What I Actually Use My Phone for as a Digital Minimalist
Do you scroll on your phone when you have nothing to do but still end up feeling bored? And yet somehow, you feel compelled to continue scrolling? It's time to take control of your phone habits, so you can feel fulfilled in life. Today, I'm going to give you a peek into my digital minimalist phone setup as an aspiring digital minimalist in college!
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Over the past few years, I've been trying to use my phone more as a tool, and less as a form of entertainment, and through my current phone setup, I've been able to cut my screen time in half.
You can read this post if you want to see specifically how I cut my screen time by deleting apps, and adding screen time controls.
Currently, I use my phone for around 2 hours per day, unless I'm reading a good book on Libby. Then my phone screen time does go up! I'm an aspiring digital minimalist, so it's a work in progress.
I'll tell you what I don't use my phone for later, but right now, I'm going to share what I actually use my phone for. This is my digital minimalist phone setup!
What I Actually Use My Phone for as a Digital Minimalist
1. Communication
Obviously, one of the main things I use my phone for is communication, so I have quite a few apps for communicating such as Outlook, WhatsApp, and GroupMe.
As a college student, I'm in a lot of group chats on different apps. This is for the most part unavoidable. On these apps, I have notifications on if it is an important chat, such as a one-on-one conversation.
Notifications for group chats can generally be turned off, unless it's for a class group project. In that case, I'll leave notifications on, so I don't miss anything.
2. My Schedule
The next main purpose of my phone is as a tool for managing my schedule.
For managing my schedule, I use a calendar app, and the app Boosted to track my time. I use both of these apps on a daily basis.
On my calendar app, I have my entire college schedule with notifications set up that go to my smartwatch. I don't want to forget to go to class!
I also have any one-time events on my schedule, so I don't forget about them or overbook myself.
3. Education
This is where the bulk of my phone usage comes in. Every morning, I read my scriptures for 10 to 20 minutes on a scripture app.
I use Libby and Goodreads on a regular basis for reading, and to track my books. The time adds up quickly when I'm reading a good book!
When I have a little bit of free time to spare, I try to read a few pages on Libby, instead of just scrolling or reading random things.
During the school year, I use Canvas to keep track of school assignments, and so I know when my assignments are graded.
I also use Pocket Casts (This is the best podcast app I've found!) for listening to podcasts when I'm running or doing errands around my apartment.
4. Health
I wear a Garmin smartwatch, so I have a few apps that connect to my watch and help me track my health. I use these apps a few times a week or less.
Additionally, I'll include my music apps in the section because I mainly listen to music while exercising.
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5. Miscellaneous Tools
And then of course, I have a calculator app, a camera app, and a clock app. I also have Chrome, and my phone's web browser.
I use my phone's web browser regularly because I don't have any social media apps downloaded on my phone.
On the weekends, I let myself use YouTube on my phone's web browser, but I also have time-limits on social media websites through StayFree.
On the weekends, I'm much more flexible with my technology usage because these are my break days. After a while of incorporating digital minimalism into my life, I've found short-form content is actually pretty boring.
On most occasions, I scroll for a few minutes and then switch to doing something else.
I'm still working on cutting down my screen time on my phone's web browser because it is hard to know when I'll need to look up something essential.
I do have some other apps on my phone, but they are all apps that I either cannot delete because they came pre-downloaded on my phone, or they are apps that I use once a month or less for specific purposes.
For example, I have Google Wallet because I need it to download tickets to go see shows at my university. I only open the app when I'm going to see a show, which isn't often at all.
What I Don't Use My Phone for as a Digital Minimalist
Ok, so that's what I do use my phone for, but what don't I use my phone for?
- Social media (occasional usage)
- Games
- Reading the news
- Endless scrolling
- Consuming content when bored
Right now, I'm working on cutting down the number of times I pick up my phone when I feel bored by telling myself to read a few pages of a book instead. I also receive a notification if I use an app for 30 minutes in one sitting to prompt me to put my phone down.
I'm trying to shift away from consuming short-form content that doesn't add value to my life to consuming more long-form content that leaves me feeling happier afterward.
A Day in the Life of My Phone Usage
I turn my phone off at night, so when I get up in the morning, I have to turn my phone on. I usually start off my day by looking at emails. (Not the best habit, I know, but that's what I realistically do! 🤣)
Looking at emails lets me know what's on my plate for that day. Class might have been cancelled, and I won't know unless I check!
After that, I read scriptures for 10 to 20 minutes during breakfast, and then I head off to my first class of the day.
My phone usage after that is often pretty sporadic and varies from day-to-day. I usually look at my calendar, and check emails/messages in-between classes.
I also might use my phone during lunch if I'm having a quick one, but I try to read a few pages of a book.
Generally, I use my laptop to do homework during dinner. In the evenings if I have nothing to do, I've been reading actual books from the library. Curling up on the couch with a book right before bed is becoming a favorite hobby!
Final Notes on What I Actually Use My Phone for as a Digital Minimalist
That's my realistic digital minimalist phone setup! To me, digital minimalism is about using the time I have in ways that leave me feeling good about how I spent that time.
Remember that it's ok to take breaks where you can watch or read entertainment. It's just about using your phone intentionally!
Since switching to digital minimalism, I've noticed that I now waste less time, and I learn more because I have extra time! I also feel more fulfilled about how I'm using my time.
My digital minimalist phone setup isn't perfect, but it's a work in progress!
If you enjoyed reading about my digital minimalist phone setup, you can read these other articles about taking control of your technology too.
- How to Use a Garmin Smartwatch to Uplevel Your Life
- How I Created a Minimalist Phone to Cut My Screen Time in Half
- 5 Simple Time Trackers to Get Your Life Back
- 10 Easy + Efficient Ways to Unplug from Tech
I hope you enjoyed this post about how I use my phone as a digital minimalist! Save this digital minimalist phone setup inspiration, so you can refer back to it later!
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