I love the idea of putting your screen time as a huge widget on the Home Screen!

The thing that I like about your videos is that they give me plenty of food for thought. I don’t know if I’ll actually go to a simple phone but at least with videos like yours I’ll have a wealth of information. Thank you.

I tried using a distraction-free smartphone for a while, but, like some comments pointed out, the temptations and possibilities offered by the smartphone end up winning (over me) and I end up reinstalling little by little applications that I could do without, something impossible on a dumb phone, all the while telling myself "it's not that bad" and I always come back to square one...

the fact that two of your eight (er, seven) apps are the bible tell me we are VERY VERY different people. but as far as the actual reason we're here, you have seriously committed to this minimalism in an inspired way.

Sad to see that you went back to a smart phone. Hope it works out for you. I tried limiting my use on the iPhone after using a "dumb phone", but little by little I got drawn back in and found myself stressing out and messing with the thing too much again. Thanks for your efforts making these videos. They are helpful. Just an observation for what it's worth. Listening to you talk about all of the things you have had to do to make the iPhone simpler reminds me of exactly why I quit using my smart phone. If I have to set up all of these barriers to keep the thing from taking too much of my attention I don't want it around at all. All the best to you.

I love the ideas in your video since they sparked some thoughts about how to use my phone more intentionally without being used by my phone. I don't necessarily want to give up the benefits of smart phone tech, but also need to be mindful and intentional about my time, and aware and protective of my data. Thank you!

Enjoyed watching your series of videos on this subject! Thanks for making them!

I love this series sooooo much ♥️♥️

I was inspired by you and I found Nokia 6300 4G, a dumbphone that can use whatsapp and wifi and I can't wait to buy it. I like the idea of intentional smartphone but for me, as long as there is possibilities, it can take me back so I need to make it impossible. Just like its impossible to use Spotify in 2003 because it doesn't exist yet so I wanna buy cheap walkman and buy a cassettes (especially I love how music sounds on a cassette

I found my return to a smart phone previously was a slippery slope. Returning to detox again today.

Thank you. This was a fantastic help for me

Thank you for your work and sharing. I have learned a good deal from you.

Girl, you really live life

Very helpful. 💪💪

good stuff

Hi Thanks for this effort. Truly inspiring. I have a question, how do you share pictures from your photos app on your phone intentionally. Trying to incorporate this and am wondering if there is a simple way to do this besides transferring them all to the desktop

I like the app Radio Garden. You can pick a station anywhere in the world, and I find it useful since I’m Ukrainian, living in America, and married to an American, so mostly I speak in Ukrainian to my parents, and a couple coworkers, so it’s nice to tune in and listen to something so I don’t feel like I’m getting rusty from mostly speaking in English in my day-to-day life. :)

When you are listening to music, radio or podcasts around the house, use a smartspeaker. It doesn't have a screen on it so there's nothing to hook you.

Loved this video! Thanks for sharing :)

Are you able to use your Hebrews browser link even with Safari turned off?

Another channel I watch recently posted a video about how dangerous smartphones and social media are for kids. They mentioned the irony of using apps to reduce screen time, like "oh, you use your phone too much? We have an app for that!" 😂 But I'm glad it's been useful and successful for you. Still thinking I'll make the switch to a dumb phone instead, but this is definitely a good option as long as you can stick to being intentional.

So what about your desktop use? Do you have set work times? Utilise time blocking etc?

So you don't use the Sunbeam f1 anymore?

You give a great example, but i can't make it as "intentional" as you. The screen time widget idea is good but might be obcessing after some time (although i'm testing it). I still keep really more apps than you in the app library, but still I feel ok. And i get that what's in the computer doesn't have to be in my every moment life. Overall, thank you, keep going, and hi from France. And maybe, i say maybe, being intentional is like Luke 10.4 : "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house"... and so on. Just an idea :D

After six months of using a "dumbphone" (not without inspiration from your videos) , i lately tried to establish healthy boundaries with my iphone.Unfortunately ,i failed all the attempts... If you figured it out ,how long did it take for you to overcome the temptations of smartphone usage and to establish healthy boundaries?

Try setting the phone to monochrome in addition to these. It works! Especially just after waking up, when the willpower is not so strong...seeing a black & white screen that doesnt pull you in with all those colours has helped ALOT for me. Give it a try :)

My prediction is that you'll switch back to a dumb phone again. Because the technology is created in such a way that you can't use the smartphone intentionally. I tried to do all the tweaks that you're doing now. I used the minimalist launcher for Android that is Olanucher, It's really the best for minimalism but not availble for ios as of now. It did help to be honest at some extent, but eventually I started getting hooked to the smarphone. I think the mixutre of the current technology and our brain is not suitable for creativity and our productivity. I've tried many things like you, but nothing worked. I plan to do the last thing with a smartphone. And that is using it without a sim, so only limited amount will be there because of no internet. Really there is gap in the industry to create specific hardware and software which are productivity focussed and doesn't distract us from our valuable attention. Someday I wish to create such an organisation to make that happen. I'll suggest buy a Kindle if you don't have one. I did that and now I check kindle instead of the smartphone.

Great video, Ashton. I have a very similar home screen as well. Mostly focused on music and photography. :)

Showing how you actually use iPhone without distraction is helpful.

Great video yet again! Those tips are really valuable for someone like me who's very anti-tech tbh 😅 BUT due to my lifestyle/country i can't really go without a smartphone or a laptop as much as I'd love to. So seeing an *actual* minimalist phone like yours helps me quite a bit to work around my phone. Also: same about podcasts! I'm subscribed to quite a few and I had a phase where id get overwhelmed by the amount of episodes i wanted to listen to so I've been cutting off a lot on that. Like you said it's a lot of information overload and def wasn't being good to me. So now I'm thinking of only leaving my "sleeping" podcasts and edifying Christian ones. God bless and thank you!

why did u go back to smartphone?

I need to do this! I use my phone way to much, do you still use the iPhone 8? I get made fun of on what phone I have n I’m so sick of it.

Switching up your screen lay out from time to time also helps you be more intentional. That way you don’t navigate to an app out of habit.

You switched back?! Dang, I kinda feel like you sold out. The people behind the iPhone and apps are some of the worlds most intelligent, creative and persuasive people on Earth. If you invite a smart phone back in your life, you’re just gonna get sucked back into your old habits. It’s an almost impossible, uphill battle. Trust me. I went from smart-> dumb -> smartphone, just to get sucked into my old habits, even though I was being cautious as possible. I wish you luck than I had 🤞

I think that you made a wrong move by switching again to a smartphone, you will start by using a couple off apps like a minimalist and then when least expect you will return to the old habits.

So No Notes or Mail on your phone ? 😳 I dont think I can do that

Stavi diventando il mio idolo, ma hai ceduto nuovamente nell'usare il tuo smartphone. Purtroppo la società moderna ha costretto tutti noi a non poter fare a meno di questi maledetti smartphone.

Ugh, I’m sorry. Had to dislike when I saw the Bible jazz.

Thank you for the inspiration! Do you use whatsapp? I wish I could delete it!