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I Ditched My Smartphone for 30 Days—What Happened Will Shock You (No Uber, No WhatsApp, No Maps!)
Living completely phone-free in 2025 taught me lessons about freedom, focus, and staying connected without a screen.
Ark
August 15, 2025
Living Without a Smartphone: A Journey of Simplicity and Workarounds
In a world increasingly tailored for smartphones, choosing to live without one can feel like swimming against the tide. For the past three years, I’ve been using a basic “dumb phone” while living in France, far from my roots in the US. The transition hasn’t been seamless—it’s required creativity, patience, and a willingness to embrace alternative solutions. While my digital setup is a work in progress, I’ve found practical ways to navigate daily life without relying on a smartphone. Here’s a glimpse into how I manage communication, transportation, navigation, and other essentials with a dumb phone, along with some insights into the challenges and unexpected joys of this lifestyle.
Communication: Bridging the Gap Without Apps
Living in France with a dumb phone that has a local number, I can make calls and send texts locally with ease. Initially, I used WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends here, accessing it through the WhatsApp web browser or the desktop app on my MacBook. Over time, I asked my friends to switch to traditional texting and calling, and they were surprisingly accommodating. This shift simplified my communication and reduced my reliance on internet-based platforms.
For international communication with friends and family in the US, I rely on my MacBook for iMessage and FaceTime. I’m not always available to respond instantly, but I check messages periodically and schedule FaceTime calls in advance. This approach keeps me connected without the constant pull of a smartphone.
Transportation: Paper Tickets and Taxi Workarounds
Navigating transportation without a smartphone has required some old-school tactics. For plane tickets, I jot down the confirmation code on a piece of paper, store it in my wallet, and use it at airport kiosks to print a physical ticket. This method not only works reliably but also alleviates my irrational fear of a smartphone battery dying at the worst moment. Having a paper ticket feels reassuringly tangible.
For train travel, I typically buy tickets at the station for shorter trips. For longer or more complex journeys, I book online using my laptop, print the ticket, and bring it along. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft aren’t available in my small French town, but I keep local taxi numbers saved for emergencies. A friend introduced me to a workaround for Bolt, a ride-sharing alternative, by directly contacting the town’s sole Bolt driver. In the US, Uber offers a phone-based booking option (1-833-USE-UBER), which I haven’t tried but sounds like a promising smartphone-free solution.
My dumb phone lacks built-in navigation, so I plan ahead. For walking or biking, I look up directions on my laptop beforehand, jotting down addresses or key turns if needed. Occasionally, I ask locals for directions, which hasn’t been a major issue. For longer car trips, like driving from France to Germany, my husband and I share a car equipped with a TomTom navigation system, which we’re testing as a less clunky alternative to using his old iPhone SE as a GPS. This dedicated device promises to streamline navigation without relying on a smartphone.
Managing Digital Tools: Laptops, iPads, and Boundaries
Between my husband and me, we share a MacBook and an iPad. Initially, we used the iPad as a secondary laptop for personal projects, but I found it distracting and prone to pulling me into time-wasting activities. To address this, my husband changed the iPad’s passcode to one I don’t know, limiting my access. I only use it for specific tasks, like accessing my banking app for occasional authentications or the Libby app to borrow e-books from my hometown library in the US when English books are unavailable locally. This setup keeps my digital interactions focused and intentional.
QR codes for event tickets or package pickups are a minor hurdle. For concerts, I print the ticket; for packages, I write down the tracking number and bring my ID to the post office, where staff can look it up. At restaurants, where QR code menus are increasingly common, I simply ask for a paper menu, which most places still have on hand.
Music is a big part of my life, and I’ve embraced offline methods to enjoy it. I borrow CDs from the local library, swapping them out weekly to discover new music. My portable CD player, which runs on batteries, and the built-in CD player in our car make this a delightful, smartphone-free hobby. I also found an old iPod at my parents’ house, which I use for podcasts and audio-based yoga sessions. Yoga podcasts, like those offering guided instructions without a screen, have become a favorite way to start my day without diving into YouTube.
Embracing Simplicity: Books, Boredom, and a Digital Camera
For downtime, I carry a book to read or simply embrace moments of boredom, which has been an unexpected gift of this lifestyle. It’s taught me to be present and comfortable with stillness. For photos, I’ve rediscovered a 2011 digital camera from my parents’ house. Its lightweight design and decent quality make it a fun, intentional way to capture moments without the constant temptation of a smartphone camera.
Bills, insurance, and other administrative tasks are handled on my laptop, while YouTube—my only social media—is accessed there too. For note-taking, I rely on a physical notebook and pen, which keeps my thoughts organized without digital distractions.
Challenges and Reflections
Living without a smartphone isn’t without its challenges. In some places, like Norway, daily tasks heavily rely on smartphone apps, and employers may require smartphone use for work. These realities can make opting out feel nearly impossible for some. Even in my case, certain tasks—like occasional banking authentications or accessing e-books—require creative workarounds or reliance on shared devices. Yet, these hurdles have pushed me to find solutions that align with my preference for a simpler, less tethered life.
Switching to a dumb phone has been a journey of adaptation, but it’s gotten easier over time. The workarounds I’ve developed aren’t perfect, but they work for my lifestyle. For others considering this path, the key is to identify your needs and experiment with alternatives—whether it’s paper tickets, physical notebooks, or direct phone calls. While the world may be built for smartphones, it’s still possible to carve out a space for simplicity, creativity, and connection without one.
Hopefully, my experience offers a few ideas for navigating a smartphone-centric world without fully buying in. As infrastructure evolves, I hope more options emerge for those who want to opt out without feeling forced to conform. For now, I’ll keep refining my setup, enjoying the offline hobbies, and savoring the freedom of a less connected life.
