Gotta start somewhere in-between and adjust from there. Quitting anything cold turkey is always significantly harder. Relapses, binges, etc, are a sign that you pushed yourself faster than you were ready for.
And in line with this channel's theme - how often do we see privacy newbies try to go full hardcore, instantly burn out and then give up entirely? It's all about finding that balance.
This video came to me in the right moment, I was loosing too much time in the smartphone everyday. Thanks for the tips, I already activated the monocromatic screen and hided all the apps in the menu. And I totaly changed my way of using it by searching for the app in the search bar instead of rolling out the menu. THANK YOU!
I’m absolutely addicted to my phone (actually I’m addicted to constant distractions, and my phone is the quickest/easiest way to get that). It really impaired my productivity and my ability to focus.
This was a great video. I liked how you are providing real and concrete suggestions on how to digitally minimize our lives. And it does go beyond the conventional advice of "try harder". Actively filtering what you need/don't need makes it much better. These were great tips!
I just started using lock screen widgets on my dumbed-down 13 mini and they're really good. Being able to launch apps instantly is so helpful for avoiding distractions. There's apps to make custom lock screen widgets because most apps don't utilize it.
For anyone interested in reading and in reading non-fiction. I highly recommend a book (currently reading) called The Shallows (What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains) by Nicholas Carr. It is fascinating. You can really get to understand what is happening to the brain from using all this tech. Less obvious information with alot of historical references also 👍
Great Video, I have removed youtube and other apps from my samsung through adb and placed a screen time widget on my home screen which helped a lot. I will try this DNS thing today
i got interested in digital minimalism some time ago and i bought a Samsung device for that purpose. man, the Modes and Routines are such a beast! i managed to slip from 4h to 2h 30 min screen time in two months. now wishing to do the same with my computer usage, but i suppose it won't be that easy lol
@Azu10157 i use one mode to dumbify my phone at night and at work and the routine to turn on the grayscale and blue light filter at certain time. also, some of my favourite are setting the EQ when i connect my BT headphones or turning on location services when i open the maps or the weather app. very nifty feature
Thanks for the video, Henry! I learned a lot, but was still hoping to see you scroll through your app list or discuss some more specific settings you use besides screen time; pretty sure you gave up lockdown mode though. What apps are in the folder on your dock?
Still using lockdown on that device. And a lot of these apps are just specific to this device, it'd be tricky to cover my mobile workflow in a way where I could show everything I'm using for various workflows.
l use a Samsung and it's truly amazing because you can disable the app library and pretty much costumese it the way you want, i applied your advice and it's been amazing
I use the 13 mini and the pixel 5a with Lineage. I use the 13 for banking, auto insurance, youtube, internet isp app, and dasher mainly. everything else is on the pixel.
having to know first what you want to do and utilizing search function to find it is why gnome DE appeals to me and will install it when I get a new computer so far on Windows I learned to use search to find apps instead of looking at the desktop or start, now just need to learn to do the same on the phone
(Android) At some point I discovered Nova Launcher's ability to change an app folder so that it looks like and acts like the first app inside it - but still displays notification badges from everything in it and _actually_ opens up on swipe-up. It's not exactly for minimalism, but it does cut down on distractions.
I found this video because my iPhone 6S (yes, from 2016) is on its last leg battery-wise. As I'm deep into the Apple ecosystem, I am conflicted because I don't want to spend nearly 1k on a new phone when I occasionally text, call, and use some loyalty apps and use either my M1 MB Air for everything else or iPad 5 as a back up. Change is scary! Thanks for your content.
thanks for this. i feel like my phone is in desperate need of a clear out but the minimalist phones look way too basic for me. i'm going to try and customise my iphone like you have
I love synchronicitys!!! I JUST purchased my very FIRST I-phone. With this EXACT intent in mind. I hate my provider AT$T (long story which involves getting stuck in Brazil with no working Sim...AT$T to dumb to just switch my Android to electronic sim as I was unawareof this option). Sooo back to my brand new iPhone 11se I got at ChinaMart for $149 (rollback from $349) I don't even know what color it is or care fore that matter because I will put a protective case on it anyways. I will now be giving Verizon a shot as provider (still have original # for decades on my Android which I will wipe and put new operating system free of Google, CIA, FBI and LMNOP...😂😂😂
Been trying to do this for a while but you seem to be much more strict about it. Watching this makes me feel like I should be deleting some unnecessary apps from my phone.
(I am writing with the help of a translator.) Question about wireless headphones. How safe and private is it to use wireless headphones now? At the moment I use regular wired earphones, but for the sake of convenience I’m thinking about wireless headphones. My devices only support Bluetooth 5.0 and 5.1 where there is no proper encryption. What do you think of it?
iphone se and its 4.7" screen has entered the chat.If we are putting the bare minimum on a ios device & want a small screen why not the se?Its more than capable imo.
Is dark mode better for productivity? I swich forth and back from time to time, but I can't see anything on sunny day with dark mode. I feel like light mode might actually save battery because I'm keeping brightness lower, at least on LCD screen, I don't have AMOLED.
Pod catcher, audiobook reader, texting, weather underground (vastly Superior to any other weather app,} maps, camera, ad free browser, notes, contacts and the dialer. You never put social media on a phone. Not ever. That's all I need. The only time I'm really checking my phone is when I get texts or I'm setting up a play q in the pod catcher. That or searching for something in maps
It would be nice to hide apps and disable hidden apps show to apps in spotlight . so that your only option would be to go in Setting - Apps to find what you need so that it would be a much more intentional action and add friction .
And thats the reason Apple did give you a app draw because otherwise you have all your apps on your schreen like ios was like before setting app limmits and stuff is useless in my opinion just put your phone in not disturb when your home or use a dum phone
Ive went through the minimal to bloat to minimal to bloat so many times. Maybe this time it will stick.
Gotta start somewhere in-between and adjust from there. Quitting anything cold turkey is always significantly harder. Relapses, binges, etc, are a sign that you pushed yourself faster than you were ready for.
And in line with this channel's theme - how often do we see privacy newbies try to go full hardcore, instantly burn out and then give up entirely? It's all about finding that balance.
I think this behavior is normal. It's natural to obtain clutter which requires scheduled clean up. You're doing fine. Keep it up.
This video came to me in the right moment, I was loosing too much time in the smartphone everyday. Thanks for the tips, I already activated the monocromatic screen and hided all the apps in the menu. And I totaly changed my way of using it by searching for the app in the search bar instead of rolling out the menu. THANK YOU!
I’m absolutely addicted to my phone (actually I’m addicted to constant distractions, and my phone is the quickest/easiest way to get that). It really impaired my productivity and my ability to focus.
Thank you for the great video, and the peek into your personal preferences
🌒 Pitch-black backlight-less OLED with only a dock of icons at the bottom looks like most of the screen is just _gone._ It's a lovely effect.
This was a great video. I liked how you are providing real and concrete suggestions on how to digitally minimize our lives. And it does go beyond the conventional advice of "try harder". Actively filtering what you need/don't need makes it much better. These were great tips!
I just started using lock screen widgets on my dumbed-down 13 mini and they're really good. Being able to launch apps instantly is so helpful for avoiding distractions.
There's apps to make custom lock screen widgets because most apps don't utilize it.
For anyone interested in reading and in reading non-fiction. I highly recommend a book (currently reading) called The Shallows (What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains) by Nicholas Carr. It is fascinating. You can really get to understand what is happening to the brain from using all this tech. Less obvious information with alot of historical references also 👍
I'm also a fan of Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, just finished reading it (books.theunseen.city/user/henry/books/read
I'll check yours out!
Great Video, I have removed youtube and other apps from my samsung through adb and placed a screen time widget on my home screen which helped a lot.
I will try this DNS thing today
Great tip for Android peeps!
btw I don't know if this actually uninstalls it or not, it might just delete it from the app list but not delete the files and save space.
it deletes the whole package which just makes one unable to use the app, you will have to reinstall it through adb again to use it@@bubbleboy821
No, it literally uninstalls it from the system. Ask me how I am so sure about this 😅
Great content. I have been on a huge crazy to properly prevent myself from using my phone as a sin device. Digital minimalism is amazing.
I feel like in this day and age it has to be equal parts minimalism and self control which is something most people don't take into consideration.
Couldn’t agree more about the iPhone mini. I will rock mine as long as possible.
Same. Holding on for the long haul.
i got interested in digital minimalism some time ago and i bought a Samsung device for that purpose.
man, the Modes and Routines are such a beast! i managed to slip from 4h to 2h 30 min screen time in two months. now wishing to do the same with my computer usage, but i suppose it won't be that easy lol
same@Azu10157
@Azu10157 i use one mode to dumbify my phone at night and at work and the routine to turn on the grayscale and blue light filter at certain time.
also, some of my favourite are setting the EQ when i connect my BT headphones or turning on location services when i open the maps or the weather app.
very nifty feature
Thanks for the video, Henry! I learned a lot, but was still hoping to see you scroll through your app list or discuss some more specific settings you use besides screen time; pretty sure you gave up lockdown mode though. What apps are in the folder on your dock?
Still using lockdown on that device. And a lot of these apps are just specific to this device, it'd be tricky to cover my mobile workflow in a way where I could show everything I'm using for various workflows.
👋It was informative. Can you please make a android version video🙏🙏🙏
Hey man, what did you mean by Zenphone has other issues?
l use a Samsung and it's truly amazing because you can disable the app library and pretty much costumese it the way you want, i applied your advice and it's been amazing
Thank you so much for this
I use the 13 mini and the pixel 5a with Lineage. I use the 13 for banking, auto insurance, youtube, internet isp app, and dasher mainly. everything else is on the pixel.
Just implemented all these tips on to my phone. Thanks Techlore
Agree on wishing you could hide App Library.
having to know first what you want to do and utilizing search function to find it is why gnome DE appeals to me and will install it when I get a new computer
so far on Windows I learned to use search to find apps instead of looking at the desktop or start, now just need to learn to do the same on the phone
(Android) At some point I discovered Nova Launcher's ability to change an app folder so that it looks like and acts like the first app inside it - but still displays notification badges from everything in it and _actually_ opens up on swipe-up. It's not exactly for minimalism, but it does cut down on distractions.
This is awesome!! Good find. My favorite launcher on Android is olauncher :)
@@techlore, if I recall correctly its privacy policy states something about possible data collection.
What do you think about to soldering out some parts like the Camera (or Plug out), microphone, GPS Chip ??
I found this video because my iPhone 6S (yes, from 2016) is on its last leg battery-wise. As I'm deep into the Apple ecosystem, I am conflicted because I don't want to spend nearly 1k on a new phone when I occasionally text, call, and use some loyalty apps and use either my M1 MB Air for everything else or iPad 5 as a back up. Change is scary! Thanks for your content.
thanks for this. i feel like my phone is in desperate need of a clear out but the minimalist phones look way too basic for me. i'm going to try and customise my iphone like you have
I really like cryptee but how do you handle backups? I get stressed out when thinking about having notes that may vanish because no backup
2:21 what’s the name of the « phone » app at the top of your screen ?
Google Voice - He uses it for SMS so that he doesn’t have to give out his real phone number to companies.
I love synchronicitys!!! I JUST purchased my very FIRST I-phone. With this EXACT intent in mind. I hate my provider AT$T (long story which involves getting stuck in Brazil with no working Sim...AT$T to dumb to just switch my Android to electronic sim as I was unawareof this option). Sooo back to my brand new iPhone 11se I got at ChinaMart for $149 (rollback from $349) I don't even know what color it is or care fore that matter because I will put a protective case on it anyways. I will now be giving Verizon a shot as provider (still have original # for decades on my Android which I will wipe and put new operating system free of Google, CIA, FBI and LMNOP...😂😂😂
Been trying to do this for a while but you seem to be much more strict about it. Watching this makes me feel like I should be deleting some unnecessary apps from my phone.
Okay, cool, but I find changing the colors to grayscale too extreme...
(I am writing with the help of a translator.)
Question about wireless headphones. How safe and private is it to use wireless headphones now? At the moment I use regular wired earphones, but for the sake of convenience I’m thinking about wireless headphones. My devices only support Bluetooth 5.0 and 5.1 where there is no proper encryption. What do you think of it?
When setting up Apple ID with an email, could you use an alias email from simple login? I run into the problem of it asking for a password
iphone se and its 4.7" screen has entered the chat.If we are putting the bare minimum on a ios device & want a small screen why not the se?Its more than capable imo.
Is dark mode better for productivity? I swich forth and back from time to time, but I can't see anything on sunny day with dark mode.
I feel like light mode might actually save battery because I'm keeping brightness lower, at least on LCD screen, I don't have AMOLED.
Pod catcher, audiobook reader, texting, weather underground (vastly Superior to any other weather app,} maps, camera, ad free browser, notes, contacts and the dialer. You never put social media on a phone. Not ever. That's all I need. The only time I'm really checking my phone is when I get texts or I'm setting up a play q in the pod catcher. That or searching for something in maps
Yup that’s why I have the mini series just text calls mostly I’m sick of the large phones I have to lug around
It would be nice to hide apps and disable hidden apps show to apps in spotlight . so that your only option would be to go in Setting - Apps to find what you need so that it would be a much more intentional action and add friction .
With iOS 17, there is a new feature called Assistive Access which is pretty much a dumb phone mode.
I just watched this video on PeerTube!
I also use the 13 mini ;) thanks for this
Work More on your interest > 99 hacks to focus on your work by reducing screen time
I throw my phone away when I work and vice versa
Which wallpaper do you have??
All for it, I want a phone with minimal function but I do want to be able to take photos. I can't find a dumb phone with that.
You can also ask someone else to put in the password for you
Pixel 8 has Android Alternatives that are very nice
I dont like the app library tooo good to know I’m not the only one who hates it 😅
I'm sorry but i really cant deal with the greyscale. I like having wallpapers and such customized
Valid! It's your own journey, so definitely modify to your liking :)
I want a Apple Watch without the health tech and Watch with VPN tech
And thats the reason Apple did give you a app draw because otherwise you have all your apps on your schreen like ios was like before setting app limmits and stuff is useless in my opinion just put your phone in not disturb when your home or use a dum phone
No point in doing any of that on a Apple device.
Why
That's as hard as you can punch? ;-) /s
It’s odd that someone would buy such an expensive and capable phone and then dumb it down to this degree. Just buy a cheaper, more simple phone.
i just got this phone on ebay for 300... how much cheaper can you get for a smartphone?
If they had a smartphone already before going to this lifestyle, then it's cheaper to use the phone they already have than buy a new phone
iPhone. 😂
Palm phone.
Bro, just grow up mate
What
Iphone is a$$. Android is best ❤