Brendan Clarey, deputy editor of Michigan Enjoyer, describes how replacing his iPhone with a Light Phone helped restore his attention span and creativity. He also eliminated his TV and limited computer use after work hours. The changes allowed him to read more, write creatively, and connect with others without digital distractions.
Brendan Clarey recounts his struggles with constant digital interruptions during his time as a newspaper editor. He received endless emails, texts, Facebook notifications, and alerts from his Apple Watch, alongside pings for OS updates. This left no time for personal writing or reading books and magazines, with evenings often spent rewatching shows like 'The Office' or streaming on Apple TV.
Seeking change, Clarey and his wife removed their TV to cut screen time, noting its impact on their daughter's behavior and their own habits. The pivotal shift came when he traded his iPhone for a Light Phone, featuring only basic apps and an e-ink screen. He also avoided computer use outside work hours, except for emergencies.
These adjustments brought noticeable benefits. Clarey began reading magazine articles at night, even if completing one took several days. He listened to full albums without interruption and made more phone calls to hear friends' and family's voices. Free from modern noise, he started writing fun stories and outlining a novel on paper. 'Our deepest thoughts thrive in the quietness of our minds,' he writes.
Drawing from childhood memories as a homeschooled student, Clarey recalls finishing schoolwork early and inventing games with siblings during bored afternoons. One creation involved lashing a discarded bamboo chair to wheelie boards with duct tape, forming a makeshift vehicle pulled by rope. A passerby once asked where to buy it, unaware of its DIY origins from toys, trash, and boredom-fueled ingenuity.
Clarey argues that endless content streams—videos, podcasts, reels, and on-demand movies—fill minds, leaving no space for original ideas. Constant topic-switching, he notes, saps attention, with rising AI use potentially worsening the creative decline. To counter this, he recommends ditching TVs, adopting dumb phones, or limiting smartphones to allow mental resets. The transition demands effort, but he believes individuals hold the power to rebuild focus and creativity.
