"What is this guy talking about? Has he lost it completely?" Maybe... lol. But hear me out.
If you remember 2005, think back to how we lived. How did we meet up with friends? How did we listen to music, watch movies, or get anywhere?
There were barely any smartphones. Blackberries were king. The iPhone didn’t exist yet. If you wanted to buy something, you went to a store. If you needed directions, you got lost and figured it out. And somehow, we all survived. I look back at that time fondly.
So, where am I going with this? I recently watched a video of someone unbundling their iPhone, stripping away the non-essential apps, and rethinking their relationship with tech. That got me thinking: What if I did the same?
Step 1: Bringing Back the Camera
The first thing I did was stop using my phone for photos. Instead, I started carrying a real camera.
This fully unlocked the joy of actually taking photos instead of just snapping and sharing. Our phones optimize for effortless, perfect shots, but they also strip away the fun of learning, experimenting, and being present.
When the photo just exists on the camera, there’s less social compulsion to post it or share it. You take the shot, look at it, maybe take another, then put the camera away.
This all ties into my IRL theme this year, a continuation of last year’s goal. IRL just means doing things in real life instead of through a screen:
- No pulling out my phone for maps, photos, restaurant searches, or notifications.
- No filtering my experiences through a lens.
- Just being present.
Step 2: Music, Baby!
Music has always been one of my favorite things. But today, algorithms do all the work. Every song in existence is available, but somehow, music discovery feels less personal.
What happened to buying an album, popping it into a CD player, and listening to it from start to finish? What happened to trading mixtapes and discovering music through actual people?
Streaming has flattened the creative space. AI doesn’t explore the fringes. It sticks to the middle of the bell curve. The safe stuff. The easy stuff. The stuff it knows you’ll like. But what are we missing?
That’s why I decided to opt out. Instead of streaming, I’m going back to physical media. Buying CDs. Finding MP3s. Listening intentionally.
Step 3: Cutting Out Streaming
Here’s where things get crazy. No more Netflix. No more endless scrolling. Instead, I’m buying DVDs and choosing movies intentionally.
Yeah, I know. Sounds extreme. But remember how we used to ask friends for recommendations instead of relying on whatever garbage Netflix pushed to the front page?
I used to work at Blockbuster, and back then, movie culture was real. People actually talked about films, shared their favorites, and dug deep into different genres.
Step 4: Ditching Google Maps & Getting Lost Again
The next step in my offline experiment? No more GPS. I want to get lost. Be late. Read street signs. Find new places by accident.
There was a time when we actually memorized things. Now? If Google Maps disappeared tomorrow, most people couldn’t find their way home.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, slowing down is actually more fun. Just try it.
- Leave your phone in your pocket.
- Take pictures with a camera.
- Buy a physical album or movie.
- Experience things without an algorithm deciding for you.
And who knows? Maybe we’ll start mailing each other handwritten letters instead of texting.