I just bought a DVD player this fall for a similar reason. We try to limit screen time in my home and the TV was starting to feel like a pain point. I worry about how overstimulating and honestly confusing it is to use 5 streaming services to find something we want to watch as a family. Plus, I try to implement opportunities for delay gratification for my toddler and myself in a world that is so instant. It’s good for our hearts to flex our “patience” muscles often. A DVD player has been great for that because we are only watching family movies from the library that we only go to once every two weeks. Besides the serious Blockbuster nostalgia vibes, it gives our brains a break from the decision fatigue in figuring out what to watch as a family on family movie night.
There is a device on Amazon called Cell2Jack that lets you convert any old traditional phone into a Bluetooth device for your cell phone. I have used mine to distance myself from my cell phone at home but not miss calls. You might like the nostalgia of it!
A group of parents at my kids’ school banded together and we all got landlines. It started as a group of about 5 families, but quickly grew as the kids all started talking about it at school. Now, it feels like everyone has one! It has been the best thing!! My late elementary grade girls call their friends all the time- to ask about homework, plan play dates, and just chat! My 5 year old uses it daily to talk to grandparents, call Daddy at work, etc. I honestly can’t recommend it enough. There are so many options- VoIP, a flip “dumb” phone that stays at home, traditional landline. To anyone on the fence, do it. You won’t regret it!
Caroline used her own money and pre-ordered one, B! And I just bought an Ooma phone (landline) thanks to so many suggestions here. 75% of the reason I always have my phone on me is because I'm worried my mom or dad will need me and not be able to reach me. I plan to only give the number to a few (including you -- in case the website goes up in flames haha).
I don’t use it unless I can not perform the task myself. I don’t use it to outsource my autonomy. Choosing what to meal plan/cook, where to go out to eat or what to order at a particular restaurant. I don’t let it plan my work outs, write my emails or plan my experiments (I am a scientist). I prefer to have human experience guided by humans and dialing in to what I feel, want and know from expertise. Writing is part of my job. If i let the machine do the simple stuff then the harder stuff gets harder rather than practiced and familiar. Recently I could not, however, figure out how to mock up a drawing for a particular project with enough accuracy to communicate correctly what I needed a contractor to understand, so I used it. When I reach for AI I ask myself what I am outsourcing and what I stand to lose in giving that opportunity to a machine and if it is really worth the resources or if it’s just another way to scam me into doing more more more in the same hours of a day.
This is how I feel about AI writing. God help me never ever let go of that lust for the way it feels to put words together just so. I die inside a little just considering the loss.
Yes. And for me, even letting it do the simple little emails or crafting a thank you note or whatever is an opportunity I can’t afford to lose. It’s a sneaky little thing to give those communication reps away. Think of the young professionals not developing those skills. How will that show up in conversation when they don’t craft those communications themselves. How much are we losing to let machines communicate for us. To me, it is not worth it. I prefer to accomplish less in a day than give those things away. And we can stand a little more humanity in our communication trivial and not.
Elizabeth, I appreciate this perspective. I look at it like a great copy editor- as it grows to know my voice, it helps me refine when I get stuck or double checks to make sure a bit of confusion doesn't detract from my message. Perhaps a little known use is to ask for a pep talk. After a tough work convo or feeling a little unmoored, I ask specifically for a grounding message for what I'm thinking about or just a pep talk to keep the main thing the main thing. It's a fun and effective use for ChatGPT.
Ok so this is totally not a online answer. Maybe I'm the one off center. But maybe what you are looking for is sabbath? Total disconnect. Our whole church did a Bible study (in Alpharetta, GA) so not a small one on the ways of Jesus. One of his ways was disconnect - he would go off and be. Perhaps that would calm your nervous system and allow you to "connect" with something eles? The ground, your dog, your coffee, a good book or even time spent in silence. Not another solution - not that the solutions here are not great, they are! But my first thought reading your post was "she needs to disconnect". I'm an IT person who loves all things computerish!!!!! But I have had to make myself disconnect. My word this month has been quiet. I am calm and the books and words I'm reading have been fulfilling along with the dog snuggles and good coffee.
Our scripture for the week that I picked for the top of the menu (which had the stacked sw potatoes) is Psalm 107:9 "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things" (ESV)
Anyway - thanks for sharing. And the other ideas from other readers I love those too.
I agree! I recently dived into the research about how the mere presence of our phone in the room distracts our mind. We lose focus so easily with just the possibity that something important could demand our attention in a minute. I have simplified my phone a lot, but as a mom with kids in school can you let go completely? I feel like I have to be reacheable on the parent-teacher chats.
We JUST let our landline go after many years of hanging on to it. I only used it for talking with my husband at work- otherwise only telemarketers called it- and it rang all day! But I love the idea of it and we were the last to give it up 😊
I was just thinking about a similar topic, particularly when it comes to our kids. It feels like a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of situation. I really want them to have real relationships, conversations, and times of boredom. I also want them to know they can get a hold of me when they need out of a situation. https://staceysthoughts.substack.com/p/if-you-need-more-conflict-in-your
Agreed on this. I even got a landline at one point but then all the many solicitors found my number and would call at 4am. Turning off the ringer is helpful but then you have to remember to turn it back on… other little annoying things like that had me ditch it.
For the environmentalists among us I just want to point an inconvenient truth about AI. It uses So. Much. Water. The environmental impact is not insignificant. When you google something it uses 2 grams of carbon. When you use AI it uses up to 5 grams of carbon. The water to cool one question you ask from AI is like dumping out a water bottle full of water each time. Something to consider when you just want to ask it one quick thing.
We JUST (finally) got rid of our landline about 2-3 years ago. I really only used it to call my mom, no one else. It dawned on me one day that I can just as easily call her on my cell. I do miss my landline & the phone number we had for SO many years 📞
So so good. This rings true in many ways. I love using ChatGPT for work as a communications professional, as a financial assistant, and even for things as simple as creative questions to ask my husband on date night!
I enjoy using AI to gain new perspectives or consider opportunities I wouldn’t normally think of. I even asked Chat to send me a daily email at 8:30 each morning with 3 leadership prompts to ask my team, a personal challenge, and to end with an inspiring quote.
At the same time, there are many times I consciously “sit in the struggle” as I labor towards the end result. I think it’s *so* important to actively choose tasks, activities, and hobbies that stretch and challenge us so we maintain our resilience muscle and stay in tune with the beautiful, natural pace of life as it was meant to live.
Sitting in the “in between” over here. Don’t have it all figured out, but trying and exploring with thought and intention 🤍
This is so relatable. I recently got my daughter the TinCan phone (a modern landline). I love hearing her conversations with dad as he’s driving home from work and seeing her frustration as she learns the concept of phone tag with her best friend.
I just bought a DVD player this fall for a similar reason. We try to limit screen time in my home and the TV was starting to feel like a pain point. I worry about how overstimulating and honestly confusing it is to use 5 streaming services to find something we want to watch as a family. Plus, I try to implement opportunities for delay gratification for my toddler and myself in a world that is so instant. It’s good for our hearts to flex our “patience” muscles often. A DVD player has been great for that because we are only watching family movies from the library that we only go to once every two weeks. Besides the serious Blockbuster nostalgia vibes, it gives our brains a break from the decision fatigue in figuring out what to watch as a family on family movie night.
There is a device on Amazon called Cell2Jack that lets you convert any old traditional phone into a Bluetooth device for your cell phone. I have used mine to distance myself from my cell phone at home but not miss calls. You might like the nostalgia of it!
A group of parents at my kids’ school banded together and we all got landlines. It started as a group of about 5 families, but quickly grew as the kids all started talking about it at school. Now, it feels like everyone has one! It has been the best thing!! My late elementary grade girls call their friends all the time- to ask about homework, plan play dates, and just chat! My 5 year old uses it daily to talk to grandparents, call Daddy at work, etc. I honestly can’t recommend it enough. There are so many options- VoIP, a flip “dumb” phone that stays at home, traditional landline. To anyone on the fence, do it. You won’t regret it!
Hoda has an amazing episode about thus on her podcast, Making Space! Love to seeing you and your community doing this! So cool! 🩷
We have been considering the TinCan for this!
Caroline used her own money and pre-ordered one, B! And I just bought an Ooma phone (landline) thanks to so many suggestions here. 75% of the reason I always have my phone on me is because I'm worried my mom or dad will need me and not be able to reach me. I plan to only give the number to a few (including you -- in case the website goes up in flames haha).
I don’t use it unless I can not perform the task myself. I don’t use it to outsource my autonomy. Choosing what to meal plan/cook, where to go out to eat or what to order at a particular restaurant. I don’t let it plan my work outs, write my emails or plan my experiments (I am a scientist). I prefer to have human experience guided by humans and dialing in to what I feel, want and know from expertise. Writing is part of my job. If i let the machine do the simple stuff then the harder stuff gets harder rather than practiced and familiar. Recently I could not, however, figure out how to mock up a drawing for a particular project with enough accuracy to communicate correctly what I needed a contractor to understand, so I used it. When I reach for AI I ask myself what I am outsourcing and what I stand to lose in giving that opportunity to a machine and if it is really worth the resources or if it’s just another way to scam me into doing more more more in the same hours of a day.
This is how I feel about AI writing. God help me never ever let go of that lust for the way it feels to put words together just so. I die inside a little just considering the loss.
Yes. And for me, even letting it do the simple little emails or crafting a thank you note or whatever is an opportunity I can’t afford to lose. It’s a sneaky little thing to give those communication reps away. Think of the young professionals not developing those skills. How will that show up in conversation when they don’t craft those communications themselves. How much are we losing to let machines communicate for us. To me, it is not worth it. I prefer to accomplish less in a day than give those things away. And we can stand a little more humanity in our communication trivial and not.
Elizabeth, I appreciate this perspective. I look at it like a great copy editor- as it grows to know my voice, it helps me refine when I get stuck or double checks to make sure a bit of confusion doesn't detract from my message. Perhaps a little known use is to ask for a pep talk. After a tough work convo or feeling a little unmoored, I ask specifically for a grounding message for what I'm thinking about or just a pep talk to keep the main thing the main thing. It's a fun and effective use for ChatGPT.
Ok so this is totally not a online answer. Maybe I'm the one off center. But maybe what you are looking for is sabbath? Total disconnect. Our whole church did a Bible study (in Alpharetta, GA) so not a small one on the ways of Jesus. One of his ways was disconnect - he would go off and be. Perhaps that would calm your nervous system and allow you to "connect" with something eles? The ground, your dog, your coffee, a good book or even time spent in silence. Not another solution - not that the solutions here are not great, they are! But my first thought reading your post was "she needs to disconnect". I'm an IT person who loves all things computerish!!!!! But I have had to make myself disconnect. My word this month has been quiet. I am calm and the books and words I'm reading have been fulfilling along with the dog snuggles and good coffee.
Our scripture for the week that I picked for the top of the menu (which had the stacked sw potatoes) is Psalm 107:9 "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things" (ESV)
Anyway - thanks for sharing. And the other ideas from other readers I love those too.
Also craving a landline!! I’m new to ChatGPT and using it sparingly but absolutely agree!
We’ve been considering a landline, too. So my homeschooled 8-year-old can talk to a few friends without having to bother with a cellphone yet.
I couldn’t agree more! I tell my husband all the time we need a landline 😳🤣
I agree! I recently dived into the research about how the mere presence of our phone in the room distracts our mind. We lose focus so easily with just the possibity that something important could demand our attention in a minute. I have simplified my phone a lot, but as a mom with kids in school can you let go completely? I feel like I have to be reacheable on the parent-teacher chats.
We JUST let our landline go after many years of hanging on to it. I only used it for talking with my husband at work- otherwise only telemarketers called it- and it rang all day! But I love the idea of it and we were the last to give it up 😊
Cool phone, don't think I've ever seen that before and I am way older than you!
I was just thinking about a similar topic, particularly when it comes to our kids. It feels like a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of situation. I really want them to have real relationships, conversations, and times of boredom. I also want them to know they can get a hold of me when they need out of a situation. https://staceysthoughts.substack.com/p/if-you-need-more-conflict-in-your
Amen amen. Cant wait to read.
Agreed on this. I even got a landline at one point but then all the many solicitors found my number and would call at 4am. Turning off the ringer is helpful but then you have to remember to turn it back on… other little annoying things like that had me ditch it.
For the environmentalists among us I just want to point an inconvenient truth about AI. It uses So. Much. Water. The environmental impact is not insignificant. When you google something it uses 2 grams of carbon. When you use AI it uses up to 5 grams of carbon. The water to cool one question you ask from AI is like dumping out a water bottle full of water each time. Something to consider when you just want to ask it one quick thing.
We JUST (finally) got rid of our landline about 2-3 years ago. I really only used it to call my mom, no one else. It dawned on me one day that I can just as easily call her on my cell. I do miss my landline & the phone number we had for SO many years 📞
So so good. This rings true in many ways. I love using ChatGPT for work as a communications professional, as a financial assistant, and even for things as simple as creative questions to ask my husband on date night!
I enjoy using AI to gain new perspectives or consider opportunities I wouldn’t normally think of. I even asked Chat to send me a daily email at 8:30 each morning with 3 leadership prompts to ask my team, a personal challenge, and to end with an inspiring quote.
At the same time, there are many times I consciously “sit in the struggle” as I labor towards the end result. I think it’s *so* important to actively choose tasks, activities, and hobbies that stretch and challenge us so we maintain our resilience muscle and stay in tune with the beautiful, natural pace of life as it was meant to live.
Sitting in the “in between” over here. Don’t have it all figured out, but trying and exploring with thought and intention 🤍
This is so relatable. I recently got my daughter the TinCan phone (a modern landline). I love hearing her conversations with dad as he’s driving home from work and seeing her frustration as she learns the concept of phone tag with her best friend.