My Slightly Offline EDC
Awhile back I made a post about the The Form Factor Method and how the style/type of device I was using seemed to have a pretty profound impact on how I used it.
I won’t bullshit you and pretend I’ve kept up every rule I put forward. Like most people my relationship and needs with my devices is always evolving. But as I’ve been home on paternity leave with our new daughter I’ve had the space to catch myself letting the boundaries slide. The big one that always creeps its way back in is using the phone as an entertainment device. So since I’m lucky enough to have a few weeks to reset and reckon with what has and hasn’t been working — here’s what my current “slightly offline” set up looks like and the why behind it.
The Apple Watch is the ideal cellphone
Over the last couple years as I’ve gotten more into fitness and running again I’ve really enjoyed having an Apple Watch again. I happened to get the one with cell connection because of a promotional deal and it’s actually changed the game for me. I’ll never get lost on the tiny ass screen doomscrolling. I can text, email, call, digital wallet, all the modern basics. So I’ve been daily driving it as my main phone and it’s really been working out perfect. I have most notifications turned off so I don’t find it distracting and I’m able to have all my essentials if I need them. I also recently found my missing AirPod pro when we were moving and having a decent set of Bluetooth earbuds makes calling even easier and less awkward. You look like less of a freak talking into your wrist on speaker phone.
So the iPhone is banished to the drawer. I can grab it when I really do need it. Which isn’t often.
I’m an iPad baby
I haven’t owned an iPad in a really long time, but I recently stumbled into owning an iPad mini. I’ve slowly moved over to using it more and more and I’ve been surprised how useful it is without sucking me in the same way a phone does. Something about having this bigger device to lug around makes me not fall back into bad habits I’m trying to avoid. I can do a lot of things I would usually do on my phone like email, catch up on messages, basic digital housekeeping and reading — but I don’t get sucked in.
I can’t speak for other tablets but Apple really does have iPad OS in a place now where you can have it replace your computer most of the time. For me at least the more focus and restricted nature of iPad OS also keeps me from getting sucked down a tinkering rabbit hole like I do on my desktop sometimes. I still have a Mac mini and my Linux laptop when I need them, but most of the time I can get what I need done on the iPad. I’m even experimenting by writing this post on it right now with a Bluetooth keyboard and it’s pretty perfect.
I have to make a conscious decision to not myself install to much that might suck me in but so far I’ve found this replaces a laptop for me in a lot of ways and compliments using the watch as my phone really cleanly.
iPod is still my rock
I’m still using my upgraded iPod video often and I keep my entire music library on it as well and loading it up with a bunch of podcasts every week or two. If I want to listen to something current I can always use the iPad for the sake of speed, but I’m using the iPod as my daily driver. Only thing that would make me use it even more is a proper Bluetooth upgrade for things like a run or the gym. But I can always just use my watch and I’m not being puritanical about where I listen.
Just a notebook
It might just be my YouTube algorithm but I feel like I’m seeing people talk about pocket notebooks everywhere. I’ve been writing by hand a lot more the last couple years in larger notebooks and I’m giving carrying around a couple field notes a go right now just to see if it works for me any better. I’ve been using a fairly dumbed down and modified version of the bullet journal system for a few years and I’m just continuing that here. Also playing around with the idea of a separate notebook to track health/exercise but whether I keep that up is pretty up in the air. I keep most of my notes/tasks/journaling in there and I can always migrate stuff to digital if needed.
I think there’s a lot of note taking apps and note taking/poductivity content out there that sells you on a beautifully curated second brain. Frankly I think for most people this is a waste of time and just give you the illusion of learning, thinking, and building. Just write things down by hand. You’ll keep what you need I promise.
Going forward
Right now this set up working pretty damn great for me. I’m able to do everything I need to without it taking over my subconscious. I’m sure I’ll continue to tweak things, but if anything I’m finding that my original thesis still holds (at least personally). The form factor of the tech really does affect how I use it.