I agree, sometimes the older phones’ limitation really help with using them less!
You should have dropped ATT and switched to Mint and kept the phone.
Still have the phone and just took a look at Mint's website, thanks for the tip, it sounds like a great option. Actually have another phone experiment with a different device I'm planning on doing in the very near future and I really like that Mint option, so I may have to give it a go!
never saw a need to use a dumb phone. if im waiting for something, its rarely i pull up my smartphone to check something or play a game. Dont really browse any social media at all either. Just dont get why everyone seems to be in the opinion that a smart phone pulls you from "life"...
I like to think of it as an aid for those who struggle with overusing digital devices, like I do. Similar to how a nicotine patch can help kick the smoking habit, I think of these dumb phones as a tool for those who struggle with smartphone or social media addiction. I’ve never smoked or had the urge to, but that doesn’t mean that nicotine patches are not useful for some. We each have different things we struggle with and other things that aren’t a problem, so I try to err on the side of empathy when it comes to these things. I can’t remember who said it, but when it comes to behavior it’s best to be “strict with yourself, but empathetic with others.”
just go fishing
That is definitely an option.
So you detox and digitally filming everything….where is the detox in here? Besides that, there is for me always a big difference between having a smartphone AND having social media. I see a lot of video’s where people do not mention this huge difference.
A smartphone is a very very handy device for let’s say music, photo/video, navigation, notebook, recipes, and you can even make a phonecall with it. Yes, really!
The real killer is social media. I do not have this, except for this comment…. 😅 No Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat etc etc …..
So if people stop using that mind destroying crap, they can use the smartphone for useful and handy things.
I am 57 years young and I grew up in a time where there was no digital stuff. So the ahhhh and ohhhhh situations where youngsters talk about when they see the times without digital stuff, is normal for us.
So now you say probably “ok boomer” and move on. 😂
Ok, it is what it is. But make that difference. Social media is a killer. A phone isn’t.
And I agree completely with you, social media, while providing some benefit, is often a net negative in our lives. And yes, the smartphone is a valuable tool that can be used for the user’s benefit. When I did the detox, I didn’t have a smartphone, didn’t watch TV, didn’t use the computer or internet and was limited to audiobooks. Actually, I didn’t film my detox as it happened, this was done probably 2 years after the detox, right after my tiny smartphone became unusable.
The author of the Digital Minimalism writes that everyone has to lay down the rules for their digital detox, because everyone has a different level of struggle with each digital device or platform. While I realize the irony of filming and editing a video about digital minimalism, because the requirement of using digital devices to achieve that end, my camera and editing software are a tool that can be used, if skillfully enough, to share with thousands or even millions of people who may possibly benefit from my experience. This would have been impossible just 20 years ago and impossible for just one person through word of mouth. And UA-cam, like any tool with great power, like a smartphone, needs to be used responsibly.
It's all on purpose! Soon you won't be able to live without smartphones.
I definitely agree that it’s getting harder and harder to not use a smartphone. This is why I think it’s even more important now than ever to be able to use these devices without becoming addicted or completely dependent. Thank you for the comment!
🤣Bro talking about money like no one seen it before 🤣
I don’t think I follow. What do you mean?