“Stupid phones” don’t have apps or the Internet. Will advanced technology be the solution for people who are “overwhelmed and overstimulated”?

Sara Kuburic, an existential psychotherapist and author known on social media as the “millennial therapist,” told her 1.7 million Instagram followers last fall that she had purchased an “old-school” flip phone to use on weekends instead of a standard smartphone. outside working hours. This basic model – now called a “dumb phone” – can only be used for calling and texting. No apps, no internet, no (or at least fewer) distractions.

“I was overwhelmed and overstimulated and felt obliged to stay plugged in” – Kuburic, author of the book This is my thing: accepting the hard truths, discovering yourself and changing your life, tells Yahoo Life about the digital lifestyle that led her to look for solutions using less advanced technologies in her free time. “Even when there was no need to do so, it became a habit to pick up the phone and scroll through messages or respond to emails. Between working online, trying to keep in touch with friends, and occasionally Googling random things like “world record for largest pizza” at 2 a.m., I realized it was time to find a way to cut down on the time I spend on my phone.” .

She lists the reasons why she decided to switch to the stupid phone: “My boundaries between work and private life have become blurred; coping with stress has become more difficult; I was less present in everything I did; I was wasting time (and losing sleep); and felt disconnected from myself and others.”

Stupid telephone call

What Kuburic describes is what psychologist Thijs Launspach calls “techno-stress.” Launspach, author Crazy Busy: Staying Sane in a Stressful Worldtells Yahoo Life that, among other life demands (work, relationships, etc.), “the devices we use—whether they’re tablets, smartphones, or laptops—also cause us some stress.”

He explains that this is partly due to the dopamine hit we feel when we get a text or an Instagram like, or see that our favorite celebrity has shared a new post. “(Your smartphone is connected to it),” Launspach says. “These apps, these games, and these social media apps are designed to impact our dopamine system. It’s incredibly addictive… (and) one of the consequences is that we always are ON. Even when we’re a little sleepy, tired, or doing other things, these devices, especially our smartphones, simply demand our attention. So it’s an added stressor on top of all the other things that cause us stress.”

Enter the dumb phone (which is what cell phones used to look like before smartphones ushered in all the bells and whistles that have kept users glued to them ever since). In recent years, these simple, no-frills devices have proven to be a viable option for parents who want their children to have the benefits of a phone (a safe point of contact) without getting caught up in social media and online gaming. “Kosher phones” without the ability to browse websites have become popular in the Jewish community. “Get the most out of advanced technology without the distractions and temptations of a smartphone,” one retailer, KosherCell, tells shoppers.

But flip phones have also found new fans among Gen Zers – a generation known for its Y2K nostalgia – who see value in being a little smaller than the Internet. Launspach says he’s noticed a slight trend among young adults who, like Kuburic, are “looking for a solution to all the stress their phones cause.”

Kuburic, for example, saw a huge outpouring of support when she announced the purchase of a flip phone, and as a mental health professional who herself feels overly attached to the online world, she understands why. “Most people struggle,” he says. “We use our phones to navigate, stay connected, date, entertain ourselves, calm down, etc. Many people feel like their lives are lived more on their phones than off of them. Social media often makes breakups harder, exacerbates self-image issues, and causes us to lose perspective. Phones consume so much of our time and energy, leaving very little room to be present and present.”

What it’s like to actually own one

While Kuburic still has a flip phone, it doesn’t quite answer all her techno-stress prayers. The first annoyance is the lack of comfort. “Using a flip phone seems simple in theory, but when I’m traveling and relying on Google Maps, restaurant recommendations and Google Translate, it gets complicated,” she says, adding that on a recent trip she simply left the device at home.

And since texting on her flip phone is “painfully slow” and tedious, she mostly doesn’t bother – although the consolation is that she’s focused on planning ahead with her loved ones, so texting isn’t necessary and seems She thinks it’s better for this. “I have become much more present when I spend time with others or when I am alone,” she says. “I actually think it deepened my relationships because people had my undivided attention.”

Following her Instagram post, Kuburic heard from others who had also made the stupid phone switch. Some told her that not having a distraction device was initially “confrontational and unnerving,” she adds. “Without the ability to turn around or disconnect by scrolling, it was difficult for them to sit together.” But “most people who overcome anxiety say it’s the best thing they’ve ever done,” he adds.

In her experience, the hardest part of using a flip phone was learning to let go of the illusion of control, Kuburic says. “When I’m connected to the network, I can answer calls quickly, respond to emails quickly, and monitor my social media. When I don’t do this, I feel like I’m losing control – the ability to act immediately, fix things, and engage.”

But there is also an advantage to this. “I had to remind myself that ‘not everything is urgent’ and that ‘the world will keep turning even if you’re not online’.” Likewise, he says, making the decision to share his new number with just a handful of close friends and family members taught him a “valuable lesson.” Kuburic says, “I didn’t have to be available to everyone all the time.”

How to set better technological boundaries

Even with the best of intentions, life in the 21st century doesn’t make it easy to rely on a flip phone. You may get lost. You may get FOMO (fear of missing out). But this drastic approach to dealing with techno-related stress may be a more sustainable solution for someone who struggles with self-control when it comes to their devices.

And this is completely normal, says Launspach. He likens trying to stay within technological boundaries to dieting, knowing there’s a bag of potato chips in the pantry; sooner or later we will feel the need for a snack or a diaper change. “It’s a lot easier to eat healthily when there’s no bag of chips in the kitchen” – or in this case, a smartphone – “right?”

“Over-reliance on self-control and discipline to change our digital behaviors,” he adds, is an uphill battle given the intentionally addictive nature of these devices and apps. That’s why a dumb phone can do a better job of stopping mindless scrolling – simply because that’s not an option.

However, for those who prefer a middle ground, there are ways to use our smartphones smarter. Launspach suggests removing particularly addictive apps from your phone’s home screen to make them harder to access. Some people also set their phones to “do not disturb” when they need a break, mute notifications and group chats, or use apps that kick them off social media and other distracting sites after a timeout. Launspach also advocates working with others to hold each other accountable, whether it’s implementing a no-phones-in-the-bedroom rule or agreeing to put devices away when meeting friends for lunch.

Kuburic says her technological boundaries extend beyond having a stupid phone: “My rules are pretty simple: no electronics in bed, no checking emails or texts first thing in the morning – I allow myself to make the bed, get dressed, get ready.” , journal or at least drink a glass of warm water with lemon – and don’t scroll or work on the computer while eating lunch or dinner.”

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