and it’s made life so much more beautiful.
Posted from my substack – https://keziahm.substack.com/p/a-flip-phone-gave-me-my-creativity?r=3o5s9p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
3 months ago, I switched over to using a flip phone. I don’t want to be dramatic, but quite frankly, my life has changed dramatically.
My journey to switching was a slow process. I deleted my social media platforms in November 2025 and used blocking apps constantly on my smartphone. Even though social media was deleted, I still found myself scrolling. Scrolling through photos, scrolling on amazon…just grabbing my phone when I felt bored and trying desperately to find something stimulating. I tried Brick, I tried blocking apps, I tried the Aro box…and while they all helped somewhat, I still found myself on my phone much more than I wanted. Instead of reading aloud in the car to my husband as he drove, I would scroll on my phone. Instead of interacting with the fast-food employee at a favorite restaurant, I would order food on the app. Instead of forcing myself to remember how to drive to a friend’s house, I would pull up Google Maps. I was living a full life, but I wasn’t satisfied with what I was filling my free spaces of time with.
Several things happened in May 2026 that catalyzed my switch. I read an article by Nathan Covey that talked about how he had switched over to a flip phone. I also read an article on The Feed by Lucy that showed me it was possible to live life differently than everyone else. I realized that if other people could switch to a flip phone, then I also could. I had made too many excuses and now was the time to switch.
Fast forward 3 months and I am so happy with my Sunbeam flip phone. It has everything that I need on a day-to-day basis. I can call, text, voice-to-text, receive images, send audio messages, use the touch screen and even stay engaged in group texts. I can check the weather, listen to music downloaded on my phone, set alarms, take notes and use the navigation system.
For video chatting friends, group messaging apps, payment apps and verification, I keep my smart phone plugged in and I can check it occasionally.
The biggest thing I have noticed which I was not expecting is that I’ve become more creative. Before these last few months, I hadn’t realized how creative of an individual I was. I have found myself to be obsessed with creativity. I’ve written multiple letters, learned how to watercolor, planned a masquerade ball outfit, painted designs on stationary, redesigned my home, written articles, crocheted a baby blanket, drawn with chalk on my driveway and even now, I am in the process of painting a mural in my home.
All of these have been so beautiful to experience, and I would have missed out entirely if I had still been on my smartphone. I can say this so confidently because before I switched to a flip phone, I wasn’t doing these things in the capacity that I am now. I would write a letter every now and then and I would paint when the desire struck me (or when I saw a reel that inspired me), but the desire didn’t feel alive. These past few months however, I have been creative because I haven’t been able to help it. I have such a strong desire to use my mind, my hands and to bring beauty to life. I wasn’t expecting this at all from switching to a flip phone, but I have absolutely loved every moment of it.
Our society has made us believe that we need a smartphone in order to live a basic life, but I’m here to tell you that there’s so much life outside of your smartphone. A life that is made of so much more than content, consumerism and stimulation. A life that desires beauty, learning and growth.
Here’s to bringing more beauty into this world.
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