The Best Thing I Ever Did: Turned Off My Cell Phone

Cell phones are almost a necessity of life today. It seems that everyone has one, or even two or more. Businesses often assign cell phones to key employees to keep them within reach if the need arises. Cell phones can also be a major distraction and annoying. For proof of this, think of any time in your life that you were in public and just wanted some peace and quiet while doing something, whether it be shopping or browsing the aisles of a book store. I can almost guarantee that anyone reading this has had one of those moments ruined by an annoying cell phone ring tone. Just try being a professional writer while keeping a cell phone nearby. It is nearly impossible.

I know from experience

Cell phones can be great. I still have one, actually the last few that I upgrade from are still in my desk drawer as backups if ever needed. Their batteries have long since drained and now they sit dormant, waiting their turn in the rotation when my current phone (a ZTE ZMAX 2) finally craps out on me one time too many and I decide to upgrade. Cell phones have been a part of my life since around 1998 when I got my first one – a bag phone from Southwestern Bell. They were phasing them out at that point and to assist with this process, they were “free” for new customers (probably knowing current customers would never accept a bag phone as an “upgrade”). Over they years I have had over priced black and white displays, small enough screens that reading a postage stamp’s fine print was easier, on up to gargantuan screens that could pass as small televisions. I have run the gamut of cell phones and one thing is true for them all. They are as annoying as they are handy.

Detail benefits of having a phone

Cell phones are great for emergencies or when you have to get in touch with someone immediately. I get that. I understand that. I have used them for that express purpose a couple of times in a few decades. The rest of the time though, cell phones are a nuisance. Let’s face it, who REALLY needs a cell phone any more? Did anyone desperately need one in the first place or did we all fall for the sales pitch of the cell phone companies? Me personally, I make due with having the device but not the service bill that goes along with it.

While I have several cell phones, they are not connected. There is no monthly bill with them. When I need to get in touch with someone I make use of Facebook Messenger. Did you know you can voice chat over messenger? Why pay a hefty phone bill to talk with someone when I can do it over Facebook Messenger? Seriously. Why? 99% of the communication I do, and I do a lot of it as I own and operate a public relations company, is done through text via some messaging option – whether it be Facebook Messenger, Upwork messenger, e-mail, or something else, I do very little over the phone “talking”. I prefer it this way for many reasons.

Being connected all the time can stifle creativity

The biggest reason I prefer text based chat is because of my work. Words. I work with words. Sometimes due to background noise, accents, or something else, spoken words get garbled. Not so with text. I can easily refer back to the instructions provided at the outset of the project if I am confused or lose track of something. I can easily refer to discussions with clients on angle of a press release or article. I can just look back at the agreement, progress made so far, and think “how did I get into this mess?” All without having to bother the client for more information or to clarify something they said because I can’t remember the phone call I had with them.

Also, not having a cell phone has helped with my creativity QUITE A LOT. Before, when I used my cell phone for actual cell phone stuff I would spend hours on the phone with people, not always clients, and get absolutely nothing done. I am a talker. That is what I do. I have been told that I would probably be able to talk a murderer out of killing me if the situation ever arose. I am not sure about that as I probably would have said something to cause myself to be in that situation in the first place. The point is, without a cell phone, without the random calls from friends and family, without the unannounced calls from telemarketers and the like, I can get more done in a timely manner. I have improved my workflow, improved my earnings, and expanded my work options. All thanks to not spending countless hours on the phone. Writing is an art form that we are slowly losing. Those same people I spent countless hours on the phone with can just as easily take a half hour out of their day, versus several hours on the phone, and write everything we would have said to each other. I can do the same. It is wonderful and a shame hardly anyone does it anymore.

No phone bill but big benefits

Let’s recap the benefits of not having a phone. For one, I don’t bother others in public with annoying ringtones or talking exceptionally louder while using my phone. I get more done because I am not spending hours talking on the phone, I can spend that time working and then have more time with my family. I save money – cell phone plans with a decent amount of data are well over $40 a month. That is $10 a week – gone. Guaranteed. I would much rather have that $10 a week for other activities. Finally, I personally can see an improvement in my workflow specifically because I don’t have a phone activated.

How I survive without paying a cell phone bill

I am free to think without random interruption. When I need access to the web I am able to find a free Wi-Fi option nearby (all Walmart stores should have this option available now). I have Comcast for home Internet so I am able to make use of the hundreds of Comcast customer hotspots around the area I work and live so I am still connected, just not paying extra to do it. I can use these same hotspots with my tablet, like I am doing right now at my day job (a Comcast Business subscriber).

While I understand going without a cell phone is not an option for a lot of people, I am fortunate enough for it to be for me. It is sometimes wonderful to be able to go about my day without random interruptions. I used to miss those times, now I have them back. With Wi-Fi hotspots it is the best of both worlds.