Flip Phone Quest

How did I switch to a flip phone? What did I hope for? Did it fix me?

Introduction

I started

Obstacles

• quickly taking and sending photos to stuff besides SMS
• concert tickets
  • cant put up phone flashlight at concerts :(
• restaurants with QR code menus
• 2 factor authentication
  • UC Berkeley
  • SMS 2FA is increasingly considered insecure
• NAVIGATION
  • struggle to time when i show up, need extra wiggle room
  • calling the number on the bus sign

you become more reliant on other people.

Effective Communication

Maybe I respond faster or more frequently to texts or calls? But, my phone still dies for the whole day about once per week and I miss something important. I still turn off the ringer when it accidentally goes off in public from a spam call, and then forget to turn it back on. I've received mixed reviews from people I know on responsiveness: some say I respond more, especially to calls, but others say I text worse (probably because the T9 keyboard makes responding a chore).

So, did a flip phone fix you?

Nope. I'm not substantially happier. I still struggle to prioritize tasks and remember things. I don't feel the additional time now in my day. Often, I still pass out watching back-to-back youtube videos of decreasing quality. My sleep schedule remains fragile; I stay up late and I struggle to wake up early. Last fall, I was more burnt out on work and school than I'd ever been before.

And yet, I don't have the urge to switch back to a smartphone. I can see myself using this type of phone for a very long time.