I’m a marketer and freelance content creator… and I made my phone dumb.
Yep. I stripped it back to the basics – and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.
As someone who lives in the world of marketing and content creation
(creating campaigns, writing copy, filming, designing, managing social channels at Alps, and running my own freelance content & web design business on the side), you’d think I’d need to be glued to my phone 24/7.
But honestly? Doing the opposite has boosted my creativity more than anything.
What I removed:
- All social media apps (except WhatsApp & Messenger)
- Most notifications
- Even Spotify
If I want to check socials, I do it intentionally, at my computer, not mindlessly on the sofa.
What I added:
I bought a small black notebook the same size as my phone. If I’m bored, waiting, travelling, or walking… I write. Ideas. To-dos. Random thoughts. Journaling. It’s become my portable brain.
I’ve gone back to CDs and vinyl. If I’m listening to something, I choose it, I do it with purpose. No endless skipping. No algorithmic rabbit holes.
The results?
My screen time dropped from 8+ hours a day to under 1 hour.
I feel calmer. More focused. More creative. Less… scrambled.
And the wildest part?
Now that I’m not constantly on my phone, I’ve noticed how much everyone else is.
Cafés, buses, lunch breaks, even mid-conversation – screens everywhere.
Do I miss it? Not even slightly.
Some people can’t understand how someone who works in digital content (producing videos, designing, managing web platforms, running campaigns, and building brand strategies) can not want social media in their pocket.
But here’s the truth.
Being constantly connected was killing my creativity.
Marketing requires fresh thinking, perspective, space to breathe.
Not having a digital drip-feed has made me sharper, more intentional, and way less burnt out.
And honestly… I’m this 🤏 close to swapping my iPhone for a full-on flip phone.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or trapped in the loop of endless scrolling, this is your sign:
You don’t need a dumb phone, just a dumber one.
Would you ever try this? Or does the idea of deleting socials feel impossible?
