Living in 20 years ago
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2024 10:53 am
To some, this will still just be everyday, but to most, me included, it's a much different, better way of life.
I recently got fed up with the current day, the gigantic social media platforms, constant notifications and advertisements everywhere.
So I decided to start living mostly like I did around 2004. I've been doing it for a while, and I thought I would write down how it's going, what I'm doing and how I'm doing things.
Number one was to quit doom-scrolling social media, and stop using pointless apps that really added no value to my life, other than termorary amusement. Like many others I've been using my smartphone a lot. Way too much, in fact. I found myself constantly pulling the damn thing out of my pocket with the feeling that I just had to check something. Only to realize it was completely pointless and it just made me annoyed.
To combat this I turned the sound off, and put a 10 minute/24 hour time limit on all social media apps in the phone, started leaving it at home when going out, and really the biggest difference, get a second SIM and put that in an old dumb phone I can bring with me for calling and sending the occasional text message. This really made a world of difference. I no longer feel the need to constantly check on the phone for notifications and other shit, and I don't stress about where I've put that damn slab of glass..
The smartphone has now been reduced to what's basically a modern-day PDA and pocket camera. I'm using it as, well, a PDA! For the occasional web search, checking email, multifactor authenticator, payments, shopping lists, and as a camera. If I plan the days before-hand I can easily leave it at home when I head out.
The little time I spend on social media is now done on the computer. But since it's much more inconvenient, I only use it to chat with people and interact, rather than aimlessly scrolling for nothing out of boredom, with that stange "need" to do it..
I've completely stopped using streaming music services, after getting completely fed up with their algorithms and crap. Instead I've started buying CDs again. This isn't nearly as convenient and cheap, but I've found it to be a lot more satisfying. When listening to streaming music it's so easy to just skip tracks, become picky, having a hard time deciding what to listen to, etc. With a limited amount of music I'm much more thoughtful and deliberate with what I choose to listen to. Especially when bringing music with me, either on the iPod, MiniDisc or the CD Walkman.
Same with computers and things around the home. There is no urge to have the latest and greatest flashy stuff with RGB lighting, the latest home automation stuff or anything like that. It's just less clutter and connected things that can go wrong and be annoying with how online everything is. A lightswitch shouldn't need to be on the internet to function, for example..
I've swapped the smart-speaker I only used as an alarm clock, with an early 2000s Sony alarm clock. Unsuprisingly it does the job a hell lot better.
All this isn't strictly to use old tech though, even if it's partially rooted in nostalgia, with an urge to live the better life that was. It's more a way of living how it was, with the tech I have, regardless of how old my stuff is, if that makes any sense..
I've found all this to be a lot more rewarding and pleasing in the long run. It's not neccesarily a way to live a more spartan, simpler life, but one that requires a bit more effort to achive the same things, without relying on others constantly. There's a lot less MOFO induced stress and anxiety.
For me, this seems like the right way to go. I enjoy life a lot more this way. It's heaps more peaceful.
Give it a try if you're curious! in my opinion it's absolutely worth it. Just because new things exist, doesn't mean the old cease to.
Feel free to post thoughts, opinions and ideas below.
I recently got fed up with the current day, the gigantic social media platforms, constant notifications and advertisements everywhere.
So I decided to start living mostly like I did around 2004. I've been doing it for a while, and I thought I would write down how it's going, what I'm doing and how I'm doing things.
Number one was to quit doom-scrolling social media, and stop using pointless apps that really added no value to my life, other than termorary amusement. Like many others I've been using my smartphone a lot. Way too much, in fact. I found myself constantly pulling the damn thing out of my pocket with the feeling that I just had to check something. Only to realize it was completely pointless and it just made me annoyed.
To combat this I turned the sound off, and put a 10 minute/24 hour time limit on all social media apps in the phone, started leaving it at home when going out, and really the biggest difference, get a second SIM and put that in an old dumb phone I can bring with me for calling and sending the occasional text message. This really made a world of difference. I no longer feel the need to constantly check on the phone for notifications and other shit, and I don't stress about where I've put that damn slab of glass..
The smartphone has now been reduced to what's basically a modern-day PDA and pocket camera. I'm using it as, well, a PDA! For the occasional web search, checking email, multifactor authenticator, payments, shopping lists, and as a camera. If I plan the days before-hand I can easily leave it at home when I head out.
The little time I spend on social media is now done on the computer. But since it's much more inconvenient, I only use it to chat with people and interact, rather than aimlessly scrolling for nothing out of boredom, with that stange "need" to do it..
I've completely stopped using streaming music services, after getting completely fed up with their algorithms and crap. Instead I've started buying CDs again. This isn't nearly as convenient and cheap, but I've found it to be a lot more satisfying. When listening to streaming music it's so easy to just skip tracks, become picky, having a hard time deciding what to listen to, etc. With a limited amount of music I'm much more thoughtful and deliberate with what I choose to listen to. Especially when bringing music with me, either on the iPod, MiniDisc or the CD Walkman.
Same with computers and things around the home. There is no urge to have the latest and greatest flashy stuff with RGB lighting, the latest home automation stuff or anything like that. It's just less clutter and connected things that can go wrong and be annoying with how online everything is. A lightswitch shouldn't need to be on the internet to function, for example..
I've swapped the smart-speaker I only used as an alarm clock, with an early 2000s Sony alarm clock. Unsuprisingly it does the job a hell lot better.
All this isn't strictly to use old tech though, even if it's partially rooted in nostalgia, with an urge to live the better life that was. It's more a way of living how it was, with the tech I have, regardless of how old my stuff is, if that makes any sense..
I've found all this to be a lot more rewarding and pleasing in the long run. It's not neccesarily a way to live a more spartan, simpler life, but one that requires a bit more effort to achive the same things, without relying on others constantly. There's a lot less MOFO induced stress and anxiety.
For me, this seems like the right way to go. I enjoy life a lot more this way. It's heaps more peaceful.
Give it a try if you're curious! in my opinion it's absolutely worth it. Just because new things exist, doesn't mean the old cease to.
Feel free to post thoughts, opinions and ideas below.