Ask someone on their deathbed their greatest regret, and they always say: “I wish I spent more time on my phone.”
Nobody says that, but our actions make it seem like amassing screen time is our primary goal in life.
So what do we do, resign ourselves to this miserable fate, or fight back?
I set out to “put my damn phone down” 10 years ago by deleting all my personal social media accounts (with the sad exception of LinkedIn). I turned off all phone notifications. I made it my goal to only read books or look at my photos when standing in line or on the train. I also took a close look at how I wasted my time reading product reviews and found a way to focus my attention on just the useful ones. Finally, I added “extreme news fasting” to my antiPhone regimen: I haven’t read U.S. political news in 8+ years which has reduced my anxiety and increased my time to do things like…this.
If you want to reduce the time you spend on your phone, here’s a proven three-step guide.
The best part: the guide doesn’t cost a thing unless it’s helpful to you.
If it has helped you reduce your screen time dramatically, make a $5 donation in the form of a monthly paid subscription to the FREE THE IDEA Substack & podcast (then cancel anytime after the first month if you don’t find the content informative and/or entertaining).
Download the guide here:
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FREE THE IDEA is also a creative advisory that helps individuals, organizations, and companies develop fresh new ways of thinking, productizing, and prospering.
Currently, I’m advising on:
Building a consumer-facing brand for a startup in the restaurant industry
Ideating a one-woman show with a two-time YA author
Developing an IRL game with a former executive producer of Good Morning America
Providing personality (across all written communications) for a legal, NY-based cannabis brand
I am taking on new projects for October and beyond, so feel free to get in touch: Todd@FreeTheIdea.co
