Yep. Work is the #1 driver behind my initial hyper-addiction. It started in 2018 for me. I was extremely busy with work, and I was either on the phone for work or on the phone distracting myself from work. And when work settled down the habit stayed around, even to this day.
Very nice to meet you, fellow workaholic! (Although it’s way more complicated than that word isn’t it).
I know plenty of people who haven managed to be addicted to their phone without work being a big part of it. (Interestingly, the phone does seem to associate itself with our deepest vulnerabilities - health anxiety seems to come up quite a lot).
It’s fascinating how the phone can entangle itself with these underlying traits. Like a horrible poisonous vine.
If you want a nice laugh today - in the few weeks we've been following one another's writing, this whole time I thought you were driving in a car wearing this vest. (My American is showing). I thought - how was he able to use his phone so much while he was driving, before starting this phone free journey?! And I even lived in D.C. for graduate school, where I commuted by metro for a year! Train commute changes my perception of this entirely. LOL.
No, this should have obvious to me all along. Though I do love the idea of silently driving in rush hour traffic, no podcast or music. I think the concept still works well for car commuters!
Hello, I’m the person who saw you in the phone free vest today at Old Street station (roughly 6.45pm).
Now hooked on your Substack, as I relate to practically every word in this post.
It made me smile, laugh, and feel less alone in thinking that life itself needs an ‘airplane mode’.
Please keep it coming, and keep wearing the vest. It inspired me, and I hope it sparks more discussion around this, as it really is so hard to switch off in this day and age.
PS, have you read Matt Haig’s ‘Notes on a nervous planet’? You might like it.
It is so kind of you to write! It's hugely appreciated and really keeps me going.
And it is so encouraging to hear that the vest works as a hello to others who feel the same way. I love your phrase about life needing an 'airplane mode.' That is exactly what I am trying to build for myself daily.
Yep. Work is the #1 driver behind my initial hyper-addiction. It started in 2018 for me. I was extremely busy with work, and I was either on the phone for work or on the phone distracting myself from work. And when work settled down the habit stayed around, even to this day.
Very nice to meet you, fellow workaholic! (Although it’s way more complicated than that word isn’t it).
I know plenty of people who haven managed to be addicted to their phone without work being a big part of it. (Interestingly, the phone does seem to associate itself with our deepest vulnerabilities - health anxiety seems to come up quite a lot).
It’s fascinating how the phone can entangle itself with these underlying traits. Like a horrible poisonous vine.
If you want a nice laugh today - in the few weeks we've been following one another's writing, this whole time I thought you were driving in a car wearing this vest. (My American is showing). I thought - how was he able to use his phone so much while he was driving, before starting this phone free journey?! And I even lived in D.C. for graduate school, where I commuted by metro for a year! Train commute changes my perception of this entirely. LOL.
Ha that’s awesome! I can’t work out whether it would be more eccentric to commute in high vis in a crowded train or in a car!
Love the idea of someone expecting plaudits for not using the phone while driving :-)
It’s a tricky one for language … This might be a London thing and I might be guilty of talking in a London centric way… definitely one to think about
No, this should have obvious to me all along. Though I do love the idea of silently driving in rush hour traffic, no podcast or music. I think the concept still works well for car commuters!
Hello, I’m the person who saw you in the phone free vest today at Old Street station (roughly 6.45pm).
Now hooked on your Substack, as I relate to practically every word in this post.
It made me smile, laugh, and feel less alone in thinking that life itself needs an ‘airplane mode’.
Please keep it coming, and keep wearing the vest. It inspired me, and I hope it sparks more discussion around this, as it really is so hard to switch off in this day and age.
PS, have you read Matt Haig’s ‘Notes on a nervous planet’? You might like it.
It is so kind of you to write! It's hugely appreciated and really keeps me going.
And it is so encouraging to hear that the vest works as a hello to others who feel the same way. I love your phrase about life needing an 'airplane mode.' That is exactly what I am trying to build for myself daily.
Thank you, hadn't read it. I definitely will.