I want to give up my smartphone but how the hell do I navigate modern life without it?

[TheWoozer]

I'm addicted and I'm sick of it.

I removed tiktok, I sit watching Facebook. And YouTube.

Im ignoring my kids to just scroll bollocks.

Am thinking of getting a basic £30 phone to stay contactable during the day.

But everything is online now. Accounts, banking, communication, WhatsApp etc.

Is it possible?

I felt the same as you OP so a few years ago I deleted my Facebook account, twitter, Instagram, etc. I don't miss it at all.
I use WhatsApp and obviously love using mumsnet but I don't miss the other social media apps. I was going to give up my phone and just buy a basis one but because of travel I need it for maps and mumsnet😉

Start leaving it at home for things like popping to the shops and school run.

Then extend the length of time you are without it.

The sky won't fall and you'll be ok.

I have 2 smartphone days a week free. Usually, Friday and Sunday. Work well.
I have also started (since January) having phone and laptop off from 10pm. This is working well and I plan to bring the time forwars by half an hour each month until I am internet free from about 6.30pm because it's such a fucking waste of time and I could be using my evenings better

Following with interest! This is me. I deactivated my Facebook as I didn't want to loose the photos by deleting the account. I can re activate it at any point and my photos are all there. I deleted Lots of other apps and it has helped me cut down.

Just keep your phone and delete the apps??

What phone do you have? There’s physical methods to restrict screen time which we can suggest

Agree with the iPad idea - or if not an app that limits your access to / time on certain apps.

If you are only addicted at home, and still need it for going out, you can get a lock box which has a timer on it to help you.

Put the phone in the box, set the lock timer for say 2 hours, and then you can only get the phone out once the timer has finished. KSAFE is one brand but there are plenty others. There is no override on the lock boxes so unless you took a hammer to it its pretty effective at stopping you using your phone for a set time.

The book Stolen Focus by Johann Hari suggested by a pp is a really good read on how smartphone addiction is wrecking our mental health and wellbeing.

It just takes willpower.

Brilliant. Problem solved.

You can put time limits on each app, so they only run for 10 minutes a day. That's what I have done for Facebook and Instagram. Then you don't have to go cold turkey but it doesn't trash your day.

The title of the thread doesn't really describe the issue the op then goes on to explain.
The way to navigate modern life easily w/o all the social media apps to have a smartphone without those apps or to set up limits and all the other things people have suggested.

In fact what OP needs is addiction support.

I wonder if you might benefit from a more positive approach instead of trying to cut out phone use completely. Think of something else you want to do instead of scrolling on your phone, e.g. reading a book. Then say 2-3 times a day put your phone away for three minutes (or whatever length of time you feel would be manageable) and do the other thing instead. Over time you can gradually increase the duration of your phone break by a minute or two at a time. You basically need to re-train your brain not to automatically reach for stimulation every time you feel boredom - it"s really difficult at first but it does get easier with practice.

Another thing that helped for me was switching to things you can listen to, like podcasts or yourube videoa with minimal visuals, instead of things you have to sit down and read. It doesn't address the underlying issue of needing constant stimulation but on a practical level it makes it much easier to get other things done at the same time and stops it getting in the way of your life as much.

The people who say it just takes willpower don't get it. We know! But we still can't do it and that is the point. I read "How to break up with your phone" (recommended) and downloaded Appblock but it doesn't work!! I hate my phone but I do need it for kids' sports groups (all in WhatsApp), school communications, bus times (no use looking at the timetable if you want to know where it actually is....etc.

I don't have Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok or Linkedin on my phone. I also refuse to be on WhatsApps groups.

I do need to use Instagram for business reasons though.

I turn off my phone at 5pm.

I have issues with anxiety and mobile phones make things worse.

I would not get rid of my phone completely though because it does make some things easier.

Hi, I know this is a thread your started over a year ago... I'm just wondering if you went smartphone free as I resonate with what you were saying? Or if anyone else went smartphone free after being inspired by this thread and could share their insights one year on, thank you @TheWoozer :)

Any updates op? I need to do this

How will that work? An iPad is just a big, easier to use, smartphone.

I use an app called Freedom. I think it costs about £30 a year but you can custom block anything for any amount of time and it covers multiple devices.

Mumsnet is being blocked from 7pm!

I bought a safe to put my smart phone in and lock it away for similar reasons. It took me a month to take it out the box. I still haven’t quite figured out how to work it. Had it about three months now. 😬

I’ve got one and it is great, but I’m not sure it’s a permanent solution

Mainly because I still need to be contactable I just need to separate the phone from the Internet

Unfortunately, when we have a power cut our internet and house phone goes down, and so does the mobile signal.

Get rid of all social media and turn the phone to black and white it's way less appealing