I tried ‘friction-maxxing’ for a week. Here’s how I took my tech analogue
Updated
Most of my days are spent like this: wake up, grab the phone, and scroll. On my commute, I’m plugged into a podcast telling me how to optimise my life. After a full day in front of the computer, I’ll get home, and the last light to seep into my eyes is the bright blue glare of my screen shining back at me.
Doomscrolling, AI, noise-cancelling headphones, it’s no wonder why we’re always distracted.
If you’re looking to live a life a little more disconnected from the internet, and ‘friction-maxxing’ has piqued your interest. It’s time to go analogue.
Friction-maxxing meant trading the digital screens for e-ink, pens and paper. Joshua Buchwald
I spent a week in the analogue world but not without the help of a few handy products. Here are my best tips to ease you in:
1. Shut out the internet with a dumb phone
HMD 2660 Flip Phone
HMD HMD
The primary form of distraction in our day-to-day lives is our smartphone. This device single-handedly demands all of our attention, 24/7. To reclaim my attention, I went cold-turkey and switched straight to a dumb phone. As soon as I switched my SIM card over to the HMD 2660 Flip Phone, I knew I was in for a ride.
I first broke the news to a friend who had similarly converted to a Nokia flip phone. He bellowed with laughter and wished me good luck.
Now, when you’re switching from the all-capable smartphone to the all-incapable flip phone, there are a few things that I learned. First, you have to master the art of patience. Typing out messages one character at a time is a chore.
Second, you have to plan your day. Mostly because you are inconvenienced without a smartphone and the handy apps. There’s no travel app, no digital wallet, no two-factor authentication, but most importantly, no doom-scrolling.
Third, you have to get used to how stupid it feels. You become hyper-aware of the amount of time people spend on their phones when you look around during your daily commute.
It feels even more stupid when you have to actively flip open the phone and then take about five minutes to respond to a string of messages from your partner.
Click, clack, click, clack.
The world requires a smartphone. So I was forced to take my primary iPhone to work for a few non-negotiables like 2-factor authentication and banking (I tried).
If you feel like you can’t survive without a phone, there are a few alternatives you can use to reduce your screen time.
Brick, for instance, is a square device that will Brick the applications that you find most distracting, like Instagram or TikTok.
The Brick
Brick Brick
2. Fill the idle time with a good book
With hours suddenly back in my hands thanks to a lack of doomscrolling, I needed to fill the time with something more rewarding. I’ve always loved literature and usually read the classics, autobiographies, and wellness books.
But somewhere along the way, turning pages started to feel like a chore. I used to gamify my reading as well, tracking goals, checking off lists and writing reviews until the purpose of what I was doing simply eroded. So, I stopped.
But getting back into the habit meant understanding the psychology of why we reach for our phones in the first place: I’d say because it’s the path of least resistance. Our brains will naturally crave whatever entertainment requires the least amount of effort.
That’s where ‘friction-maxxing’ works its magic. By forcing myself to use a dumb phone on my commute, that very task became the source of my frustration.
So naturally, dropping a paperback into my bag became the easiest escape. When you don’t have Instagram to endlessly scroll, an 850-page epic becomes the most compelling alternative to amuse my senses.
My challenge for the week was to start reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandra Dumas. It’s a long story of betrayal and justice that might sound daunting to some, but without digital distractions, the pages practically began to turn themselves.
If you want to build the habit yourself, I’d suggest skipping the goal-tracking. Just slide a book into your bag before you leave the house, or leave one resting on your pillow so it’s waiting for you before sleep.
3. Trade the blue glare with an e-ink device
reMarkable Paper Pro
remarkable paper pro reMarkable Paper Pro
Most of us are required to stare at a monitor all day for work, making a digital escape feel impossible. But what if you could offload some of those tasks onto something gentler for the eyes?
If you’re someone who still loves to write on a physical notepad, albeit still after a digital experience to contain your notes, the reMarkable Paper Pro tablet has been a game-changer to try out.
It won’t completely replace your laptop; rather, it’s more about complementing your workflows. Think of it as your distraction-free deep work device. Let me explain.
Its 11.8-inch Canvas Colour display feels fantastic to write on, exactly like a pencil on paper. The tablet itself feels sturdy and premium, without feeling too unwieldy.
The real charm is how you can bridge the gap with your existing computer via the reMarkable app. You can integrate your spaces like Google Drive or sync meeting notes and review documents pretty seamlessly.
When you need to work on the fly, the device can stand on its own, both literally and metaphorically. Pairing the reMarkable with its very own Type Folio keyboard transforms it into a distraction-free writing machine.
I’ve been using this exact setup to draft articles away from my laptop, and it’s a smooth experience I can’t get enough of. As the e-ink uses physical charged particles to form its static images rather than blasting blue light too, I’ve found my eyes to be thankful as well.
If the premium Paper Pro feels like overkill, you can still embrace the e-ink lifestyle for less. For those who want to read, sketch or take basic notes, the reMarkable Paper Pure and Kindle Scribe both offer a more budget-friendly alternative.
reMarkable Paper Pure
reMarkable Paper Pure reMarkable
Kindle Scribe
Amazon Kindle Scribe Amazon
4. Wind down the day with a record player
Vinyls are making a record comeback (pun intended). Going hands-on with music is just a blast, and growing a record collection is something to be proud of.
Audio-Technica LP60XBT
Audio Technica JB HI-Fi
The biggest convenience of this record player is its Bluetooth compatibility, which makes it easier since you don’t need a total hi-fi set-up to get this going.
It’s really as simple as putting a record on the turntable and pressing the buttons to turn it on. Once connected to a Bluetooth speaker (or wired in), you get your album to listen to.
This has been fantastic for listening to music in the kitchen while I cook, bake, or have friends around. It also works as a fun ‘piece-on-the-side’ to admire it spinning around in circles.
I find using a record player lets you appreciate the music more. Instead of feeling like you need to skip every song just to find the right one, the album plays by itself, rolling over into each song as seamlessly as the audio engineers intended.
So, if you’re into music, buy a record player. You won’t regret it.
READ MORE: Why the reMarkable Paper Pro Move still feels perfect and pointless
