Almost a year without a smartphone.
Smartphones don’t just distract you — they slowly make you dull, weaken your relationships, and distance you from the people who matter most. I felt it happening to me. Life was slipping away, one scroll at a time.
What’s worse? I thought I was better than others.
I’d criticize people wasting time on TikTok, watching mindless content… while I was doing the same thing — just wrapped in a layer of “sophistication.”
Instead of TikTok, it was YouTube.
Instead of random clips, it was intelligent content — Suits, Breaking Bad, productivity videos by Ali Abdaal. It all felt meaningful. But in reality, it was the same dopamine loop.
And when I got tired of consuming all this “useful” content?
I’d eat — and watch more.
Get Mo Hamza’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Almost a year ago, I shut it all down.
I deactivated my iPhone, stopped using my watch, and disconnected.
And I’ve never been happier.
No WhatsApp — people call or text me.
No banking apps — my finances are just fine.
No email apps — I haven’t missed anything important.
But the best part?
My kids have never seen me holding a smartphone.
If you’re curious how I manage life without it — and what I use instead — let me know.
