---
title: "Chapter 1: Awakening"
date: 2026-10-01
description: "I started noticing issues with my attention span and ability to focus on reading books, likely due to the constant distractions and fragmentation from my smartphone. This prompted me to..."
canonical_url: https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/awakening
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at https://idratherbewriting.com/llms.txt. Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any page URL.

# Chapter 1: Awakening

I started noticing issues with my attention span and ability to focus on reading books, likely due to the constant distractions and fragmentation from my smartphone. This prompted me to experiment with removing my smartphone from my life for 6 weeks. During this time, I rediscovered the joy of reading books, printing content out to read offline, and even classical music. Without the constant incoming notifications and information, I found my focus and calm improving. However, living without a smartphone created family communication issues, as well as other inconveniences. I returned to using a smartphone, but in a more intentional and limited way.

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- [Overview](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/awakening.html)
- [1.1 My awakening moment about how smartphones fragment our attention span](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/awakening-moment-to-how-smartphones-fragment-our-attention.html)
- [1.2 My initial rules and reasons for intentional smart phone use](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/my-international-rules-for-smartphone-use.html)
- [1.3 First experiences in moving away from smartphones](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/first-experiences-moving-away-from-smartphones.html)
- [1.4 More developments on my journey away from smartphones –- a sudden interest in classical music?](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/sudden-interest-in-classical-music.html)
- [1.5 One month in without a smartphone — growing doubts about the value of technology in general](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/one-month-in-without-a-smartphone.html)
- [1.6 Review of What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains: The Shallows, by Nicholas Carr](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/nicholas-carr-the-shallows-book-review.html)
- [1.7 Six weeks in -- returning to smartphone (but not as before)](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/returning-to-smartphones.html)
- [1.8 Random notes on recovering the lost art of reading](https://idratherbewriting.com/smartphones/notes-on-recovering-the-lost-art-of-reading.html)