As I get older, I'm learning more untethered technology gives us the freedom to do nearly anything, anytime, anywhere. It can also enslave us - we feel compelled to use it where ever it is. Technology is neutral. How, when and where we use it is up to us. Great piece Julie.
I found myself taking some free breaths the more I read , such is my dependence on my phone, that the thought of not having it is stress inducing. But , I do want to quit it to a degree , it’s hard to describe but I want my old self back, a person who had more time in the day and who could sit with loneliness as if it were a friend teaching her something important and not the opposite . On another note, I loved the description of the different shoes at the mall =)
Hell yes, Julie! I don't use my smart phone for anything but the basics (i.e., the same functions you have on the seemingly dumb but ultimately wiser phone). Still, even after quitting other social media, I'm growing wary of how I use Substack Notes and how often I check email. I think those are the next digital realm needing addressing. This isn't to punish myself; it's because I feel so much more in touch with and grounded in what I'm actually feeling, believing, stand for, etc., if I'm not swimming in the Opinion & Outrage Soup. I read full articles by folks representing all different worldviews and circumstances daily; but that feels wholly different than "scrolling and checking energy."
I'm telling you. It feels like coming back into myself, my life, my own perspective. The more I think about it, the more disturbed I am by the constant chatter I was taking in. Man, it feels like I'm gaining back room in my mind.
Love the “Dumb Phone.” The term is both amusing me and reminding me of just how much we have at our fingertips with our “smart” phones. I ponder this low (er) tech path often. But. Eek so much I’ve (we’ve?) come to rely on. The audiobooks and music are the toughest ones for me to think about.
I enjoyed the nostalgic trip recalling all the library books, journals & planners I used to tote around. Remember when us readers & introverts had to carry a book as part of our coping mechanisms?
Have you written about/posted an update? If you have, please forgive me as I go stalk your stack and catch up.
If not, I’d love to hear more about how life is going for you living next door to your iPhone.
I am mentally preparing myself for a digital detox that I plan on implementing in January. This post brought me a strange kind of relief - a hope that, like you, I will rediscover a piece of my mind that has been lost/ambushed by algorithms. I can see how much this must feel like quitting alcohol. Our world is overly saturated (and obsessed) with alcohol and online content - to abstain from both seems so radical. You’re a badass Julie (and a little cunty 🤪). I look forward to joining your team in 2024!!!
As I get older, I'm learning more untethered technology gives us the freedom to do nearly anything, anytime, anywhere. It can also enslave us - we feel compelled to use it where ever it is. Technology is neutral. How, when and where we use it is up to us. Great piece Julie.
Thank you!
loved every bit of this. the fact that an actual addiction to our phones is so widespread that it's become *normal* is so beyond disturbing to me
I found myself taking some free breaths the more I read , such is my dependence on my phone, that the thought of not having it is stress inducing. But , I do want to quit it to a degree , it’s hard to describe but I want my old self back, a person who had more time in the day and who could sit with loneliness as if it were a friend teaching her something important and not the opposite . On another note, I loved the description of the different shoes at the mall =)
Hell yes, Julie! I don't use my smart phone for anything but the basics (i.e., the same functions you have on the seemingly dumb but ultimately wiser phone). Still, even after quitting other social media, I'm growing wary of how I use Substack Notes and how often I check email. I think those are the next digital realm needing addressing. This isn't to punish myself; it's because I feel so much more in touch with and grounded in what I'm actually feeling, believing, stand for, etc., if I'm not swimming in the Opinion & Outrage Soup. I read full articles by folks representing all different worldviews and circumstances daily; but that feels wholly different than "scrolling and checking energy."
I'm telling you. It feels like coming back into myself, my life, my own perspective. The more I think about it, the more disturbed I am by the constant chatter I was taking in. Man, it feels like I'm gaining back room in my mind.
Love the “Dumb Phone.” The term is both amusing me and reminding me of just how much we have at our fingertips with our “smart” phones. I ponder this low (er) tech path often. But. Eek so much I’ve (we’ve?) come to rely on. The audiobooks and music are the toughest ones for me to think about.
I enjoyed the nostalgic trip recalling all the library books, journals & planners I used to tote around. Remember when us readers & introverts had to carry a book as part of our coping mechanisms?
Have you written about/posted an update? If you have, please forgive me as I go stalk your stack and catch up.
If not, I’d love to hear more about how life is going for you living next door to your iPhone.
https://juliefontes.substack.com/p/cafa9391-80c3-4784-9c1b-b95b6546c77d Secret draft link to a follow up post. I guess it’s probably time to give an update. I am always carrying notebooks and library books now, and I’m not mad about it.
I am mentally preparing myself for a digital detox that I plan on implementing in January. This post brought me a strange kind of relief - a hope that, like you, I will rediscover a piece of my mind that has been lost/ambushed by algorithms. I can see how much this must feel like quitting alcohol. Our world is overly saturated (and obsessed) with alcohol and online content - to abstain from both seems so radical. You’re a badass Julie (and a little cunty 🤪). I look forward to joining your team in 2024!!!