I was without a mobile phone from Monday until yesterday evening. Whilst I try to stop it from controlling my life, it did feel as if I’d travelled back in time to the dark ages. Initially I thought it would be great to be free from being tied to it. That I would no longer feel tempted to look down and check Facebook or Twitter or e-mail every 30 seconds but instead to enjoy the moment in which I am living.
I didn’t realise just quite how reliant I am on my phone. Even the simplest things have become much more difficult without it. Let’s talk through the difference that it has made to my daily routine.
My phone has for many years been my alarm clock. It has ensured that I wake up early enough so that I don’t miss work. Admittedly, my body almost always wakes me up before my alarm goes off (damn you, body!) but there are instances when this doesn’t happen and so I need to have a mechanical fall back for this purpose. I had to work out how to set my alarm on my bedroom clock and also to remember to set it every night (without my phone to remind me to do so, no less!)
I then have around 40 minutes every day when I am walking to and from the train station. Usually I’ll be listening to a podcast and blocking out the noise of the traffic and pedestrians. My phone has provided this purpose for the last 2 years after my 10 year old iPod gave up the ghost. Now I hear the traffic and the pedestrians. This in itself isn’t too annoying – the sounds of nature can be quite pleasant – but I like feeling productive and spending the time learning what is going on in the world. I’ve been listening primarily to sports and politics podcasts which fills the time nicely. I’m starting to feel slightly less up to date having not been able to listen to anything since Friday.
Then there is my sense of direction. Google Maps on my phone is the reason that I’m not stuck in a field in the middle of the West Country after getting lost attempting to find my way home from a trip to Yeovil 8 years ago. My sense of direction is bad. Really quite bad. Yesterday, I had to visit an office in Westminster for a meeting. Without my phone, I felt worried. I studied the map and directions on my PC for about 10 minutes prior to leaving, as well as printing them off for good measure. I made it fine – it was only a 5 minute walk from the tube – but it was touch and go for a while.
There are several apps that I have become tied to. I’ve been trying to eat more healthily and lose a little weight, so I’ve been using the MyFitnessPal app to help me monitor my calorie intake, ensure that I do enough exercise and also get enough vitamins and iron. (Side note: I’m pleased to say that it has helped me lose around 10 pounds so far, and that this is weight and not sterling).
I’ve also been trying to learn Spanish. This is an ongoing item on my bucket list. A couple of months ago I started using the Duolingo app which I am addicted to. It reminds me when I should be practicing, I’ve got a daily goal and it works out what areas I’m weak at and helps me to go over them. In short, it’s the first way of learning that I’ve been able to get really engaged in (having tried books and CDs as well as an online course) and therefore the first that has helped me make any real progress. It also told me recently that I’m 43% fluent which is clearly a load of poppycock as I don’t even know how to say “well, that’s clearly a load of poppycock” in Spanish yet.
I use my phone as a shopping list. When I get to the supermarket, I stand no chance of remembering what it is I actually need. I’ve got a poor memory. What I do have is a good sense of planning. When I run out of something, I add it onto my shopping list app. When I decide what I’m having for dinner, all the ingredients go into the app. Then when I get to the supermarket, I don’t have to use my brain at all as my phone is my substitute memory.
There are workarounds for all these apps, however the reason I use them is because they’re very convenient and because they work. Not having them has made my life that little bit more complicated.
Another issue that I’ve encountered is that I don’t know anyone’s phone numbers. Except my parents as that has been the same for the last 20 years. Communicating with anyone else therefore presents issues.
I’ve also had to go back to the old school method of arranging to meet people. I will tell them where and when I will be and then trust that they will be there with no issues. I’ve got so used to being able to check plans via text, or to drop someone a message when I’m on my way, that I had forgotten that we used to do this all the time. It’s more exciting to wait and see if the other party will actually show up.
General communication has become more difficult. Social media allows me to get in touch with people whose phone numbers I don’t know (ie everyone) but it is not the most convenient method. Not everyone checks Facebook messages regularly, and I am only able to do so now when I’m at a computer.
I know that in the grand scheme of things, it’s not much of an inconvenience at all. However this experience of living without a mobile has taught me that, as much as I like to think that it isn’t, my phone is in complete control of my life. The machines have risen. The end is nigh.