I Stopped Using My Phone. The results were shocking

I tried to not use my phone for 30 days. These are the results of the experiment.
The best way to reduce screen time: clear-space.ap...
(trust me, it works)
Instagram ➤➤➤ / nateobrienn
Twitter: / nateobrienn

[@NateOBrien]

Hi everyone; This was such a fun experiment. Should I make more videos like this? Also, check out Clearspace, it would mean a lot to me :) clear-space.app.link/nate

[@galaxy98765]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Nate PLEASE make more videos like this! I am excited about them already! I'll be watching and waiting ..... ❤

[@harshgaud89]

Absolutely! Love such vids.

[@ex.spaceshuttle.worker]

very informative to watch your video. Yes it be cool to make a similar one like this. And I agree with what you said when one can't find their phone one panics. Where's my phone where's my phone. I always think to myself it's just a phone but it's a gateway to the Stars. And even though your goal was 30 days and you only did two weeks. That's still a major accomplishment. Cuz I've tried to see how long I can go without using the phone and I have only managed to do it for one day before I break down and have to call somebody or text somebody or send an email or do some research on the internet. So congrats for the two weeks of Silence

[@StigmaSam]

Definitely make more content like this!

[@getthetesla8358]

Mine is set up for voicemails and I can filter calls. I use my phone for learning with no regrets.

[@bluebellbell3725]

I skipped KZbin for six weeks and I got so much more done in life. Thinking of doing that again. Live life, instead of watching other people living there lives.

[@tzvibendaniel2045]

I think is coming down to that with me too. But I can’t imagine life without KZbin 😢

[@Ahsaan-r7l]

​@@tzvibendaniel2045 Nahh

[@shto4782]

I need KZbin to learn but I totally agree

[@ghillie7897]

@thomaswright1657true, you can do things and still fell just as depressed, personally i think the key is self love

[@kylespevak6781]

Sounds like you had an issue using KZbin as a distraction. No different than people who sit in front of a TV all day

[@airbear320]

I just recently finished a similar experiment in my own life, but instead of not using my phone it was not using social media or watching KZbin or Netflix. After 2 weeks, I feel SO MUCH BETTER! My anxiety is way down. Feeling calm & relaxed is way up. And I have been more productive in these 2 weeks than I've been in the last 2 years. I'm never going back.

[@Muhammad.85]

Thank you for these inspiring words ! Good luck !

[@RhymeandRamblings]

Did you still use safari or similar on your phone? I’m planning to do something similar soon.

[@cchawk6280]

But your on KZbin making a comment???

[@seneveibanda]

@@cchawk6280 she said recently finished

[@Wesenskern]

​@@hotrodjones74I really like your ideas!

[@jeancarloferreira9770]

I feel guilty for watching thus video on my phone lol

[@galaxy98765]

That's so funny!

[@KikiRRV]

Same

[@ztinger5132]

Fucking true

[@Zm54321]

I feel less guilty watching it on my iPad lol

[@sarahmc8309]

Same as I have no tv !

[@fdroadrunner-t7c]

I've been working on this same experiment since 1974, and I must say it's going great - I have lived my entire life without a cell phone. I love walking about the world being more aware of my surrounding and genuinely engaged with those around me. I strongly encourage it for those who can pull it off. Cell phone are not as essential as so many would like to think they are. I access the internet on a laptop for work and for personal communication a few times a day; I don't need to be plugged in to everything all the time, and I like not being on a digital leash.

[@SopotKrzyn]

Full respect for you, Sir !!!

[@dieblaueseite]

What is (s)he missing?@@foodini666

[@Ishana_Intuitive]

Yeah. We have a brilliant brain. It is degenerating with the phone. Humans have developed and evolved without this. It's not natural. That's why it will destroy humanity as we know it.

[@kathleenlauren]

I have never had a phone, either. I'm often the only one in a public space who's present.

[@ceeemm1901]

Umm, from 1974 to about maybe the late 90's, no one had a cell phone except rich people.

[@jainthorne4136]

I was born in 1955. I embrace technology and love it! I use it extensively and well. But......I also remember decades of living without immediate access to a phone. I remember as a kid riding my bike all around town and just being out on my own. I remember if I needed a phone simply finding a pay phone or going into a business and asking if I could use their phone to call home. I remember wondering about things and making the effort to look them up in the library. I remember learning to use maps and asking for directions. I remember carrying a book with me for waiting rooms and other times. (In fairness, I still do this as i read about 3-5 books a week.). Last year I did the social experiment of leaving my phone intentionally at home. It was good. I enjoyed it to the point where when I travelled to Europe I left my phone at home. That appalled my friends but I found it enjoyable. Do I still carry and use my phone? Of course! Did I reduce my time? Absolutely. I went from 4+ hours a day to less than 2 hours on average. Balance in life adds joy.

[@ladybird491]

2 hours is still too much, that is time you can use to learn something or talk someone or do something fun.

[@jainthorne4136]

@@ladybird491 I understand your point but part of that time was me logged into a course on Impressionism for an hour. Some of it was time I was chatting with my best friend who lives in England. We chat online on our phones for about 20 minutes a day. So, you say "it's too much". I say it's just right for my needs.

[@hilarygibson3150]

​@ladybird491 maybe that 2 hours is learning. I subscribe to a lot of economy channels, I've learned a lot

[@hjjjjk8399]

Mobile phones are useless. I addicted. The only thing I would say phones are good for are readi g and phone g friends. The instance gratification is what makes them a pr9blem . I beleive they where made to moniter and control us by the sick people who run human interaction.

[@canaanpinder6796]

Nate I did it for 2 years … living between the Bahamas and Alabama… no one could’ve reach me that’s was annoying but after 30 days you’ll figure it out … just in June I buy a phone and I hate it 😫 so imma sell it and buy a laptop

[@НинаКищенко-ь1т]

I really love how you transform hours into years. It's crazy... like 15 years of doing nothing (at least half of that)

[@NateOBrien]

A lot of Gen Z is doing over 8 hours per day, which over the course of 60 years would be 20 years of life spent on a phone.. keep in mind that the other 20 years would be spent sleeping. So in reality they might only have 20 years of experiencing life. This is why I try to use my phone simply as a tool rather than as a distraction

[@НинаКищенко-ь1т]

@@NateOBrien 😂 yeah...Thank you very much for the brake down, Nate ☺️

[@BrideofJesuChristo2]

@@NateOBrienoh my god. That’s actually scary

[@sophiazhang707]

⁠@@NateOBrien absolutely right. The beginning is always the hardest.

[@piiits_life]

@@NateOBrien that is actually an eye opener thanks

[@Diatonic5th]

I wait until 12:00 pm every weekday to check any news, KZbin, or social media sites. It's a small change that's had a huge impact on my productivity and overall mood on workdays.

[@chessc.3407]

That’s a great idea and also a good compromise.

[@MariaCarabin]

Great idea! I try not to grab my phone first thing in the morning, I started wearing a watch again (a non smart one), I don’t check my phone while I get ready (it delays me). I do chores or a hobby in the evening, with my phone charging in the bedroom. I never use my phone when friends are around (unless we need to look something up) and never have. I try to just sit and watch people or my surroundings in the train, waiting, at a café. My phone is in my bag on silent during work. But I live alone and since Covid I’ve been online a lot more… So I really need keep an eye on my use. When I’m bored, KZbin and Reddit are my go-tos…

[@planetwalker798]

That is a good start

[@Nazreen9997]

great idea.

[@judymiller5154]

trying to "control" is the first stage of addressing an addiction. I'm retired and husband is still working and I have fallen into excessive phone time. I justify it by listening to Christian content and researching topics of interest, but I get sidetracked by the constant "suggestions'.

[@rossedwardmiller]

Noting that this experiment won’t realistically be able to be replicated in our near future is kind of terrifying.

[@AlisaMarie]

Yes that’s what I thought. And the way he said it like it’s so normal. We can’t let that happen

[@planetwalker798]

I agree. Even more reason to get off the damn thing

[@Lol-tr6cu]

​@@jenniferpearce1052you're acting like its gen z that's replacing everything with electronics, its the rich older people making and pushing these things

[@user87255]

@@Lol-tr6cu that’s true but gen z are the main ones that are letting this continue to happen, i’m 19 and i’ve tried to talk to people my age about social media and phone addiction and they just laugh or dismiss it, they don’t care. when i had tiktok i saw so many people bragging about how short their attention span was or that they spend 10 hours a day on their phone. these companies are getting money from people just feeding into and supporting their bs, especially tiktok like i remember people were fr crying bc tiktok was gonna be banned 😭 i don’t think things will ever get better unless ppl actually start caring and waking up

[@juliaskagfjord6207]

I just changed to a flip phone and could not sign a work contract because I couldn't open the link to verify my phone number/identity to sign the document electronically on the flip phone..as no touch screen

[@shirleyswaine4701]

Young man, I have lived 70 years without a smart phone and intend to keep it that way because I don't like what the addiction does to people, - and it is now recognised as an addiction - and that includes those my own age. Only this week I saw that there are circa 3000 road deaths in the USA attributed to cell phone use. The reality is, smart phones are making people weak, feeble minded, dependent and mentally ill but perhaps what is most scary is that they are the perfect instrument of control of the masses. You mentioned cash going - if cash is replaced by digital currency then the powers that be have total control over your life. Here in the UK there is a push back against getting rid of cash as more people are beginning to realise what it means. When I was your age, there was much worry about sublimation on tv i.e. a single frame o propaganda inserted into a broadcast that the conscious mind doesn't register, but the subconscious mind does. Smart phones don't have the same regulation as tv did.

[@peachmelba1000]

The phone itself is neutral. Social media is the problem.

[@Twobirdsbreakingfree]

The phone is not neutral. I'll give you a hint; it enables social media to be accessed all the time, wherever you are, whatever you're doing. Before you could only access social media from a desktop computer, which meant you could not always access it.

[@lait_et_sang]

​@@Twobirdsbreakingfreeexactly. It's the Internet itself that's neutral

[@Twobirdsbreakingfree]

@@lait_et_sang there's a theory that the internet was invented with the intention of eventually routing all transactions, interactions and conversations in society through the internet, so that all of this information can be monitored and recorded for the purpose of augmenting the level of power (knowledge is power) that the ruling class has over the greater population. If this theory is true, then the internet can't be neutral either.

[@thereisnotryv1971]

The dopamine depletion is the problem. And no matter what is on that screen, it causes that. The phone is a problem

[@electricnirvana3499]

Exactly why I know that’s not true is that I have been off social media for several months & still always scrolling other things & googling things.

[@oneofakindlifestyle]

Im on month 2 of no social media. (I don’t really count youtube as social media. It feels amazing. No gossip lol, no BS. Just what matters in life. I use my time to read. Ive read 4 books, and gone out so much.. 🥰

[@mekaartstudy]

You better start seeing yt as social media, you are talking in the comments and seeing people's lives in the newsfeed

[@mijnnaam5478]

So good :) I want to do the same

[@rustyholt6619]

you tube is still a huge timesuck that keeps bombarding us with useless info and negative crap

[@riot9946]

I knew someone who still used an original flip phone to this day. The phone company finally forced him to upgrade because they were cutting off the cell service upgrading to 5G. I respect this guy for going that long.

[@FerventReminder]

I’m in my 20’s and went back to a dumb phone for probably 5 years now. I would entertain getting a “smartphone” again for certain reasons but in general I feel it has been a net positive for me.

[@Spot4art]

My husband! Same thing. He has a new flip phone, he doesn’t text or answer calls unless he recognizes the number.🤣🤣🤣🤣 he only calls me. He never listens to voicemails 👍

[@sharrose7594]

They lied to me about this, my old phone still ran on 4g

[@abjkl]

I also still use a flip phone and often feel like people look at me like I'm crazy for doing so. Your comment was very nice to read.

[@Byerfilms]

@RBR-lo2eiHere in the SW USA they turned off my 4G slide phone which forced me to buy a 5G phone, so yes they can force you. They gave me months of warnings which I ignored and one day I woke up and the phone was completely off.

[@budgerigarer]

I've managed to steer clear of social media still, so I have

[@lilythesunrise]

One time i didn't use my phone for 11+ hours (6:00-19:00) and spent that time reading books,playing board games and talking to my family and i still do it and now i really love reading books and spending time studying❤❤❤

[@kimlec3592]

This young person is very smart. He has realised something a lot of us need to relearn...The number of people walking around with the focus totally on their phone is hazardous to their own safety. We have really lost sight of what's important.

[@Its_JazzyJazz]

I have stopped using my phone as much because I decided to replace my digital planner with a physical one. I honestly prefer it because it creates a clearer headspace for me. As for meeting up with friends and what not, I have come to memorize my city pretty well. Unless I am traveling to a completely new area, I would be on the fence of not having a phone in case an emergency arises😅 As always, great video Nate!

[@simona___]

Love that you practically try things yourself and share with us, Nate! I agree that irritation and anxiety arise from phone usage. No social media apps on the phone is a game changer for me, also just doing more things to forget you even have a phone - time in nature, camping, time with loved ones!

[@NightShade671]

Good for you. I'm proud of you. It makes me happy to see people break free from phone addiction.

[@zakandfal]

Hi @NateOBrien I am going to do this experiment this next month. Living on the road this last year and half I totally understand what you mean when you say "allowing yourself to be bored." There's a certain bliss in not refreshing, scrolling, and consuming content and searching your subconscious instead. Cheers for the inspo mate!

[@EllaCharlotteJones]

Really enjoyed hearing your reflections Nate! I took a break from my smartphone in 2021-2022 and it changed my perspective entirely!

[@John-hh8lq]

It's refreshing to see someone so young be so opened minded and thinking about how precious life really is... good for you and may God bless you. Noticing what goes on around you when you haven't got your phone is what life was like all the time before these 'life stealers' were invented.

[@rnb8220]

He’s not open minded though. He thought he uses his phone too much then actively tried to avoid it, not realizing until he tried it that there’s functional things all over the place that are made inconvenient by not having your phone on you. He did something he suspected was the case with phone use and then it was confirmed.

[@Honey-yp8lp]

There’s a lot more of us than you think 😊

[@rnb8220]

@@Honey-yp8lp huh?

[@MD-gw4rk]

​@@rnb8220 I think if you don't need it, turn it off and put a sticker on it "only open once a week" pick a day ..one day and see what happens

[@courge37]

I remember reading something like "Imagine if Benjamin Franklin had had Twitter. Would he have invented all these things?" I try very hard to not be on my phone! But I still get about 2 hours a day which is still too much for me... it's 14h less of working on my goals! I always do good for a while and then go back to my old ways. The 15 years thing was really shocking. Really eye opening video!

[@Walperion_Music]

About the 15 years thing - We also can subtract 8h/day we're sleeping, it's 1/3 of our lives. So if you live till your 90yo wo've only lived for 60 years. Then many people work the full 8h/day on a job they don't like. That's another 8h/day of non-quality hours a day. (Great if you like youre job and you DO feel you're living your quality hours when you work). But basically 24h - 8h sleep - 8h work = 8h of FREE time we've left. Only 30 years of quality time if we live till 90. That thought kinda scared me recently even more. Let's make that 1/3 of our life we're actually living count!

[@galaxy98765]

I've gotten more out of this video than any other one you have ever done. I AM addicted to youtube videos. I am going to try staying off of it. Congratulations for making it to two weeks! I like that you said it's good to be bored. Thank you!

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Phone addicts make it really easy for me to look good at work. I also have a way higher quality of life then they seem to. Unfortunately, 90 plus % of People, are addicted to technology. This puts me in the black sheep camp. Oh well, I can internally validate, just makes for lonely life. A lonely fish, in a sea full of squid.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I HAVE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF BOREDOM* I have long covid and part of coping is to take a 10 minute break every 90 minutes and do NOTHING. Just lie there in silence. When I first started I had literal panic attacks at the lack of INPUT. Then my mind started processing the trauma of the last 15 years. Then I started to just think about what I had to do and my problems and now I can just BE for 10 minutes and be happy and OK. I never realised that BOREDOM is important for human brains...!!!

[@jan-bean]

I’m 21 and have never had traditional social media. The only thing I have is KZbin which I’m planning to delete now because the shorts function has been occupying my time too much. I will say that I do not suffer with anxiety or depression even though it runs in my family. I had anxiety when I was a lot younger but it was a phase I got through. I’ve never had a depressive phase. Maybe it’s the lack of social media usage, maybe not. I’m a woman and I’ve also never had body image issues. I’ve never dieted. It’s not that I don’t have insecurities, I do, but I’ve never actually had issues with food and disordered eating like most women seem to. I think a lot of this is due to limiting the unrealistic images I saw growing up.

[@Sebastianin4k]

We can't escape smartphones. It's just the way things are now and will be going forward from now on. However you can navigate around them. It's about learning how to use them with intentionality. As a tool instead of a source of entertainment. Don't get me wrong, you can have fun with them, but you have to train yourself to not waste too much time on it when it’s just for fun. Personally, I have rules, like setting specific times and days when I can access social media; For me it's on Sundays, I use a kitchen timer, 30 minutes to catch up on all social media apps ( including KZbin) once the time is up, I delete the apps and use it on weekdays as normal phone for calls and text only. I do keep some useful apps like GPS and weather. I also don't bring phones to the bedroom, leave it charging in another room and use an old school alarm clock instead. and of course, no phones while watching movies, hanging out with friends or at dinner with family. It seems complex, but you get used to placing boundaries and rules to how you use technology.

[@humphrey]

thanks Nate! Clear Space is great.

[@eliseta4232]

is Clear Space only for apple? I can't find it for my android?

[@Ohboycommentsection]

I really appreciate that you tried this because it's almost a bygone era to be phone free. (As mentioned). I work with older adults (85+) and many of them are far more social and openly curious about everything than younger people. Some do NOT want to use Google, they just Really want to speak to a person who is knowledgeable enough to share their skills and actually engage. With my cohorts, We focus on trying to answer Everything with our phones. I'm going to miss this last of The Greatest Generation group. Heck, I already do.

[@Shmyrk]

That’s awesome. I work in an environment where I get to interact with a lot of older folks and they really do have so much wisdom

[@jan-bean]

Greatest Generation until you work in customer service. They are always the biggest assholes. Working in the medical field, the older coworkers are also always the worst. Most likely to treat you as less than. Younger people are always far kinder, patient, and understanding in my experience. Social media has been beneficial in some areas.

[@Shmyrk]

@@jan-bean I’d have to say that’s basically the opposite of my experience, I’m not in the medical field tho. That’s it’s own beast

[@jan-bean]

@@Shmyrk if you work in a place where you can just talk to them and share experiences I’m sure it’s much better. But if you’re serving them they are incredibly entitled. (Not all of course, there are always some sweethearts, but if someone is an asshole it’s ALWAYS an older person)

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Google reduces critical thinking skills. Tyrannical governments love that people are so easily controlled. No coincidence.

[@carloscambon5402]

I grew up when mobiles didn't exist yet. I can say that the mobile makes you less extroverted, so well done on this experiment.

[@ED-007]

Backpacked 4 months through Europe without a computer or a phone. Was amazing. Then another time went one month without a phone and used Skype on my computer for business meetings or calls with Mom. The phone addiction is real and you’re right in a few years it won’t be possible to live day to day without a phone from banking to transportation. Sucks.

[@SZALESKI55]

Hi Nate, I really enjoy and agree with your viewpoint on this issue. People walk around like brainless zombies staring at their smartphones and trying to fit every function into every second of their day! People need to have a little time where they are a little bored, think and meditate. It's nice to go to a park and smell the flowers and listen to the birds and frogs. I have a landline and a flip phone and have never owned a smartphone, and watching the way people use them, I don't want to buy one. The people in our society suffer from information overload, they have to know everything at that very second and they don't have the patience to wait a little bit.

[@aaron___6014]

Before smartphones you didn't need little notebooks because you were able to remember your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. If you wanted to fill the time you'd visit with others or read a newspaper or magazine. The "downtime" wasn't as common is you'd think.

[@audreydoyle5268]

Not true for people with ADHD. Those people have and will always need notebooks to remember things. Most people called them dumb, or significantly worse things. I'm sure you can... Remember 😒 And those so called dumb people internalised that, believing it was true about them. Just because you were lucky to be born with a functional neurology, does not mean everyone in your generation or prior did not struggle with the issues you pointed out

[@MugiHours]

I sure hope we don't have a future where all we use is our phones to pay 💀 I'm such a cash oriented person I only use credit cards for really expensive stuff. There's something about holding cash and handing it off when paying where it makes me a lot more frugal than when my money is a formless number in a digital format. If we go full on digital currency, it won't be tangible anymore and that's scary to me.

[@crystalnichols7224]

Agreed.

[@pizzapartytime1826]

, Encourage others to use cash do not shop at establishment that only take car. Leave a bad review

[@lopezjuan316jl]

Improving my productivity was in my head before but you’ve helped me a lot with that, also with previous videos :3 I love them, please make more

[@SpencerJohnsonOfficial]

Getting to hear your perspective on this as a content creator myself is super helpful. I've found my screen time drastically increasing now that KZbin is my full-time job, but that isn't because I'm only spending more time doing productive things... in fact, it's the opposite. I feel like having this job grants me too much forgiveness for myself on the amount of time I spend on my phone, so using apps like ClearSpace and turning my phone on grayscale is something I need to implement more as I used to do in the past. Great video as always man!

[@NateOBrien]

Spot on. I used the same excuse for years.

[@mitchell.9632]

Your all over KZbin Spencer Johnson. Used to know one (Graham Stephan) that put in extreme hours and made it full-time and them some. Personally am not mobile other than calls for awhile now due to the phone. Nate O Brien good to hear from you again. Have followed a decent amount over four years ago and once and a blue moon these days, that tells you how this one resonates with me.

[@kevinalanfischer]

Makes me curious if we put phones down more that we could restore our attention spans. The few times over the last few years that I forgot my phone I was engrossed in the little stories going on in the world around me. A bit terrifying and remarkable all at once.

[@kevjer]

Born in 1982. Seen the birth of the bulky cell phone, to the flip phone to the smart phone. While my phone is great for gps (no more bulky garmin) paying bills ( not going in peron or mailing checks) and a mobile encyclopedia. The negatives outweigh the positives. Gonna try and use my phone less and start reading more and writing and actually doing stuff. Great video bro!!!

[@nicklandano]

It's interesting because a lot of people I talk to have the same outlook. They have become more anxious, paranoid, and distracted as a result of our increased dependency on technology. Maybe we will all find our way back to thinking for ourselves, truly learning about topics we find interesting and exploring the world with a deeper sense of curiosity to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. As Seneca says... "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it."

[@NateOBrien]

That's exactly why I wanted to make a video about this and share my thoughts. I get the feeling a lot of people can relate

[@Nova3482]

My favorite video of yours was about how you stopped your phone addiction from 3 years ago, safe to say this is a great successor to that video :)

[@NateOBrien]

I appreciate that!

[@sachinsingh-wg9bl]

It freaked me out seriously.. we are wasting 15 to 20 years just watching phone. And the rest 20 hours in sleeping. Man you were a eye opener !!!. I am into day 3 of NO phone challenge and i will not keep it till 30 days but will continue for life long. Loved your videos.

[@mekaartstudy]

I was in shock when he said that. I am not wasting no more years of my life on this damn cell phone. I am answering my cell at a same when I know I am suppose to get an important phone call. People are not suppose to reach you all day even when you're not home all the time.

[@planetwalker798]

I seriously want a flip phone, tin can and string or postcards. This shit has got to go

[@mekaartstudy]

shocked, I am out. good luck to yall. Just think that is 20 years you could have put toward your dream and getting rich. Well that was all I had to hear, I am definitely done with this cell phone addiction crap.

[@asylbek]

Switched to a dumbphone 2 months ago and it was a life-changing experience

[@aaronlunnemann3857]

I have never had a smartphone. Watching the world around you be so attached to their phones and you aren't, it's quite the liberating feeling!

[@kkpkkprr]

What is a dumb phone?

[@asylbek]

@@kkpkkprr its a usual phone without internet and extra functions on it. It can only make calls.

[@kkpkkprr]

@@asylbek thank you!

[@8DVIBEZ]

How r u here then

[@maxfahl]

Im doing this myself right now, but since I have a wife and two daughters, I simply can't leave my phone behind in case something would happen that I need to know about. My youngest is also fighting cancer, so we might have to go to the hospital at any moment. Instead, I dumbed down my iPhone only keeping the essentials plus health apps. I believe leaving the phone at home is one thing, but I'd rather fight the addiction with my phone in the pocket, teaching myself not to grab it every time I feel an urge to do so. In the beginning I also forced myself to be bored 30 minutes a day, doing nothing else than to sit in our backyard staring at the trees and spend time with myself. I feel a lot lighter now, and it feels great that my phone does not own me.

[@mr_bdub]

Great video, I love that your addressing this big problem. Have you considered using only an apple watch or smartwatch? A few KZbinrs (Matt Davella is who I am thinking of) have done videos experimenting using the watch only. Gives you the true essentials like navigation and communication but takes away a ton of the distraction because of the small screen. May be different for those who use social media for the careers but it is a great idea

[@NateOBrien]

Good point. I tried one back in 2018, and I forgot to turn off notifications for it, so ended up distracting me even more than my phone! Maybe I will try again

[@BrideofJesuChristo2]

When I turn off my phone I feel like my brain lifts I’m always overwhelmed but when I turn off my phone I feel better. Thank you for putting this out there. ❤ I hope it spreads. ❤ I deleted my Hulu account and bought a $20 DVD player, and I realized how much I love weird old movies like trash horror and surreal stuff from the 80’s and classics from the 70’s. Like Gattica “I saved nothing for the swim back”. Instead of watching B list or C or D list nothing movies and shows I’m just watching movies as a deeply enriching experience. I am tired of all the tech sometimes and I’ve wanted to get a turn table and using records, don’t call me a hipster but vinyls feels good. Also, religious people have observed a sabbat for this reason you’re talking about. You work to make a living but you have to stop to make a life

[@LifesHorizons]

An older post but wanted to mention that the library is a great place to get dvds. So many shows and movies you can borrow for free there. Also a tv antenna costs like 10$ and there are always a few old channels for free using that method. Picture quality is great as well.

[@MalluStyleMultiMedia]

2 weeks is pretty good for a 90s kid from the western world .. 👍👍👍 I’m from the 80s.. born and grew up a little in the Eastern part of the world .. I grew up without cellphones or even a landline Nice experiment… before I used to take my phone outside in my backyard in the evenings .. nowadays I don’t .. it disturbs whatever I’m doing outside .. then I get all these missed calls and questions from people “where were you? Blah blah “ .. I tell them that’s my time outside .. maybe I’m working with plants and soil and won’t be able to touch the phone ..

[@sandipagrawaltalks]

Digital detox: A day without a mobile can help you develop healthier habits and a balanced lifestyle.

[@oliviawilliams3354]

I've really missed your videos like this!! You help me reflect on areas of my life that I could improve.

[@prajwalgowda7844]

I Just quit social media after years ,indulging myself in reading books now . This was good video to resonate with ❤

[@soham5374]

Its scary to think just how easy it is to get addicted to phones like all these social media companies spending millions of dollars researching on new ways to increase the retention time on their platforms ( Instagram with reels , YT with shorts , Netflix and prime with autoplay etc etc) Its harder than ever to escape this void of never ending content..Then comes the FOMO its like you can't even live a minute without people around you trying to guilt you for not watching some stupid show on Netflix...

[@vloggingwithtony]

I've ditched all social media except KZbin & realised how much time I wasted with mindless scrolling. I use my phone very minimally for texting or phone calls. I started using a notebook about a year & a half ago & I love writing things down rather than typing notes into a phone.

[@reedzy1029]

I'm doing it for whole my life (I'll be 23 soon), and people don't understand how I could go out without phone, but for me it's mainly because I just want to have a quality communication with people and also I don't want to carry it in my pocket. I mean, I use it sometimes, but macbook is my main device

[@CB19087]

Guilt. One of the feelings associated with being manipulated. Fear, guilt and obligation. Don't think I'll look at social media in the same light again. Thank you

[@the_bun_e3314]

When I was 24, I was put into a 51/50 where everything I had was confiscated - including my phone. I was phoneless for 82 hours, but it was the best 82 hours of my life. My mind felt clear-minded, and it felt like I was able to process things without having a migraine about it. I would definitely recommend avoiding your phone for a while so that your mind rests well

[@na-dk9vm]

What's a 51/50??

[@spirituallysafe]

Yeh, what IS that? @@na-dk9vm

[@Alonzo42189]

Being off social media ( except KZbin/but less on it now )… replacing it with notebooks …. The brain is sooo much better … ❤️ I was meant to see this and connect with the same like minds 🙏🏽

[@in.thegray]

Loved this video - so much genuine insight about a very interesting topic! Thank you for sharing your experience with this experiment. I'm a 90's kid myself, so I also grew up as technology {specifically cell phones} evolved at an insanely rapid rate. Though there are most certainly many blessings that come along with these evolvements, sometimes it can be difficult to completely disconnect... especially from social media platforms. Your life in the outdoors looks so dreamy and therapeutic. Wishing you well!

[@mspicela]

I haven't watched the videos in a while. It's awesome that you're still making great content. Where did you move to? Looks like we got beautiful mountains and landscapes in a pretty secluded environment. My wife and I are going to be looking for something similar as soon as life allows.

[@Iain_C]

It's sad you've never known a life without a phone. As a Gen X I hate that I am so reliant on mine, I miss the freedom. Sometimes I leave the house without it, go for a walk, it's so freeing.

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Turn it off when you don't need it, mine will be off till monday morning, and off again on friday till monday. People get pissed because they can't reach me to help them with their basic life skills. I always tell them my time is precious, their's is not.

[@kylerbriskey372]

I work for the railroad and anytime we are on a moving train, we have to have our phones turned off. We’ll go 5-8-9-12 hours without having our phone on nearly everyday. It’s kinda nice sometimes because we get a lot of that phone detox.

[@kyrieeleison1243]

It's frightening how dependent we have become on phones. They are no longer tools, we are becoming the tools.

[@pf4186]

I went from Manchester to Stonehenge without a phone or sat nav. I just wrote the road numbers on my hand. Was a great experience, as it isn't a straightforward route.

[@ethanbenson]

Fantastic video. I really love using the locking cookie jar to reduce phone use. Another tool I've used has been getting a Nokia 3310 so that I can still get and make calls when I'm out and about without having to bring my smartphone. I think this is an area that we will all have to work on at some point if we want to get anywhere particularly impressive.

[@dorothypurvis7140]

People dont talk to any body any more. They are on their phone .😢

[@themaestrospeaks5866]

Very true

[@vinnycool28]

I agree with you 💯 👍

[@khairulbahariandiprawira]

Hey people always talk about how they miss the 2000s, maybe we just miss the idle state of mind. limit your phone usage to 1hour a day, it will feel like the 2000s.

[@9395gb]

Well we were actually meeting with our friends in person and going out. Also we were in shape and slim because we were all in sports. There was literally 1 or 3 overweight kids in grade school or high school back then. We also had more idle time to read books, do chores, go to the museum, do homework, spend time with family, go to the movie theater, or watch TV.

[@SuccessMindset2180]

1. Not using a phone for 30 days 2. It’s good to be bored 3. Asking people for directions 4. Need for smartphones

[@autopilotearnings]

Love your videos, so helpful. So refreshing to see someone your age understand the importance of and to live a simpler life! Where were you vacationing here? Beautiful area!

[@midnight-user12]

i'm sure we don't need our phones unless if you need uber, finding directions, texting/talk to someone you know or police because of something important.

[@rolandtowen2595]

Becoming phone free sounds awesome, but watching this video I realized that my phone is necessary for my safety as a woman: location sharing, access to emergency services, and even the ability to be on the phone with someone on a walk.

[@laurab9518]

I wouldn’t post where you are until you leave. If you do, you actually causing danger maybe l.

[@matthew8153]

Phones aren’t for safety, guns are.

[@rolandtowen2595]

@@matthew8153 a gun won't help me if I break an ankle hiking. It's not always the solution.

[@gregatkinson7276]

The last point you made was crazy. Lots of people are killed or seriously injured from being on the phone while out walking and out of touch with the surroundings.....and a WOMAN is a MORE attractive target while out in public distracted by her phone.

[@mattbettinson3935]

@@rolandtowen2595 not with that attitude

[@anaaguilar3304]

I guessed you were gonna say " the most freeing experience" right before you said. I can't imagine what life is like for those that grew up in a generation that always had smart phones. While a lot of us are very dependent and almost addicted to our phones, we still remember those times. Because we do, it really scares me that young kids won't ever experience that "boredom" you are describing. This is essential to brain development, creativeness, critical thinking. I'm really glad you experimented with those. It's amazing what phones and social media have done to all of us.

[@davidsosa256]

As Nate says “It’s good to be bored. It’s good to have downtime” within the day to just think 🤔. This is easier said than done because we’re addicted to several apps on the phone but you can stop using the apps and use only what you really need. Give it a try, go on, experience life without a smartphone 📱.

[@pnwmax]

I wonder when people set their phone aside, but not turn it off and out of sight, if it has a signal that we still detect even on silent. Like when a call or text is about to come in and if your smartphone is by a tv or radio of any sort it gives interference. We must be feeling some of that energy by default as a human.

[@LEOFADS]

The way nate explains i cant fail on my tests its so clear and intresting

[@leah38521]

Two weeks is really admirable! Even the idea of two days seems really hard to me. Yes I think most people are addicted to their phones it’s terrible that companies make them to be addictive and hyper-convenient

[@kathleenlauren]

I've never had one.

[@xhobv02]

You really cant spend two days without your phone? That seems like a real addiction...

[@Zm54321]

Nate saying he was born in the 90s. Pretty sure he was born in December 1999 but his soul has been wandering the earth to locate him since the 70s at least. Another good video!

[@lukekeene-cosby3850]

I was born in 98

[@julianderrichardkolbl1762]

"96% of the human population didn‘t use phones in their lives". Yes, but at that time everyone else didn't use a phone either. I also tried this experiment a few times in the past. Although for me it was great, the biggest problem was that everyone else kept using their phones. Meetings with friends therefore become difficult and often don't happen because no one uses the old ways of communication anymore. If you also have to communicate by phone for work, you really have a problem. Nevertheless, I recommend everyone to try this, at least for a few days if it’s possible. You become more aware of the world around you and feel less driven. I promise you! :) Thanks Nate for the great content as always. You have inspired me to put my phone away again for the next while as well.

[@fraserembrey5676]

I tried to cut down using my phone during the day but my boss kept getting annoyed he was WhatsApping me and I wouldn't reply. I would check it in the morning, lunch and evening but it was off while I was working. I told people to email me and this was a small team. It was very difficult for me and of course I don't want to get in trouble or anger my boss or coworkers.

[@blossomw.6766]

Funny how you say "If I was on my deathbed...I wish I'd just spent a little more time on my phone". That says it well. I wouldn't make the conclusion that life won't be possible without a phone.... almost the other way around, and there's tonnes of evidence stacking up. I think you have good sensibilities about the situations arising from your phone abstinence, and notepads seem like a good idea. Also what you say about downtime or boredom as you called it. I think that's intuitively spot on! That's the point, we intuitively know what's good for us. I never really liked cell phones and haven't had one for years.

[@VinnyJoeShow]

Great video, super important topic. My best work comes after extended breaks from the phone

[@benjamincarter4290]

Flip phone gang. I can still communicate with people if I need to but without the constant notifications from youtube, mobile games, facebook and amazon. I still do carry a smart phone (my old one that can't reliably maintain a cell connection) but it only has the basics for getting around, checking work emails, and storing music. It's great, I don't miss social media because after a while of not having constant access to it I realized how pointless so much of it is, I even went through my facebook profile and unfriended everyone I wasn't related to or was good friends with. Now all I need to work on is how much I go on youtube

[@kathleenlauren]

I've never had a phone, so I know it's possible to go more than two weeks without a phone - I've done it all my life.

[@Michelle_Emm]

Not even a land line? I'm seriously impressed, I can't imagine my life without a smart phone.

[@citizenmink]

i would argue that feeling of not having your phone on you is similiar to that of an ex prisoner just being out of the can.. a mixture of relief and also panic without the guiding boundaries.. thats what freedom tastes like..

[@abbysheridan1429]

Much respect for this Nate. The best I can do is the digital detox I did last year. I was able to cut down my use to less than 5 hours a day.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Chuck.Reynolds]

Hi nate, i saw your videos about minimalism and was wondering if you're still living that kind of lifestyle? I think it would be great to see your new apartment/home setup and your general thoughts about it now. Thanks and noce videos!

[@Kamehamehobby]

Shit if I had a lake house I'd never use it....

[@Rfpepe7295]

I have tried these experiments many times and failed in very short order. This video is inspiring me to give it another try.

[@deion312]

It’s difficult because I use my phone for banking, email, weather, google calendar, audible, maps, my job, side hustles, etc. It’s definitely a balance between productivity and entertainment. But then again, for me, my phone is my main source of entertainment, haha, Netflix KZbin etc.

[@mekaartstudy]

Me too but now I don't care, I only use my cell 20 minute a day only when I have to because it is getting out of control.

[@racheldahliamusic]

Lucky you have real life friends. A lot of us don't. So therefore no social life to fill the void. Makes it a lot harder to put it down all day.

[@dan239]

KZbin shorts and TikTok videos are the worst. I will unsubscribe from someone that pushes them.

[@TheVinitGosalia]

The phone(smart or dumb), social media, video games, pornography, AI etc etc etc... You can name it all. But none of that is the problem. The problem is within ourselves. We are too afraid to look inwards, to sit quietly, to just be. These outside stimulants are a just a means to avoid the inner void. We all look like broken imperfect pieces of the universe and but in reality we are not aware of the wholeness that lies within us. The phone is just a means to escape. The real question is, "What is it that we are trying to escape?"

[@venturout]

I downgraded to a dumb phone but upgraded my life! Look towards buying a phone like Punkt MP02 or The Light Phone - worth every penny, though in an increasingly smartphone enabled world it’s incredibly difficult to fully commit to completely leaving smartphones altogether.

[@NateOBrien]

Awesome! My brother has the lightphone

[@mitchell.9632]

It is amazing to hear of new models you never heard of before. There are quite a few to choose from it is just finding out which ones are out their.

[@JosiahThomas-iw8lg]

This was definitely thought provoking. I know We use them a lot but it hits different when you mention the years we can lose to them.

[@dixie.normus2k]

It makes me so sad to possibly think that I will not be able to live without a phone in 10 years. I have been struggling with social media addiction ever since I was 11 years old and now that I'm 15, I am realizing how bad this is for us. I have been constantly trying to get out of this loop, but it makes me somewhat hopeless to think that it will be a necessity in the future. I really don't know what to do anymore

[@blossomw.6766]

Phones aren't necessary for life, it's that simple.

[@CubeParrot1]

Not at all, just remove the apps, and if you need something like messenger you can remove FB/Insta instead.

[@TheBlaxus]

Honestly, using your phone is fine. Just don't use social media and entertainment apps on it. Using it exclusively for improving your day-to-day such as transport, maps etc. is completely fine and mandatory even.

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

Mandatory?

[@RafunzelReyes-pisces1]

💜♾️ Love, I'll try to sleep now. I probably would play a tarot reading because I don't feel sleepy yet but it's already 5am 😂😂 Don't mind her. Okay? Our trust in each other is already ESTABLISHED. I just pity her. I can't help but feel bad for her. But we don't deserve any of her negativity. Let her be miserable on her own. She needs to work on her own healing. Btw I have no idea how we're going to communicate but you already know the 📍. We'll make our own story.💞 I appreciate all the romantic gestures today, my love.🥺 Ilysm my handsome man.🥰 👄🫦

[@vladmiller6389]

paradox: you need to use ur phone in order to use ur phone less thats just the world we are living in P.S. great video Nate! Been watching you since like 2k19, thanks for inspirational thoughts

[@NateOBrien]

Thanks!

[@DesocupadoXtremo]

i've been wondering for a few years of trying go all out on internet for a whole year, this experiment just hyped me for it, cause seen hard as hell

[@MalluStyleMultiMedia]

Finally … another video from Nate 😀

[@NateOBrien]

It's been a while

[@jaredkrake8710]

Quality over quantity

[@MalluStyleMultiMedia]

@@jaredkrake8710 I agree

[@kansaidan2302]

I'm a network engineer and I figured out right away that spending face-time in a phone is counterproductive. It dumbs you down. It takes away from time that could better be spent elsewhere, like researching and creating wealth. It endangers your life, like when driving or tripping while walking. I rarely carry a phone and don't miss it, at all. Life is much fuller without. There you go: if you want to be impoverished and stupid .... carry a phone and stare into it constantly.

[@WhenIGoCrazy0]

Wow this is the second video that I've seen with this concept of replacing your phone with a notebook I should definitely try it now

[@NateOBrien]

Do it!

[@TheTerryMarsh1]

Growing up, we didn't have a phone at home, or electronic device with a screen of any description, until I was in my mid-teens. We read books, sometimes listened to the wireless (nowadays called the radio), played games, walked or took the bus, ...

[@Liam69400]

Love your video! I would add that if you go to see someone and are sitting together talking....put your phone away. If you are on your phone and paying attention to that rather than the person you are with, it could be really offensive and they may really prefer you not come over anymore. I love my daughter and my niece, but hate it when they come over because they pay more attention to their phone instead of me....who they came to see.