Digital Detox with a Dumbphone - 5 Things to Consider and The Benefits

Written by Ed Johnson

10 February 2024

The concept of “digital detoxing” has gained momentum and popularity in recent years and for me it is something I see myself weirdly aligned to. As someone running a tech start-up, and with an interest in web development and technology, this may seem a bit of a surprise but actually the more people who I speak to who spend their days in front of a computer, who work in the tech sector and who appreciate technology, the more of us I discover there are. A couple of weeks ago I spoke to a social media consultant and specialist who advises companies about brand reach and yet she doesn’t have any personal social media channels. For her, technology and social media are work. She wants to escape a screen whenever she can.

One such element to digital detoxing that I have become acutely aware of is the smartphones and just how glued we have all become to them. The daily scrolling through news sites, stories, articles, twitter updates, and so on and so forth. A lot of it is a massive waste of time! In May 2022, whilst I was fortunate enough to spend a month working and living in Umbria, surrounded by stunning scenery, a beautiful pool and glorious weather almost every day, I decided to take myself off Instagram. I became aware that I was posting photographs for no other reason than to show-off. I had stopped truly appreciating my surroundings. I didn't feel as though I was living in the moment or focusing on the beautiful countryside. Instead, I was focusing on taking the right photographs. If I’m being completely honest, I hated what I had become through my Instagram account. Vain, egotistical, insecure and showy. It was ugly. I terminated by Instagram account and have never looked back. I still occasionally think about reactivating it because I do miss seeing updates from friends. I miss the social interaction that the occasional “like” or “comment” on a post would create, but I know that in going back I would have to very carefully moderate what I post and the motivations behind doing so.

It was this negativity from social media channels and the time wasting on news sites, combined with the constant pinging of emails and Slack messages, which drove me to investing in a Nokia 800 Tough. These types of phones have been christened “dumbphones” – the polar opposite to a “smartphone”. Really though, they seem a far more intelligent option than smartphones in so many respects. For starters, and just comparing like-for-like, a dumphone has an impressive battery life! Imagine not worrying about charging it for 3-4 weeks. Not hours. Weeks! In recent years, I’ve felt like I was keeping constant watch on my iPhone battery. Now, naturally, there’s a considerable reason as to why this is. There are far fewer features to drain a dumbphone battery.

Dumbphones allow, at their very core, telephone calling and text messages. Some, like the one I opted for, include a basic version of WhatsApp and even a very basic camera. I’ve begun transitioning over to my Nokia 800 Tough at weekends and on holidays and intend to continue across to a full transition – if I can – in due course. However, it’s not without its challenges, which is why I talk about it being a gradual change. If you are worried about spending too much time on your screen, I would actively encourage you to consider investing in a dumbphone but also to consider the following five points-

1. Buy a Dumbphone with WhatsApp
I had to make sure, when I bought a dumbphone, that it had WhatsApp. I don’t really text anymore, I use WhatsApp, as I know so many people do. When buying a dumbphone, make sure you find one that includes WhatsApp unless you are intent on annoying lots of friends, losing social lives and opting out of any form of group chat.

2. Consider 2-Factor Authenticator Apps
Increasingly, when we login to banking apps, social platforms, work software, etc. we are being asked for our 2-factor authentication codes. These are fine when they’re sent directly to you as a text message or SMS, but a lot of apps don’t offer this anymore. X (formerly Twitter) no longer offers SMS authentication unless you pay. So, consider an alternative way to access multi-factor and 2-factor authenticated apps. For me, where possible, I choose the SMS option and when that isn’t available, I have installed a “2FA” app on my laptop.

3. If You Take Photographs – Invest in a Camera
Like most of us, I enjoy taking photographs and looking at them at a later date. One of the benefits, however, of using a dumbphone, is that I find I am living in the moment so much more. At concerts, when surrounded by friends, in natural beauty, I don’t reach for my phone nearly as much as I did when I was glued to the iPhone. However, if you are set on transitioning fully away from a smartphone, do consider investing in a traditional camera, if you still want to take photographs. Or simply rely on friends still having their smartphones – for now!

4. Banking, Finance and Budgeting May Be Trickier
I keep a close eye on my finances and what I’m spending every day. It was admittedly helpful to be able to login to my HSBC app and see exactly what I had left at the end of every day and what I could afford the following day. I have gone back, for the most part, to the web version of HSBC which is slightly more of a faff to login to and still requires me to have a smartphone to login (2FA defeated me here). It’s undoubtedly tricker and a real pain but in a world where we’re all being driven to use our phone more and more, there are always going to be disadvantages to a dumbphone. Rise above and focus on the benefits!

5. Travel Challenges – From Taxis and Ubers, to Maps and Navigation
We’ve become so used to hailing a taxi from our phones. In some places it is the only option. Now I have to think ahead. Fortunately, in London, I still consider the Black Cab to be a mighty, powerful and usually easy option. If I’m in the suburbs though, I have to rely on friends or book ahead. That’s okay but it is something to think about. I’m better at reading traditional maps now and honestly think my memory is improving as a result of not being so reliant on smartphones bossing me around with my every direction! It is one to watch though.

So, there you have it, five important considerations if you’re thinking about transitioning across to the freeing, liberating and joyous world of a dumbphone and the ability to put your smartphone in a drawer somewhere. As you can see from these considerations, there are lots of benefits to smartphones, but I think there are far more advantages to shunning them, personally. Digital detoxing has been shown to improve mental health, wellbeing, memory, happiness and critical thinking. Give it a go, if you’ve been tempted, and let me know how you get on!