I talked last time about my phone dying, and what I did about it. Despite the withering cultural pressure to buy a smartphone, you don’t need to, and I showed how.
In fact, not only is it possible to live without a smartphone today, it’s probably safer and less risky if you don’t have one.
After all, phones die. Phones get lost. If you don’t have your smartphone, all of the ways that you rely on it become painfully obvious.
So here are some things that I didn’t have to worry about when my phone was lost.
I didn’t lose any important personal data
With my phone gone, I’ve lost almost nothing.
I’ve lost some text messages, perhaps some contacts. But nothing else. My phone’s camera is useless, so I don’t take pictures on it. My phone’s memory (and screen) is small, so I don’t store pictures on it.
But notes I’ve taken, or any other information that is stored locally only? I don’t have any of that.
Now, smartphone users can back that stuff up (and they should), but depending on their backup method, that information may be difficult to retrieve in the short term.
But for me, I lost nothing. My phone is not a treasure trove of vital personal information that I keep in my pocket everywhere I go.
I could still find my way around
Using a GPS to direct you how to get around makes that part of your brain atrophy. It has been linked to degrading memory, in areas not just related to getting around.
But no one can deny that if you haven’t had to figure out how to get places, you probably won’t know how to get places. At least not easily.
I know this well enough. When I’m in a car and someone is directing me where to go, I don’t remember where I am and how I got there as well. Meanwhile, when I’m reliant on myself and my awareness of my surroundings, I am much more engaged. My memory is on.
I can’t imagine what it must be like for someone who relies on their smartphone’s GPS for everything would do if they didn’t have. Actually I can: I would be totally lost.
Now, this can be remedied (I have lots to say on this subject), and people can learn, but the time to learn to get around isn’t when you’ve just lost access to your smartphone.
I could still get internet access
I don’t rely on my smartphone to give me internet access. I can’t “lose” my internet access any more than I can “lose” my refrigerator.
But not everyone has that luxury. A full 10% of Americans (or maybe 12%) have their smartphone as their only way to get online.
Now, these folks are primarily lower-income, and I’ve talked about how not having a smartphone is a kind of privilege. But still, I’m happy that I didn’t go totally dark (online-speaking) when my phone died.
I could still text and receive voicemails
Okay, I admit this one is kind of cheating.
I use Google Voice as a pass-through to my phone. This means that I can text through my Gmail account, and it shows up on people’s phones just like it would if I had actually used my phone to do it.
I love this, as I’m a much faster typer than I am as a texter. I think better on a keyboard. Maybe it’s the buttons.
Also, as a bonus, Google Voice routes voicemails to my email too, so I know if someone is trying to get in touch with me.
Google Voice is amazing, and I think more people should use a service like it, as it de-tethers you from all phones, not just smartphones. Being able to have a call come in on multiple phones (something I could set up easily) is pretty fantastic.
How terrified are you of losing your phone?
My phone is not a treasure trove of vital personal information that I keep in my pocket everywhere I go.
Losing things is scary, I know. Misplacing something always makes me feel incompetent.
But certain things are more difficult to deal with losing than others.
A wallet is a pain, but all you’ve lost is some cash, and hours of your life canceling cards and getting a new ID. Keys are a pain, but you’re not going to be locked out of your home or car for long, and all you need to do is call a locksmith and pay some money.
But think about it: how terrified are you of losing your phone, or having it die on you? How disruptive would it be for you? What would you lose?
For me, nothing much at all. And I like that.
