Why I Made it and How I Use it

So, I bought the super popular Light Phone 2 and paid $10 per month for an extra line and then made a solid leather case for it just like our Leather iPhone Case. Before I leave work, I turn on Call Forwarding to my Light Phone number to use in the evenings and weekends and I leave my iPhone at work. Sometimes I cheat.

Leather Light Phone 2 Case Size

The Light Phone 2 is the size of a ¼" thick stack of business cards, but a smidge longer and is purposefully basic. It just has calling, full keyboard texting without auto correct, an alarm, calculator, MP3 and directions. No internet, no camera.&&The Leather Light Phone 2 Case makes it slightly bigger, but barely. It's very protective to preserve the battery from extreme temperatures and shock damage. And it looks cool.

Why?

After laying in bed for an hour and a half looking at our phones without talking, I turned to my wife and said something like this, "Honey, we have to do something about how much time we're on our iPhones. We've tried everything and nothing works. It's so unhealthy and it's slowly boiling to death our marriage, game life, parenting, our kids' self esteem, spiritual life, fun, memory, concentration, friendships, intellectual growth, health and hobbies... one tap at a time". She nodded to me and said, "You're right. Lead us." So here's what I did. And I'm hoping by telling you this that my story will help someone else who has tried everything too. &&My brother had heard about how popular the Light Phone 2 was and realized how much his phone was damaging his family too, so he bought one. He said it changed his life. A few days later, two customers came into our leather showroom and showed me their Light Phone 2's and said it changed their lives too. They said they keep their iPhones at work because they're indispensable for what they do, and use their Light Phones at night and on the weekends. Then, as I was re-reading one of the best books I've read in years, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, I somehow had missed the part where he mentioned the Light Phone to help take busy-ness out of our lives. Cool. &&I had planned to sell my iPhone and get a dumbphone, but realized it's WAY too necessary of a tool for the work and travel we do. Here's our plan so far. But it may change. But trying something is better than doing nothing and complaining about it. We're sharing our experience to try to help others figure out the best way to fix their problem too. Not everyone has a problem with their smartphones, but if you're like us, then hopefully this will help.

Our Rules for Home

We didn't go to live in a cave and we like being connected. So here are some things we do to make it possible. &&We use our MacBooks or iPads at home, but we have a place where we can uncomfortably STAND with a timer to check weather, sports scores or read the news after a certain time. And we pay the kids $20 each if I spend more than 5 minutes at a time on it or if I remove it from the countertop without their permission. I bought a dimmable red alarm clock so it doesn't light the room at night - The RISE alarm clocks wake you peacefully and slowly with light, bird sounds or nice smells. I designed my own leather Ringed Daily Planner like I used to have and joined the ranks of the millions of other professionals who primarily use a Daily Planner to stay organized. I bought a small retro looking cult following Fujifilm camera with a couple of lenses that takes WAY WAY WAY better photos and videos than my iPhone and I designed a cool leather camera case and strap for it. I bluetooth the photos and videos to my iPhone to upload and send out if I take some at night or on the weekends. I have my hobby back!!

Why Run When You Can Walk

I am purposefully removing things from my life and forcing myself to slow down. A very wise man said, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die". In Bora Bora they told me, "Why run when you can walk?". Why go so fast? For what? The wisest man in history said in The Book of Ecclesiastes that it's a shame when he sees someone work all of his days and not take a break and enjoy the fruits of his labor, because he's just going to die and then people, who didn't earn or deserve all that he worked for, are going to give away or squander it all. The Light Phone and leather case for it will help.

We're Racking Up a Bill For Our Children

We are racking up a bill our children will have to pay dearly for later. This is very serious. The results of dozens of psychological, medical and scientific studies are consolidated below. We're on track to be the dumbest and most miserable people ever because of the distractive nature of smartphones. The studies show the following effects on kids and people with a lot of screentime:&&Intellectually - They are the least imaginative or creative. Least able to think deeply, critically, analyze, focus or concentrate. We have the lowest IQ, worst academic performance and are the least productive at work - MIT and others proved multi-tasking puts out less and worse work.&&Socially - They are the least social and socially adjusted, least confident, able to read other's emotions and most isolated. &&Emotionally - They have the lowest self esteem, feel loneliest, unhappiest, most unattractive, unsatisfied, depressed and most anxious. They are the least fulfilled and most likely to commit suicide. &&Physically - They are the most physically unhealthy, addicted to porn, narcissistic (think about ourselves), out of shape, overweight, least playful, have the most eye problems and sleep the least in all of recorded history. Read Why We Sleep. It's shocking.

Statistics on Smartphone Use

62% of adults hate how much time they spend on their smartphones. 54% of teens say they spend too much time on them. 60% of family members wish others would unplug more. Discipline does not need to sit on the edge of temptation. If you are an alcoholic, quit your job at the bar. Remove your smartphone far from you in time off. Get a Light Phone or some dumbphone and slow down.

13 Signs You're Addicted to Your Smartphone

If these describe you, then you and I have the same addiction&&You check your smartphone secretly. You can't remember the last time you were bored. You read work emails at home. You watch movies while doing other things on your smartphone. The first thing you do when you wake up is look at your smartphone. You don't engage or talk with your spouse or kids as much. You lay the smartphone on the dinner table at meals. It bothers you not to have your smartphone with you at all times. You don't usually get more than 6 to 7 hours of sleep. You can't concentrate, meditate or pray alone for longer than 9 seconds. You aren't active in a hobby. You can't remember the last time you read a real book. People close to you say you're addicted to your smartphone.

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