The irony of watching this video on my smart phone, while totally agreeing with everything you're saying and yearning for simpler times that I remember from my youth 😅
this is literally the smartest idea ever. no one realises how much social media and our phones take away from having a meaningful and productive life. you also miss all those little moments because youre just stuck on that phone.
I miss how cheap my wireless bill was when I had a flip. Everyone here in NYC has had a smartphone for a long time. I held out as long as I could. It’s become pretty useful at my job, so unfortunately there’s no turning back.
Youre not gonna die if you don't have social media, you just have to be able to be alone and not think a lot on whats happening with everybody all the time. I bought a Flip for me and my grandpha and I coudnt care less for my smartphone, I just threw it on the floor and totaled as easy as that.
@@adidab14like she said, it’s not just social media. There’s Reddit, RUclips, shopping, the list goes on. SM is a major culprit, but having access to the entire internet every second of the day is… weird. Can’t be good for our psyche.
Young lady, I dont really know why your video popped up in my que, but I am glad it did. You are by far a breath of fresh air. You just reminded me at the age of 64, what my life was like before being addicted to phones and social media. It WAS a much happier and more peaceful time. Im not sure I am ready to go back to a flip phone, but I can certainly make some changes back to the way it used to be. Keep speaking your truth! All generations need to hear it.
A few years ago I went in that direction - I got a smart phone that could be unlocked and installed a privacy version of Android on it (meaning it’s devoid of Google spyware) called LineageOS-microG. But while at it, I just stuck with a Ting $10 a month service plan that is just voice and unlimited texting. Still can use WiFi, of course (e.g., WiFi calling), but when I’m out and about - at lunch or dinner with others - am not reaching for my phone to interact with some social media site. It really is liberating to be freed from the ball and chain of a smart phone. These days I make these privacy phones for family, but now I install privacy and security focused GrapheneOS (another Android fork devoid of Google spyware) onto OEM unlockable Google Pixel phones. GraphemeOS has a nice web installer and so creating these kind of privacy phones is fast and easy to do.
I have a basic phone but I also have a smartphone that I just use as a computer and connect to WiFi if I need it. When you forcibly cut yourself off from having internet access 24/7 it will become easier to be without it so much.
Reading has been one of my biggest losses in life. When I was a kid you could NOT catch me without a book in my hands, I literally got physical jitters and almost this sort of strange ecstasy from starting a new book. It was one of the most delicious and treasured things in my life and I went through hundreds of books. I know exactly what feeling you are describing, and I always wondered how and when I lost that. It would honestly make so much sense that it has to do with social media. Social media existed when I was a kid but nowhere near to the extent that it does now, and the thing that sickens me the most is I don't even *like* scrolling most of the time. I have the itch to put it down and do something more creative or productive but I feel almost literally incapable, like it has some sort of other-worldly mind control over me that quiets all other desires. Maybe I should get rid of my phone too...
I remember some adults being worried that I was reading too much, one older man who saw me on a ferry once said he had never seen anyone read in that extremely focused way. I don't know if there is maybe some truth to the fact that I've always loved to dive into someone else's life and as a result been neglecting my own... but I guess the worried adults didn't know what was to come with the digital age 😂
@@ellen3093 i was just about to say this, beeing addicted to reading can be as isolating, speaking from experience. BUT at leadt it rather trains your brain and your attention while the smartphone sucks it out, bites it dead and spits it in the ditch :-/
Saaame. I actually shut my phone off recently, altogether. My husband and I are sharing his phone. I only take it if I'm running errands with the car. It's so freeing... although I'm still detoxing. I'm on my computer right now... so I'm not totally off screens, but not having a phone has made a huge difference.
It just takes the right book to get back into that reading addiction again! I have the same thing as you, read SO SO SO much as a child en then in my early adulthood just stopped. Such a waste. Then my sister in law recommended me a book series, I decided to just try it and I was blown away with how amazing it was and read all 5 books in a very short time. And now I’m back into reading again! Ive read so much books sinds that one series. Oh it’s called A Court of Thorns and Roses and its fcking amazing. Book 2 is where it gets really wild and amazing but yeah try it out!
The boredom you felt at the beginning is called a "dopamine detox." Your brain is used to everything all of the time, it takes time to adjust to *peace.*
Except you can't detox from dopamine. Phone addictions is usually linked to existing underlying mental illness. But I speculate that phones make us dumber 100%! The data has not caught up yet, but I notice an impact for sure! I want to get a phone with a sliding keyboard!
@@ArtistUnknownOfficial Of course you can detox. Riding a high of dopamine all the time ruins our balance and it takes time away from that for us to undo the effects
@@KoalaTContent I think they meant you can't detox from ALL sources of dopamine, but I'm sure you know that because most dopamine detoxes consist of detoxing from "cheap dopamine"
The takeaway: 1. Be aware of how you spend you time 2. Notice what your chasing 3. Put your value in things that are important 4. Don't be afraid of the silence 5. Put your phone down... and listen :)
For me, deleting social media was enough. The anxiety was gone, I had some time back, it helped not ever procrastinate anymore : i was either working, planning, resting or having fun. Sound much better than scrolling.
yes actually that's very well said, apps like instagram reduce our attention by giving dopamine one reel after one. Once I deleted Instagram, I was so relieved, i just watched yt for fun or either just listen songs on it. Life is just so much more than social media, it's truly astonishing how much of a difference it can make.
I deleted social media too and only left yt which i deleted my watch history from so that it’s only newly chosen FY of only things that’s relevant to how i want to live now.. but, even this is not enough and i find myself not as disconnected as i want :( i might just delete it
update; deleted it and made a safari shortcut in my homescreen to one ambience pomodoro channels, and that seemed to be the perfect solution. No more scrolling because safari is trash, and it made watching youtube boring because of how the website of it sucks & less convenient in wasting time easily. But being honest, might switch phones next year because its so easy to find other outlets given how convenient our phones are for it, and how lifechanging this was i dont ever wanna go back to how it was. But yeah this is a nice idea if anyone want to delete YT
When ironically she is telling us to disconnect from social media 😊 but I guess if we were to spend any time, it would be best spent consuming this kind of content
you got me crying at the end. lost my phone couple of weeks ago and switched to an old motorola. i've never been so bored and full of ideas at the same time
You saying "dont be afraid of the silence" almost made me cry because mannn am I afraid of the silence but I´m working on it. ANYWAYS so glad you uploaded this video honestly perfect timing! Thank you soooso much gracie
@@gracieKASMR it gets better! I'm a year in with my flip and have even stopped taking it wth me everywhere I go, I lose it most days. It really gets on people's nerves too if you don't answer. The silence is nice.
you’re so right about your mind just constantly needing stimulation!! i‘ve deleted tiktok about 3 years ago and NEVER missed it, only to realize that i was compensating with instagram and youtube the whole time! why is it so hard to let go of the things that don’t serve us? i am still trying to find an answer for that question for myself, but maybe going on a phone detox will help :) thank u!!
It's different for everyone, but for me, it constantly gives me that dopamine hit. I want something (say entertainment), and then I get it immediately. Over and over again. And that shit is addictive.
I'm old and don't do any social media but you tube. This "movement" for the tech generation is wonderful. I'm glad young people are waking up. Well done!!!
Scrolling online puts me in a terrible mood because there are always some people saying hateful/cruel things and I feel like they get away with it because it’s online. I don’t often meet those horrible people in person, but online you see it every couple videos, in every comment section, etc. Human face to face interaction are often much kinder than interactions online. The internet just brings out the worst in people because it’s so impersonal
They say that online reflects real life, those kind people you see irl could secretly comment the most horrendous thing on someone's post or something. Even worse, there are illegal group chats where actual crimes are committed, those chats has many members and they probably look decent on the outside. This makes me paranoid but I still believe good people are the majority
Love this!! As an "elder millennial" you actually brought back memories from before I had a smart phone. I remember spending long evenings with my spouse in our appartment just reading books, cooking, listening to NPR on the radio, walking and talking, or just siding on the balcony and watching the sunset. It seemed like there was more time in a day and I got more actual stuff done while being more present in the moment. I feel really nostalgic for that after watching this, and didn't realize how much a smart phone has changed my experience of life.
This is the smartest video I’ve ever seen on RUclips! I personally think that “downgrade the phone” actually means upgrade your life! You’re so brave doing it and getting out of that comfort zone of endless scrolling and wasting your time. I think I should think more about my screentime and social media and you inspired me to not listening to music during walks or watching videos while eating. Thank you! ❤
I grew up in the 90s and what you are describing is how life was in the 90s. We had basic phones but we used them for text and calling and the majority of our time was spent doing activities and having fun together. We were happy and we didn't have the rates of mental health issues we see today which I believe with everyone being addicted to these screens today is a contributing factor. Yes the information you can get from the internet now is extraordinary but we are social creatures and were never designed to have our lives revolved around a screen and not be interacting face to face, especially looking on these screens at what everyone else is doing. These values have just gone completely against our innate instinct and I think it just breeds stress, negativity and depression. I hope others can follow your example and they may find they'll be a lot happier as a result.
Love this Gracie!! I've been rocking older Blackberry phones for a bit of a "downgraded" experience the past few years and it is so much better for my mental health. Keep on rocking it!
The Library keeps removing any books worth reading. It's actually shocking. We found three -- mark, three! -- good books for our kids in the entire children's section -- the rest is all about magic, witchcraft, graphic novels, vampires, dragons, new modern family (which doesn't include one mom and one dad) etc etc. We no longer support our library and purchase every good and decent book we can, while we still can!
@@paladin7721 I can understand where you are coming from. They take orders from local government, then federal, then bankers, then who owns the bank... It's all a trickle down system. Ill let you figure out who owns the banks for yourself.
Would love to hear how your relationship to the modern word changes. For instance, when traveling how will you navigate in unfamiliar places? Super rare perspective that is incredibly simple and yet profound when embraced. Your mind and body will be so much more aware and sharp because of these choices!
Reminds me how happy I feel after switching back to film photography. The sounds of the camera controls, handling the film and having to wait for them to get developed. The care that goes into taking a photo instead of taking a bunch and deleting the bad ones.
Hi there. Glad you joined the group. I have had my Kyocera flip phone for almost a year. I am 31. I use a smartphone as a tablet and only at home. My sim and my info attached to floppy micgilins( yes that's his name) and I love the peace and joy I have in my life again. Keep on going Gracie you've got a subscriber.
"Old Flippy & I" lol haha 😂 you are so funny Gracie ! Thank you for always inspiring us to enjoy life's precious moments not glued to our phone!! 🥰🥰 I watch the Cottage Fairy's channel for that very reason as well 😇
Dear Gracie, you truly are an inspiration! The words you choose to say are really valuable and touched me. I appreciate you. The last months felt a lot like i was out of touch with my surroundings, myself, friends and family and nature. But for a while now i try to reflect on how i can change my day to day life so i feel like really experiencing it. Most of the time it feels like everything around me happens so fast. But when i think of that, i try to slow down for a bit and often i realised that everyone around me isn't truly being in the present, myself included. Just watching the sun light or observing animals or flowers and trees helps me notice things i experienced in my childhood. When all i could think about was how the grass smelled, the tree felt, the birds singing and the berries tasted. I want to includ those aspects more in my life. TRULY EXPERIENCING THE PRESENT.
I deleted all social media and everything else on my phone, I only have WhatsApp and youtube for asmr. My life really changed, onestly im the tipe of guy that dont belive when someone says "my life changed" but this is true, at least for me. I recommend anyone to delete all social or switching to a flip phone(even better). Really life changing.
That’s really awesome, go you! I have what’s app on my tablet so I can communicate with people I’ve met abroad. It truly does change your life. Pretty cool how one decision has that much power for a positive change.
I actually deleted instagram, RUclips and Facebook off of my phone and have noticed a significant difference just in that. My screentime would before be 6-9 hours and now it's cut all the way down to 1,5 hours a day. A significant improvement that I can for sure tell is helping my mental health a lot!
@@wtjonny I used Unhook(browther ecspantion) and cut the side bar and redirected homepage to subscibtion page it makes you more focused and the page actually has an end. It reallyyy helped so i even recommend it I hope it will help you too:)
Back in 2016 I ditched all social media and swapped back to my Motorola V220. Then phone companies didn't support 2G anymore so had to swap flips. People thought I was just poor since I'm native 😂 Truth was I just enjoyed a private life and didn't want attention from anybody. Only social media I have had since then is this and Twitter mostly for news updates. Majority of people just don't have the discipline to do what you have done, so I'm very proud of you. I can tell that you're highly intelligent. Now you get to live in the moment and live life how it's truly meant to be lived. Enjoy your peace 👊🏽
Wow you're amazing Gracie! Your level of self-awareness boggles my mind. Keep up the good work! Don't let others tear down your ideas, you seem to have a great head on your shoulders. Keep going with your instincts. Great video!
I love how enthusiastic you are!!!! This is why I’ve developed passions in analog media instead of digital. Escaping the digital world is so gratifying
I hate how much time I waste on my phone!! But when I have gone back to a flip phone…I’m lonely! Everyone else is glued to them and I’m just sitting there by myself. But yes back to nature!! Love it!
I have only ever had a flip phone and I am 41 years old. I love that someone young has a flip phone, enjoy life all around you girl! Hopefully people will open their eyes to what they are missing because they are immersed in their smart phones. Life is beautiful, look around at nature.
I just quit social media a few weeks ago and my brain has healed tremendously! I now enjoy boredom and my ideas are clearer. Now, switching to a flip phone would be a definite switch but given the benefits I could absolutely see myself living old style in modern days soon! Thanks a lot for the advice :)
Honestly, you are so right.... I feel inspire to follow this change. I feel like social media and the phone addiction is kind of ruining my creativity and inspiration. I loved this Video...
Love your exuberance and how well you articulated this message. This is why I’m so glad I grew up before the age of smart phones. Kids going from a “play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood” is absolutely heartbreaking. My first cell phone was a Nokia and my parents made me wait to get it till I “needed” it when I started driving at 16. I’m so thankful to my parents for making me wait. Seeing kids receiving cell phones at such young ages nowadays is legitimately tragic in my opinion.
I've been off social media for ten months now, but I feel ya. I still find the way to mindless scrolling from time to time. My experience has been that I have been finding more time to enjoy myself, my thoughts... Being aware of things. My family, my dog. Everything. The only thing holding me from getting "a flip phone" or an old one, was work. But I just realized that I don't even need Whatsapp anymore on my new job. So, you just inspired me for that next step. Thank you! And reading is WONDERFUL.
Antique books are very fun to read as well. I recommend them! Personally, I use a lot of antiques in daily life to try to minimize modern electronics. Old stuff was built to last lol and imo allows for more productivity.
I saw a "switching back to flip phone" video about six months ago. I promised myself I would do the same thing by the time I deleted my Facebook account. Thank you for this video. It reminds me how badly I have failed in my goals! 🤦🏻♂️
Thank you for reminding me existence is not living. Joy, peace and even love seem allusive and your intelligence, bravery, and discipline to "take back" you "life" is so inspiring. Thank you to your many 'comments ' they revealed how many of us are just plain exhausted from all the distractions that never feed the soul. Rock bottom is where we make changes with addictions. Sounds like many are at the bottom and ready to rise to the top! My pocket book certainly could use some funds to add to my savings, my bill continues to rise every day and sadly, I just pay it? I have to admit, I have forgotten how to live gratefully, purposefully, and mindfully, because distractions have stolen my critical thinking! Oh, Gracie K, who are wise beyond your years. Enjoy life! 🌷Today is .....a good day to be responsible and to nurture our brains,,,,,,,,,to enjoy life, too! 🌻
This is actually a super revolutionary message. I think a lot of people are going to follow in your footsteps. We as a society are desperate for this to stop. I just recently deleted all apps off my iPhone and have been more mindful of how often I use it, for me having all the music I want on one app is too much for me to let go even though I’d love to revert back to records and cds, I’m often on the go when I listen to music, I also think about the times I’ll need gps and instead of getting a bunch of new gadgets I’d rather keep my phone but I’m definitely done with all social medias. I deleted facebook, instagram and TikTok years ago but made the extra effort to delete things like Pinterest, RUclips (I do have it on an iPad ), Reddit and Snapchat because I could get just as lost on those apps if I wanted to. It does feel boring and almost stressful at first but slowly you realize it’s actually so much more peaceful and you feel more control of your day and self. Thanks for sharing it’s going to start an impactful change I just know it !
Great video. Your enthusiasm is contagious. A couple of times I’ve rushed out to the Office forgetting my phone. At first I was in shock and annoyed. By 2pm in the day, I felt more relaxed like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was liberating. Now I ditch my smartphone and devices, taking solid breaks of several hours every week. Try it. You’ll understand what a time sink it is, and “appreciate the silence”.
Wow! I was just scrolling here on my 'smart' phone, when a big fresh breeze just blew through-- your wonderful video and beautiful, happy face, voice, smile, and advice. I'm old, you're young. I've lived most of my life pre-cell phones, you've grown up using them; and yet, you PERFECTLY, JOYFULLY, REFRESHINGLY, SUCCINCTLY, CHEERFULLY pointed out what we've schlumped into for the past several years and what a ray-of-sunshine breakthrough return to joyful, peaceful living this simple act of leaving the smartphone can be. Thank you! You're right! ✨💐 God bless your heart ♥️
Great video! A Flip Phone unfortunately would not work for me everyday - my whole job communication is online and I also have to do Social Media for my company. BUT on my holidays I actually made this shift until my old phone broke. You inspire me to actually go offline again this summer. And maybe on weekends? I know the boredom of dopamine withdrawal but as now I am kind of prepared for it… let’s try!
The irony of getting an iphone ad at the end of this 😅. Thank you for this reminder, Gracie. Put your phone down, embrace the quiet, the stillness. Listen. Explore. I used to like your asmr videos because of the natural/friendly vibe, make you feel calmer and better. These new ones are a breath of fresh air, and we thank you for making content you're interested in. 😊
Good job! The serenity you feel is amazing , no distractions no anxiety , you notice everything , it’s like you’re blinded your whole life and now you can see.
I'm 26 and I did this for 3 years (1 year where I had no phone at all) and sadly got convinced to getting a smartphone as half my family live across the world and said they missed me! But otherwise there's literally no negative things to be said about it. I took part in conversations with people more, read all of the time, had less time to compare, and more time to just be with my self and thoughts...plus physical tickets for everything and asking people for directions are fun! The world becomes more vibrant. Glad to see someone else enjoying this different way of life too! Books to read on embracing the silence and slower life: - Silence by Erling Kagge - A book of Silence by Sara Maitland - Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise - Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary - The Art of Rest: How to Find Respite in the Modern Age
I also switched to a flip phone. But aside from RUclips, I also got rid of social media/deactivated all of them. 2 years in, I can honestly say life is much better in so many ways.
This is so positive because im super addicted to my phone and its the whole day im on it and i am bored when ever im not on it and i cant even study and cant control my time i stay up to watch my phone but by listening to you i feel like i should have more self control .
I’ve literally thought about how beneficial this would be for the longest time! Unfortunately social media is a tool I need as I am a tattoo artist, but I find myself glued to my screen way too much.
Your enthusiasm is contagious! I’m glad this experience has benefited you! I’m tempted to try ditching the smartphone bc i realized recently I’m getting fatigued by the idea of the “everything device”. I’m a computer lover at heart. I miss the different gadgets. I miss music players, small video game consoles like the Nintendo 3DS, etc, all things that you can still get but have been thrown to the wayside or discontinued entirely bc the smartphone became everything to us. It’s ironic for a computer person to say they’re tired of technology, but I miss innovation. I miss variety, I miss owning physical things. Nowadays I feel like I’m “borrowing” everything, still paying top dollar for it, and owning nothing.
Love this! Thanks for sharing your experience. And really, people "out of the loop" and doing their own things they're passionate about may be a kind of friend that's genuinely fun and interesting to be around. There's still things that when I come across them, they remind me of my best friend as a teenager, because she was genuinely her own person and a lot of fun.
I once broke my phone while living and working abroad and had to live without a phone for about 2 weeks before coming back to my original home country (thus, didn't want to buy a new phone immediatlely). When I told you that I didn't have an alarm to wake up to, had to remember and write the google map trajectory (on my computer) before going out, remember the bus stops by heart, had to ask my colleagues for the time, I was so lost and vulnerable at all time. I was also anxious at all time, trying to find something to do everytime I didn't have anything in hand, I realized I was so addicted to my phone. However after after a few days I became so peacefull with myself. I embraced being lost and not knowing everything that's going on and I miss that feeling.
Flip phones have always been amazing to me, i enjoyed them growing up. you are 100% correct. Smartphones are major distractions that give us insane convenience. I wish they brought back the flip phone but more modern to still enjoy some convenience of a smartphone but add the tactile buttons. i love the feeling of clicking buttons.
I'm much older than you, I grew up in the 80's and 90's, so I remember the days before smart phones very well. It's wild how addictive it is because there have been times when I had to go without a phone and got so much anxiety! But it's not just the smart phone for me, it's the internet in general that is addicting because I also use my laptop all the time like I am right now. Even for reading, I use e-books. But you have inspired me to try and cut back!
Gracie, I am the same generation as you are (I was born in 2000), I went even more retro than ever with a rotary phone than a flip phone. It changes the game that I do for my everyday phone calls. The way I use my rotary phone changed my life as well. If boomers done it in the past, you know that we can do it too to manage how we call. You simply turn the number dial on the number you want to call with your finger and call. I know I learned this from my nana about using a rotary phone. It helps eliminate some of the stress from this distracting world, and reduce screen time. I found out to be a struggle but it was easier than I thought. Thank you so much for helping the anti-smartphone revolution a better place. Blessings! Joseph
I dropped social media at the beginning of 2023. Apart from RUclips and Reddit, I don't really mess with anything else. I eventually will probably drop both of those as well. Not having to worry about anything but what's directly in front of you is so helpful.
wow, this video hits different from ALL video's i've ever watched on RUclips. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing. It feels like you've woken up me. Your video's are the most inspirational for me at the moment when it goes to spending your time well. I wonder if you will ever make asmr videos again or if you have closed that chapter? I watched your video about you deleting social media, but it wasn't clear to me if you were quitting ASMR :) Gracie, you are a BEAUTIFUL human being.
Me and my twin sister got flip phones last month and it has been good for our mental health so far. Our focus and patience has gotten better too. Looking forward to the year to come.
You had the courage to do something I have thought about many times...for the same reasons you mentioned. I applaud you. I do believe we would all be healthier and happier with less technology (I was in I.T. at a large university for 30 years.). You are wise beyond your years! 😊
I love how encouraging you are, Gracie! The encouragment to get rid of the bad habits that we all have in our daily lives, and to be more open with the real world. And not to mention, getting to spend time with God. This was wonderful video! Please keep on making these!🙂👍
I switched to a dumb phone and simultaniously started playing cards and Dominoes with my friends, family and coworkers (Whenever we have time). Whenever I'm there, nobody is looking at their phone. We play together, drink together and just have a good time. Sometimes I wonder if I have some kind of impact on them and make them realize that it's worth much more to spend your time talking and interacting in general with each other instead of sitting in silence on your phone, scolling through some useless social media posts. Now that I think of it, I should really ask them tomorrow... I truly feel like we should be thankful for even having the possibility of feeling something like boredom. That means we get to spend time thinking and working on ourselves.
I need to use my phone less. I won’t go flip phone because of things for college, things like schedules, airplane tickets, doctors information, and things like that that they have changed to be automated through your phone. But this made me realize I DEFINITELY need to decrease my scroll time. I am addicted to the noise, and I think a lot of us are afraid of the silence. But I need to try. I quit vaping after being addicted for three years and I recovered from an ED, so I know I can do this too. And you’ve inspired me to try. ❤
i feel this! i have had social medias deleted from my phone for years but yet still somehow have my phone glued to me and just scroll on gmail a thousand times a day. i yearn to get a flip phone but don't want people to think im just trying to be "different"
i agree with all of this but will not be partaking. i would lose connection to so many online friends and i would lose lots of joy i get. plus i don’t live in a beautiful place like you so my world would just be work sleep and a silent house but ur decision fits you so well and feels like the natural progression your life was meant to take
This!! Like seeing this is a very gracie thing but me i could never fully cut my phone out of my life but I've been trying somewhat to be more productive with my time on it
Exactly! I actually tried that pre pandemic and it honestly caused more problems. I downgraded to an older blackberry model and so it was very limited to basically email and RUclips. It was difficult since I rely on public transportation so I couldn't use the app and had to check everything before I would leave on a pc and sometimes I didn't have that available. The buses don't always have the bus times. Then I couldn't check my bank info which is fine but it was really annoying when I wanted to deposit a check and everytime I'd call the bank they'd tell me to scan it onto the mobile app. Then there were a few occasional times I needed to look something up and since I had a blackberry it was so slow and hard to do. Also the few times I needed to pay to go somewhere and asking everyone for a cab/taxi number for all of them to look at me weird and tell me to use an app and me saying I can't do that on my phone. Getting ahold of ppl wasn't necessarily bad unless I needed to get ahold of them ASAP and they had bad service but amazing wifi as the blackberry has its own separate app store that's very very limited so basically no messaging apps except maybe Skype but again the screen is so tiny. It's definitely a privilege to be able to downgrade and have your life improve bc all I got was different problems.
The irony of watching this video on my smart phone, while totally agreeing with everything you're saying and yearning for simpler times that I remember from my youth 😅
😂fr
This.
This.
Jokes on you, I'm using a PC.
@@MarcGyverIt hahaha
this is literally the smartest idea ever. no one realises how much social media and our phones take away from having a meaningful and productive life. you also miss all those little moments because youre just stuck on that phone.
I miss how cheap my wireless bill was when I had a flip. Everyone here in NYC has had a smartphone for a long time. I held out as long as I could. It’s become pretty useful at my job, so unfortunately there’s no turning back.
You have to learn to use social media wisely, which I have over the years. Would never go back to a flip phone.
you could just like... not... use social media on your phone. It's strange to me that this is just not an option for a lot of people here lol.
Youre not gonna die if you don't have social media, you just have to be able to be alone and not think a lot on whats happening with everybody all the time.
I bought a Flip for me and my grandpha and I coudnt care less for my smartphone, I just threw it on the floor and totaled as easy as that.
@@adidab14like she said, it’s not just social media. There’s Reddit, RUclips, shopping, the list goes on. SM is a major culprit, but having access to the entire internet every second of the day is… weird. Can’t be good for our psyche.
Young lady, I dont really know why your video popped up in my que, but I am glad it did. You are by far a breath of fresh air. You just reminded me at the age of 64, what my life was like before being addicted to phones and social media. It WAS a much happier and more peaceful time. Im not sure I am ready to go back to a flip phone, but I can certainly make some changes back to the way it used to be. Keep speaking your truth! All generations need to hear it.
A few years ago I went in that direction - I got a smart phone that could be unlocked and installed a privacy version of Android on it (meaning it’s devoid of Google spyware) called LineageOS-microG. But while at it, I just stuck with a Ting $10 a month service plan that is just voice and unlimited texting. Still can use WiFi, of course (e.g., WiFi calling), but when I’m out and about - at lunch or dinner with others - am not reaching for my phone to interact with some social media site. It really is liberating to be freed from the ball and chain of a smart phone.
These days I make these privacy phones for family, but now I install privacy and security focused GrapheneOS (another Android fork devoid of Google spyware) onto OEM unlockable Google Pixel phones. GraphemeOS has a nice web installer and so creating these kind of privacy phones is fast and easy to do.
I have a basic phone but I also have a smartphone that I just use as a computer and connect to WiFi if I need it. When you forcibly cut yourself off from having internet access 24/7 it will become easier to be without it so much.
Somebody bought a shitoad of old phones and need someone to help get rid of them, she’s cute engaging and makes her pitch, good luck dumping them
Reading has been one of my biggest losses in life. When I was a kid you could NOT catch me without a book in my hands, I literally got physical jitters and almost this sort of strange ecstasy from starting a new book. It was one of the most delicious and treasured things in my life and I went through hundreds of books. I know exactly what feeling you are describing, and I always wondered how and when I lost that. It would honestly make so much sense that it has to do with social media. Social media existed when I was a kid but nowhere near to the extent that it does now, and the thing that sickens me the most is I don't even *like* scrolling most of the time. I have the itch to put it down and do something more creative or productive but I feel almost literally incapable, like it has some sort of other-worldly mind control over me that quiets all other desires. Maybe I should get rid of my phone too...
I remember some adults being worried that I was reading too much, one older man who saw me on a ferry once said he had never seen anyone read in that extremely focused way. I don't know if there is maybe some truth to the fact that I've always loved to dive into someone else's life and as a result been neglecting my own... but I guess the worried adults didn't know what was to come with the digital age 😂
@@ellen3093 i was just about to say this, beeing addicted to reading can be as isolating, speaking from experience. BUT at leadt it rather trains your brain and your attention while the smartphone sucks it out, bites it dead and spits it in the ditch :-/
Wow you discribed my feelings so well! I mighta ctually also get a FlipPhone, I bet it‘s worth a try :)
Saaame. I actually shut my phone off recently, altogether. My husband and I are sharing his phone. I only take it if I'm running errands with the car. It's so freeing... although I'm still detoxing. I'm on my computer right now... so I'm not totally off screens, but not having a phone has made a huge difference.
It just takes the right book to get back into that reading addiction again! I have the same thing as you, read SO SO SO much as a child en then in my early adulthood just stopped. Such a waste. Then my sister in law recommended me a book series, I decided to just try it and I was blown away with how amazing it was and read all 5 books in a very short time. And now I’m back into reading again! Ive read so much books sinds that one series. Oh it’s called A Court of Thorns and Roses and its fcking amazing. Book 2 is where it gets really wild and amazing but yeah try it out!
The boredom you felt at the beginning is called a "dopamine detox." Your brain is used to everything all of the time, it takes time to adjust to *peace.*
Except you can't detox from dopamine. Phone addictions is usually linked to existing underlying mental illness. But I speculate that phones make us dumber 100%! The data has not caught up yet, but I notice an impact for sure! I want to get a phone with a sliding keyboard!
@@ArtistUnknownOfficial Of course you can detox. Riding a high of dopamine all the time ruins our balance and it takes time away from that for us to undo the effects
@@KoalaTContent I think they meant you can't detox from ALL sources of dopamine, but I'm sure you know that because most dopamine detoxes consist of detoxing from "cheap dopamine"
@@kiaramnm Yeah getting off of the constant, non stop stimulation really rewires someone's balance
@@KoalaTContent No, you cannot. Dopamine is not a toxin. You can't "detox" from it. What you're doing is re-calibrating your reward system.
that "water proof military grade fliiipp phhoonnnneeeeee" was a definite vibe full of cuteness
The takeaway:
1. Be aware of how you spend you time
2. Notice what your chasing
3. Put your value in things that are important
4. Don't be afraid of the silence
5. Put your phone down... and listen :)
For anyone reading this comment, there's still great value in watching the full video
thank you, broter
Read this exactly when it happened in the video lmao
For me, deleting social media was enough. The anxiety was gone, I had some time back, it helped not ever procrastinate anymore : i was either working, planning, resting or having fun. Sound much better than scrolling.
yes actually that's very well said, apps like instagram reduce our attention by giving dopamine one reel after one. Once I deleted Instagram, I was so relieved, i just watched yt for fun or either just listen songs on it. Life is just so much more than social media, it's truly astonishing how much of a difference it can make.
You know that YT is social media, too? 😂
I deleted social media too and only left yt which i deleted my watch history from so that it’s only newly chosen FY of only things that’s relevant to how i want to live now.. but, even this is not enough and i find myself not as disconnected as i want :( i might just delete it
update; deleted it and made a safari shortcut in my homescreen to one ambience pomodoro channels, and that seemed to be the perfect solution. No more scrolling because safari is trash, and it made watching youtube boring because of how the website of it sucks & less convenient in wasting time easily. But being honest, might switch phones next year because its so easy to find other outlets given how convenient our phones are for it, and how lifechanging this was i dont ever wanna go back to how it was. But yeah this is a nice idea if anyone want to delete YT
I love you Gracie K. This is the social media influence this world needs.
When ironically she is telling us to disconnect from social media 😊 but I guess if we were to spend any time, it would be best spent consuming this kind of content
@@infinitydreamzzI suppose ironic, but if we weren’t here to hear it, would we need to hear it?
@@josephplaugher7324 yeah I guess you're right, this commentary is both ironic and necessary for us to hear
you got me crying at the end. lost my phone couple of weeks ago and switched to an old motorola. i've never been so bored and full of ideas at the same time
🤣 that's what we all need. Creativity
You saying "dont be afraid of the silence" almost made me cry because mannn am I afraid of the silence but I´m working on it. ANYWAYS so glad you uploaded this video honestly perfect timing! Thank you soooso much gracie
I’m a little scared of it still too❤
@@gracieKASMR your the best!
Play based to phone based 😮😢
That "silence" allows you to experience the peace of simply being. It's a glorious thing. Relish it.
@@gracieKASMR it gets better! I'm a year in with my flip and have even stopped taking it wth me everywhere I go, I lose it most days. It really gets on people's nerves too if you don't answer. The silence is nice.
Getting a flip phone actually changed my life!! Its also a great conversation starter when people see me using it lol
How did you cope with losing your pictures on your phone?
@@Twizlerstwiz you don't lose them if you back them up to a computer .
you’re so right about your mind just constantly needing stimulation!! i‘ve deleted tiktok about 3 years ago and NEVER missed it, only to realize that i was compensating with instagram and youtube the whole time!
why is it so hard to let go of the things that don’t serve us? i am still trying to find an answer for that question for myself, but maybe going on a phone detox will help :) thank u!!
I love hearing your experience, thank you!
I think it all comes down to dopamine. Research the effects of dopamine hits from social media on the brain. It's eye opening.
It's different for everyone, but for me, it constantly gives me that dopamine hit. I want something (say entertainment), and then I get it immediately. Over and over again. And that shit is addictive.
I'm old and don't do any social media but you tube. This "movement" for the tech generation is wonderful. I'm glad young people are waking up. Well done!!!
Scrolling online puts me in a terrible mood because there are always some people saying hateful/cruel things and I feel like they get away with it because it’s online. I don’t often meet those horrible people in person, but online you see it every couple videos, in every comment section, etc. Human face to face interaction are often much kinder than interactions online. The internet just brings out the worst in people because it’s so impersonal
So true
They say that online reflects real life, those kind people you see irl could secretly comment the most horrendous thing on someone's post or something. Even worse, there are illegal group chats where actual crimes are committed, those chats has many members and they probably look decent on the outside. This makes me paranoid but I still believe good people are the majority
@@jindipity4772 ugh wow! That’s so bad!
@@adamgd34 at least youre consistent ;)
How about scroll something more productive like a math or programming book instead?
Love this!! As an "elder millennial" you actually brought back memories from before I had a smart phone. I remember spending long evenings with my spouse in our appartment just reading books, cooking, listening to NPR on the radio, walking and talking, or just siding on the balcony and watching the sunset. It seemed like there was more time in a day and I got more actual stuff done while being more present in the moment.
I feel really nostalgic for that after watching this, and didn't realize how much a smart phone has changed my experience of life.
This is the smartest video I’ve ever seen on RUclips! I personally think that “downgrade the phone” actually means upgrade your life! You’re so brave doing it and getting out of that comfort zone of endless scrolling and wasting your time.
I think I should think more about my screentime and social media and you inspired me to not listening to music during walks or watching videos while eating. Thank you! ❤
I grew up in the 90s and what you are describing is how life was in the 90s. We had basic phones but we used them for text and calling and the majority of our time was spent doing activities and having fun together. We were happy and we didn't have the rates of mental health issues we see today which I believe with everyone being addicted to these screens today is a contributing factor. Yes the information you can get from the internet now is extraordinary but we are social creatures and were never designed to have our lives revolved around a screen and not be interacting face to face, especially looking on these screens at what everyone else is doing. These values have just gone completely against our innate instinct and I think it just breeds stress, negativity and depression. I hope others can follow your example and they may find they'll be a lot happier as a result.
“I’m happy with the loop I created for myself “ ❤ this was a beautiful video with so many great messages! Thank you for the reminders Gracie
You are so welcome! Much love ❤
@@gracieKASMR which city are you living in now?
Others have made this video but yours feels so much more genuine and poetic :)
Love this Gracie!! I've been rocking older Blackberry phones for a bit of a "downgraded" experience the past few years and it is so much better for my mental health. Keep on rocking it!
Library is free and appreciates your support over buying new books.
The Library keeps removing any books worth reading. It's actually shocking. We found three -- mark, three! -- good books for our kids in the entire children's section -- the rest is all about magic, witchcraft, graphic novels, vampires, dragons, new modern family (which doesn't include one mom and one dad) etc etc. We no longer support our library and purchase every good and decent book we can, while we still can!
@@paladin7721 Buy second hand then, no need for new.
@@paladin7721 I can understand where you are coming from. They take orders from local government, then federal, then bankers, then who owns the bank... It's all a trickle down system. Ill let you figure out who owns the banks for yourself.
Would love to hear how your relationship to the modern word changes. For instance, when traveling how will you navigate in unfamiliar places? Super rare perspective that is incredibly simple and yet profound when embraced. Your mind and body will be so much more aware and sharp because of these choices!
I'm so impressed that you figured this out so young. You're setting yourself up for so much success in life!
Reminds me how happy I feel after switching back to film photography. The sounds of the camera controls, handling the film and having to wait for them to get developed. The care that goes into taking a photo instead of taking a bunch and deleting the bad ones.
This is beautiful. Really makes you think how much we take for granted and how instant gratification has taken over our lives.
Hi there.
Glad you joined the group. I have had my Kyocera flip phone for almost a year. I am 31. I use a smartphone as a tablet and only at home. My sim and my info attached to floppy micgilins( yes that's his name) and I love the peace and joy I have in my life again.
Keep on going Gracie you've got a subscriber.
"Old Flippy & I" lol haha 😂 you are so funny Gracie ! Thank you for always inspiring us to enjoy life's precious moments not glued to our phone!! 🥰🥰 I watch the Cottage Fairy's channel for that very reason as well 😇
Dear Gracie, you truly are an inspiration! The words you choose to say are really valuable and touched me. I appreciate you.
The last months felt a lot like i was out of touch with my surroundings, myself, friends and family and nature. But for a while now i try to reflect on how i can change my day to day life so i feel like really experiencing it.
Most of the time it feels like everything around me happens so fast.
But when i think of that, i try to slow down for a bit and often i realised that everyone around me isn't truly being in the present, myself included.
Just watching the sun light or observing animals or flowers and trees helps me notice things i experienced in my childhood. When all i could think about was how the grass smelled, the tree felt, the birds singing and the berries tasted. I want to includ those aspects more in my life.
TRULY EXPERIENCING THE PRESENT.
I deleted all social media and everything else on my phone,
I only have WhatsApp and youtube for asmr.
My life really changed, onestly im the tipe of guy that dont belive when someone says "my life changed" but this is true, at least for me.
I recommend anyone to delete all social or switching to a flip phone(even better).
Really life changing.
That’s really awesome, go you! I have what’s app on my tablet so I can communicate with people I’ve met abroad. It truly does change your life. Pretty cool how one decision has that much power for a positive change.
I actually deleted instagram, RUclips and Facebook off of my phone and have noticed a significant difference just in that. My screentime would before be 6-9 hours and now it's cut all the way down to 1,5 hours a day. A significant improvement that I can for sure tell is helping my mental health a lot!
Yes! I did the same but I instead "patched" youtube so it deletes unecessary distractions and the short-form content.
@@gw5479how did you do it?
@@gw5479what do you mean by patched?
@@gw5479 how
@@wtjonny I used Unhook(browther ecspantion) and cut the side bar and redirected homepage to subscibtion page it makes you more focused and the page actually has an end. It reallyyy helped so i even recommend it I hope it will help you too:)
Back in 2016 I ditched all social media and swapped back to my Motorola V220. Then phone companies didn't support 2G anymore so had to swap flips. People thought I was just poor since I'm native 😂 Truth was I just enjoyed a private life and didn't want attention from anybody. Only social media I have had since then is this and Twitter mostly for news updates. Majority of people just don't have the discipline to do what you have done, so I'm very proud of you. I can tell that you're highly intelligent. Now you get to live in the moment and live life how it's truly meant to be lived. Enjoy your peace 👊🏽
Wow you're amazing Gracie! Your level of self-awareness boggles my mind. Keep up the good work! Don't let others tear down your ideas, you seem to have a great head on your shoulders. Keep going with your instincts. Great video!
I love how enthusiastic you are!!!! This is why I’ve developed passions in analog media instead of digital. Escaping the digital world is so gratifying
I hate how much time I waste on my phone!! But when I have gone back to a flip phone…I’m lonely! Everyone else is glued to them and I’m just sitting there by myself. But yes back to nature!! Love it!
What a beautiful, thoughtful video. You're wise beyond your years! ❤
I'm so glad younger people are trying to get away from their phones. I didn't have a smartphone until I was 30.
I have only ever had a flip phone and I am 41 years old. I love that someone young has a flip phone, enjoy life all around you girl! Hopefully people will open their eyes to what they are missing because they are immersed in their smart phones. Life is beautiful, look around at nature.
Thanks, Gracie. Beautiful message. Put your phone down and listen.
Thank you for this beautiful message. I'll definitely try to disengage from social media after this ❤
I believe in you!
I just quit social media a few weeks ago and my brain has healed tremendously! I now enjoy boredom and my ideas are clearer. Now, switching to a flip phone would be a definite switch but given the benefits I could absolutely see myself living old style in modern days soon! Thanks a lot for the advice :)
Good for you, girl! I am very happy to see younger people going back to "real interaction". Well done!
genuinely, you got that golden retreiver personality. That energy makes whatever you' talk about even more captivating
You have such a joy shining out of you. Glad RUclips recommended your channel.
Amen, Sister !!!!!!!! Wisdom from such a young woman. You give me a sliver of Hope. I would welcome having such a friend.
Honestly, you are so right.... I feel inspire to follow this change. I feel like social media and the phone addiction is kind of ruining my creativity and inspiration. I loved this Video...
Gracie I literally love you and your concept of the world. You have the brightest energy.
Love your exuberance and how well you articulated this message. This is why I’m so glad I grew up before the age of smart phones. Kids going from a “play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood” is absolutely heartbreaking. My first cell phone was a Nokia and my parents made me wait to get it till I “needed” it when I started driving at 16. I’m so thankful to my parents for making me wait. Seeing kids receiving cell phones at such young ages nowadays is legitimately tragic in my opinion.
Awesome perspective and direction change from a gorgeous young woman !
Thank you 😘🌹💕💕💝
So relatable whenever I delete social media I spend more time looking at my pictures or email 😂 amazing video 💗💗
I've been off social media for ten months now, but I feel ya. I still find the way to mindless scrolling from time to time. My experience has been that I have been finding more time to enjoy myself, my thoughts... Being aware of things. My family, my dog. Everything. The only thing holding me from getting "a flip phone" or an old one, was work. But I just realized that I don't even need Whatsapp anymore on my new job. So, you just inspired me for that next step. Thank you! And reading is WONDERFUL.
Antique books are very fun to read as well. I recommend them! Personally, I use a lot of antiques in daily life to try to minimize modern electronics. Old stuff was built to last lol and imo allows for more productivity.
Beautiful video, loved the way you enacted and the cheerfulness you brought in. Inspirational indeed.
I saw a "switching back to flip phone" video about six months ago. I promised myself I would do the same thing by the time I deleted my Facebook account.
Thank you for this video. It reminds me how badly I have failed in my goals! 🤦🏻♂️
Thank you for reminding me existence is not living. Joy, peace and even love seem allusive and your intelligence, bravery, and discipline to "take back" you "life" is so inspiring. Thank you to your many 'comments ' they revealed how many of us are just plain exhausted from all the distractions that never feed the soul. Rock bottom is where we make changes with addictions. Sounds like many are at the bottom and ready to rise to the top! My pocket book certainly could use some funds to add to my savings, my bill continues to rise every day and sadly, I just pay it? I have to admit, I have forgotten how to live gratefully, purposefully, and mindfully, because distractions have stolen my critical thinking! Oh, Gracie K, who are wise beyond your years. Enjoy life! 🌷Today is .....a good day to be responsible and to nurture our brains,,,,,,,,,to enjoy life, too! 🌻
This is actually a super revolutionary message. I think a lot of people are going to follow in your footsteps. We as a society are desperate for this to stop. I just recently deleted all apps off my iPhone and have been more mindful of how often I use it, for me having all the music I want on one app is too much for me to let go even though I’d love to revert back to records and cds, I’m often on the go when I listen to music, I also think about the times I’ll need gps and instead of getting a bunch of new gadgets I’d rather keep my phone but I’m definitely done with all social medias. I deleted facebook, instagram and TikTok years ago but made the extra effort to delete things like Pinterest, RUclips (I do have it on an iPad ), Reddit and Snapchat because I could get just as lost on those apps if I wanted to. It does feel boring and almost stressful at first but slowly you realize it’s actually so much more peaceful and you feel more control of your day and self. Thanks for sharing it’s going to start an impactful change I just know it !
You are absolutely adorable. ❤
Great video. Your enthusiasm is contagious. A couple of times I’ve rushed out to the Office forgetting my phone. At first I was in shock and annoyed. By 2pm in the day, I felt more relaxed like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was liberating. Now I ditch my smartphone and devices, taking solid breaks of several hours every week. Try it. You’ll understand what a time sink it is, and “appreciate the silence”.
This makes me so happy. There’s so much potential and hope for the younger generations! Thank you! God bless you young lady.
I've had a flip phone for 2 years and was encouraged by your video, thanks!
Wow! I was just scrolling here on my 'smart' phone, when a big fresh breeze just blew through-- your wonderful video and beautiful, happy face, voice, smile, and advice. I'm old, you're young. I've lived most of my life pre-cell phones, you've grown up using them; and yet, you PERFECTLY, JOYFULLY, REFRESHINGLY, SUCCINCTLY, CHEERFULLY pointed out what we've schlumped into for the past several years and what a ray-of-sunshine breakthrough return to joyful, peaceful living this simple act of leaving the smartphone can be. Thank you! You're right! ✨💐 God bless your heart ♥️
Those of us who grew up before the 2000s, completely appreciate and feel this
"don't be afraid of the silence". great advice. :)
Great video! A Flip Phone unfortunately would not work for me everyday - my whole job communication is online and I also have to do Social Media for my company. BUT on my holidays I actually made this shift until my old phone broke. You inspire me to actually go offline again this summer. And maybe on weekends? I know the boredom of dopamine withdrawal but as now I am kind of prepared for it… let’s try!
“I’m happy with the loop I created for myself” yes. just beautiful.
The irony of getting an iphone ad at the end of this 😅.
Thank you for this reminder, Gracie. Put your phone down, embrace the quiet, the stillness. Listen. Explore.
I used to like your asmr videos because of the natural/friendly vibe, make you feel calmer and better. These new ones are a breath of fresh air, and we thank you for making content you're interested in.
😊
Get an ad blocker that works on youtube.
❤Thank you Gracie for your wonderful commentary on your experience. I think it is a valuable lesson. You've inspired me to give it a try. ❤
Good job! The serenity you feel is amazing , no distractions no anxiety , you notice everything , it’s like you’re blinded your whole life and now you can see.
I'm 26 and I did this for 3 years (1 year where I had no phone at all) and sadly got convinced to getting a smartphone as half my family live across the world and said they missed me! But otherwise there's literally no negative things to be said about it. I took part in conversations with people more, read all of the time, had less time to compare, and more time to just be with my self and thoughts...plus physical tickets for everything and asking people for directions are fun! The world becomes more vibrant. Glad to see someone else enjoying this different way of life too!
Books to read on embracing the silence and slower life:
- Silence by Erling Kagge
- A book of Silence by Sara Maitland
- Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise
- Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary
- The Art of Rest: How to Find Respite in the Modern Age
I'm crying, touched, it makes me to appreciate more about life and love myself more, thanks gracie ❤!
Wonderful and refreshing! The quiet is beautiful. Real world!
Woohoo! Speak it girl! Thanks for doing this and for sharing your experience!
So lovely, thank you for being and listening!!!!
I also switched to a flip phone. But aside from RUclips, I also got rid of social media/deactivated all of them. 2 years in, I can honestly say life is much better in so many ways.
What a smart young lady! Kudos to you! We can learn a thing from you.
This is so positive because im super addicted to my phone and its the whole day im on it and i am bored when ever im not on it and i cant even study and cant control my time i stay up to watch my phone but by listening to you i feel like i should have more self control .
I believe in you! Start with little steps ❤
@@gracieKASMR thank you 🤍🤍
Its the meaningful message you`ve spread, thank you for reminding us to be more concious
Coool gracie!!! This is awesome! Proud of you and how far you’ve come!
Love this. Thank you for sharing this, inspirational and encouraging
I’ve literally thought about how beneficial this would be for the longest time! Unfortunately social media is a tool I need as I am a tattoo artist, but I find myself glued to my screen way too much.
Your enthusiasm is contagious! I’m glad this experience has benefited you! I’m tempted to try ditching the smartphone bc i realized recently I’m getting fatigued by the idea of the “everything device”. I’m a computer lover at heart. I miss the different gadgets. I miss music players, small video game consoles like the Nintendo 3DS, etc, all things that you can still get but have been thrown to the wayside or discontinued entirely bc the smartphone became everything to us. It’s ironic for a computer person to say they’re tired of technology, but I miss innovation. I miss variety, I miss owning physical things. Nowadays I feel like I’m “borrowing” everything, still paying top dollar for it, and owning nothing.
For me its about self control when using my smart phone, I basically just use it as a iPod, to help me connect with my friends, and social media last
Love this! Thanks for sharing your experience. And really, people "out of the loop" and doing their own things they're passionate about may be a kind of friend that's genuinely fun and interesting to be around. There's still things that when I come across them, they remind me of my best friend as a teenager, because she was genuinely her own person and a lot of fun.
This vídeo was so inspiring! Thanks a lot! Xoxo from Brasil 💚
I once broke my phone while living and working abroad and had to live without a phone for about 2 weeks before coming back to my original home country (thus, didn't want to buy a new phone immediatlely). When I told you that I didn't have an alarm to wake up to, had to remember and write the google map trajectory (on my computer) before going out, remember the bus stops by heart, had to ask my colleagues for the time, I was so lost and vulnerable at all time. I was also anxious at all time, trying to find something to do everytime I didn't have anything in hand, I realized I was so addicted to my phone. However after after a few days I became so peacefull with myself. I embraced being lost and not knowing everything that's going on and I miss that feeling.
happy for you , we need more ppl to think this way
Flip phones have always been amazing to me, i enjoyed them growing up. you are 100% correct. Smartphones are major distractions that give us insane convenience. I wish they brought back the flip phone but more modern to still enjoy some convenience of a smartphone but add the tactile buttons. i love the feeling of clicking buttons.
I'm much older than you, I grew up in the 80's and 90's, so I remember the days before smart phones very well. It's wild how addictive it is because there have been times when I had to go without a phone and got so much anxiety! But it's not just the smart phone for me, it's the internet in general that is addicting because I also use my laptop all the time like I am right now. Even for reading, I use e-books. But you have inspired me to try and cut back!
Gracie, I am the same generation as you are (I was born in 2000), I went even more retro than ever with a rotary phone than a flip phone. It changes the game that I do for my everyday phone calls. The way I use my rotary phone changed my life as well. If boomers done it in the past, you know that we can do it too to manage how we call. You simply turn the number dial on the number you want to call with your finger and call. I know I learned this from my nana about using a rotary phone. It helps eliminate some of the stress from this distracting world, and reduce screen time. I found out to be a struggle but it was easier than I thought. Thank you so much for helping the anti-smartphone revolution a better place. Blessings!
Joseph
Proud of you. Love this idea
I dropped social media at the beginning of 2023. Apart from RUclips and Reddit, I don't really mess with anything else. I eventually will probably drop both of those as well. Not having to worry about anything but what's directly in front of you is so helpful.
wow, this video hits different from ALL video's i've ever watched on RUclips. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing. It feels like you've woken up me. Your video's are the most inspirational for me at the moment when it goes to spending your time well. I wonder if you will ever make asmr videos again or if you have closed that chapter? I watched your video about you deleting social media, but it wasn't clear to me if you were quitting ASMR :)
Gracie, you are a BEAUTIFUL human being.
Me and my twin sister got flip phones last month and it has been good for our mental health so far. Our focus and patience has gotten better too. Looking forward to the year to come.
You had the courage to do something I have thought about many times...for the same reasons you mentioned. I applaud you. I do believe we would all be healthier and happier with less technology (I was in I.T. at a large university for 30 years.). You are wise beyond your years! 😊
Wow. I always wanted to downgrade, but everyone in my life said that I shouldn’t. Well, now I’m an adult and I’m gonna do it! Thanks Gracie 🧡
Idk why this video popped up in my feed, but man it was good to watch. I love your energy. Great takeaways at the end, too. Thanks for making this!
I love how encouraging you are, Gracie! The encouragment to get rid of the bad habits that we all have in our daily lives, and to be more open with the real world. And not to mention, getting to spend time with God. This was wonderful video! Please keep on making these!🙂👍
I switched to a dumb phone and simultaniously started playing cards and Dominoes with my friends, family and coworkers (Whenever we have time). Whenever I'm there, nobody is looking at their phone. We play together, drink together and just have a good time. Sometimes I wonder if I have some kind of impact on them and make them realize that it's worth much more to spend your time talking and interacting in general with each other instead of sitting in silence on your phone, scolling through some useless social media posts. Now that I think of it, I should really ask them tomorrow...
I truly feel like we should be thankful for even having the possibility of feeling something like boredom. That means we get to spend time thinking and working on ourselves.
I need to use my phone less. I won’t go flip phone because of things for college, things like schedules, airplane tickets, doctors information, and things like that that they have changed to be automated through your phone. But this made me realize I DEFINITELY need to decrease my scroll time. I am addicted to the noise, and I think a lot of us are afraid of the silence. But I need to try. I quit vaping after being addicted for three years and I recovered from an ED, so I know I can do this too. And you’ve inspired me to try. ❤
i feel this! i have had social medias deleted from my phone for years but yet still somehow have my phone glued to me and just scroll on gmail a thousand times a day. i yearn to get a flip phone but don't want people to think im just trying to be "different"
i agree with all of this but will not be partaking. i would lose connection to so many online friends and i would lose lots of joy i get. plus i don’t live in a beautiful place like you so my world would just be work sleep and a silent house but ur decision fits you so well and feels like the natural progression your life was meant to take
This!! Like seeing this is a very gracie thing but me i could never fully cut my phone out of my life but I've been trying somewhat to be more productive with my time on it
@@milleypana that’s awesome
Exactly! I actually tried that pre pandemic and it honestly caused more problems. I downgraded to an older blackberry model and so it was very limited to basically email and RUclips. It was difficult since I rely on public transportation so I couldn't use the app and had to check everything before I would leave on a pc and sometimes I didn't have that available. The buses don't always have the bus times. Then I couldn't check my bank info which is fine but it was really annoying when I wanted to deposit a check and everytime I'd call the bank they'd tell me to scan it onto the mobile app. Then there were a few occasional times I needed to look something up and since I had a blackberry it was so slow and hard to do. Also the few times I needed to pay to go somewhere and asking everyone for a cab/taxi number for all of them to look at me weird and tell me to use an app and me saying I can't do that on my phone. Getting ahold of ppl wasn't necessarily bad unless I needed to get ahold of them ASAP and they had bad service but amazing wifi as the blackberry has its own separate app store that's very very limited so basically no messaging apps except maybe Skype but again the screen is so tiny.
It's definitely a privilege to be able to downgrade and have your life improve bc all I got was different problems.