you (seriously) need to get a flip phone*

3 months ago i got a flip phone.

i’ll save you the 7+ year backstory that led up to it, but basically i got sick of my phone having more control of my attention than i did.

just last year, i’d have days with 8+ hours of screen time.

now, i’m averaging just 30 minutes per day.

& after giving myself almost 100 days with this thing, i can confidently say:

i’m not going back.

so here are 4 reasons why it’s worth making the switch, & 1 big reason why not to.

let’s just start with my favourite thing about it:

1. it’s not really a dumb phone. it just looks dumb.

the reality of the world today is, you kinda need a smartphone.

maps, 2-factor verification, banking, AI, etc. — if you don’t have them in your pocket these days, things are just way harder.

that’s why i got a flip phone that runs Android.

it has the Google Play store on it, so i can get basically any app i need.

& i know what you’re thinking:

what’s the point then?

2. my phone is a tool now, not a trap.

that’s the point.

i used to literally hide my phone every time i wanted to get work done.

i deleted all social media apps,

i kept notifications off for everything except calls + texts,

& even after doing all that, if i let my attention slip for just a moment, i’d catch myself scrolling 30 minutes later, wondering:

‘where did that time just go?’

not anymore.

my phone can stay right next to me while i work, & there’s no issue.

but weirdly, i still don’t keep it on me that much now.

why?

3. it forces me to be intentional about when i use it.

next time you reach for your phone, ask yourself:

‘what am i really looking for right now?’

more often than not, you’ll find that your first answer is:

‘idk.’

which leads to the real answer:

‘i was looking for a distraction.’

i still find myself reaching for my flip phone to distract myself every now & then.

but the difference is, it won’t let me get distracted.

i mean, technically it does — i could doomscroll on it if i wanted to.

but i don’t, because there’s something about doing shit on a 2.8” screen that just makes you feel like a jackass.

it’s probably because you look like one.

which reminds me of the most unexpected benefit of them all:

4. people notice, but it starts the best conversations.

after my soccer game a few weeks ago, i pulled out my phone to text my girlfriend the score (& also to let her know that i might be the greatest athlete to ever live).

since i had been using it for a while at that point, i almost forgot how weird it was to just pull out a flip phone in 2026.

my teammates reminded me, though.

‘what the fuck is that???’

‘he’s calling in a drone strike.’

‘you could use that brick as a weapon.’

honestly, i love the jokes people make — & that’s the part i expected.

the part i didn’t expect is where those conversations would lead.

because after maybe 100+ conversations with people that were started by my flip phone, almost every single person has said something like:

‘yeah, i need to cut my screen time too though.’

like, i’ve talked to ‘real’ adults with good jobs & families who told me their screen times are 6+ hours per day — & that’s just on their phones!

it’s become so normal for people to have legit phone addictions, & it’s costing them years of their lives.

i’m speaking from experience here.

that’s why i think people see this flip phone & like the idea of it so much.

it looks like a quick fix for a problem that’s eating them alive.

but that’s why i wanted to end with the 1 big reason why not to make the switch.

there’s no quick fix.

like with anything else in life, there’s no free lunch.

everything has a cost to pay, & if you want to break your bad phone habit, that cost is a lot higher than a $120 flip phone.

only 3 weeks after making the switch, i started doomscrolling on my laptop.

think about that.

have you ever doomscrolled on a fucking laptop bro?

i felt like a loser — & honestly, it is loser behaviour.

but it also taught me the biggest lesson of them all.

a flip phone adds friction between you & your bad habits.

but it doesn’t get rid of the real problem:

you.

simply put, you can’t control the fact that almost every big company in the world is drilling for your attention in the same way they drill for oil.

ignoring that fact means ignoring reality — & reality will win every single time.

but the good news is, you can always control what you do about it.

if i was able to cut my screen time from — let’s be honest — ruining my life, i know that you can do the same too.

so whether you drop everything & get a flip phone right now,

or start by deleting an app,

the important thing is that you just start.

it’s gonna be a long road, but please know that i’m here with you.

!!!SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!!!

i’m looking for 3 ambitious people who want to cut their screen time in April.

my offer is simple:

i’ll help you cut your screen time by at least 1 hour per day, or you pay nothing.

that adds up to over 2 full weeks per year — & usually the result is way more.

together, we’ll go through the exact process that i used to cut my screen time from over 8h to 30min per day with 1 on 1 calls, access to my personal number, daily check-ins, & consistent progress every single day.

so if you’re interested (or just want to learn more), click here to join the free waitlist for early access!

join the waitlist

PS - if you’re already on the waitlist & haven’t heard back from me yet, i’ll be reaching out to you 1 on 1 this week!

ok, back to what you came here for lol.

some things i learned

1. the war you don’t know you’re fighting

   

2. the REAL greatest athlete of all time
   in the 2020 NHL season, both goalies on the Carolina Hurricanes got injured mid-game against the Toronto Maple Leafs (my favourite team).
   
   with no more goalies on the bench, Carolina had to call an emergency backup named David Ayres… a 42y/o zamboni driver who worked for the Leafs.
   
   he stopped all but 2 shots, & the Canes won 6-3.
   
   here’s the highlights, & if you want a laugh, here’s how Leafs fans reacted.

3. photo scans from Pokemon GO made a super detailed AI map of the world
   since 2016, people would walk around their city playing Pokemon GO, taking photo scans of (seemingly) random places to catch digital Pokemon.
   
   30 billion scans later, the app developer Niantic now owns a more detailed map of the world than any government. so they sold the app for $3.5B, & now they’re operating as a spatial AI company.
   
   it’s yet another reminder that if a product is free, you’re the product.
   
   why do you think social media companies are worth billions?

cool stuff i found

1. a Japanese flower known as ‘pink perfection’

   

2. a beautiful car
   this old Volvo P1800 was restored & modified by CYAN & i think it’s perfect:

   

3. a letter from Vincent Van Gogh to his brother

   

that’s all for this week!

these are exciting times — we’re only 2 weeks away from the official launch of my 1 on 1 program, & i can’t wait to start.

ironically, i would’ve been able to do stuff like this much sooner if i didn’t waste years of my own life scrolling.

but i guess in hindsight, that’s a good thing — i wouldn’t know how to help people solve the problem if i didn’t spend so long figuring it out for myself first.

that’s why i’m certain i can help.

i’ve already produced life-changing results for myself & others.

but more on that another time.

for now, do something to make yourself proud this week!

i’ll catch you in the next one.

~ liam (:

PS - join the waitlist for early access!!!!!!!