The Only 5 Apps You Need on Your Smartphone & The 4 To Get Rid Of Today

I’m not a big fan of the mobile phone.

Actually, nix that. I hate ‘smart’ phones.

Never has a name been less appropriate.

The collective dumbing down of the entire population of the world and nobody gives a hoot. Or if they do, there’s nothing they can do about it.

It would be like trying to take on the National Rifle Association in America. You wouldn’t stand a chance.

Just as American’s are super-glued to their constitutional (birth) right to bear arms in protecting their property, we’re now so addicted to the little dopamine hits we get from our phone that doing anything sensible like banning their use while crossing the road or using the urinals at work (seriously, dude, what the fuck are you doing?)

Have you ever totted up the amount of time you spend on your phone each day?

And let’s strip out genuine work-related stuff and useful calls like complaining to the strata that your neighbour hasn’t taken out the bins again and you wouldn’t mind except that they haven’t done it once in 5 GODDAMN YEARS.

But include the times checking your email reactively when it beeps because, you never know, the bottom might have fallen out of the world and you’re the only one who can fix it.

[It hasn’t. You’re not. It’s probably just Julian in accounts querying your expenses].

Smartphones Are Like A Crack Habit – According To Experts

And all the other times you absent-mindedly check your phone just because it’s there and you couldn’t possibly just, say, I don’t know, ride the lift down to the ground floor without seeing what the world has to offer. Or what you’re missing out on.

But regardless of how busy or important you are, you’re probably actually using the dumbphone twice as much as you think you are, according to a study conducted by Nottingham Trent University.

“A lot of smartphone use seems to be habitual, automatic behaviors that we have no awareness of.”

Sally Andrews, Nottingham Trent University

In terms of actual time spent ‘on device’ it’s generally coming in at between one and two hours a day.

Does that sound like you? You’re not alone.

We’re spending two hours online on our smartphones every day; twice as long as laptops and PCs

Ofcom Research UK

The latest edition of the IAB Australia and Nielsen Mobile Ratings Report revealed Australian smartphone owners spent 34 hours and 55 minutes during the month of August 2015 engaging with digital content – either via their smartphone’s web browser or via an installed application – averaging more than one hour per day.

IAB Australia & Neilsen Mobile Ratings Report

But given that not even Donald Trump is crazy enough to suggest a bill outlawing the use of phones, nobody else is likely to.

And, I’m no angel with the m*therfucker either.

It taunts and tortures me like a dealer to a junkie, knowing I ain’t got that level of resistance. Not here. Not now.

And I have to admit. There are a few positives. Here are the ones I’m using daily right now.

Positive Apps

These are the good guys – the ones that add value and increase our knowledge and our purpose. They inspire us and help us be that little bit better.

Audible

This has been a game-changer for me.

I’m currently walking around East London day-and-night, the only chap without a beard and wearing sportswear.

“For God’s sake, Ben. You’re not in Sydney now,” was my brother’s reaction when I revealed my red-hot date attire was shorts, t-shirt and trainers. In October. To a cocktail lounge.

So I blend in by listening to audio books.

If you only usually listen to non-fiction, I strongly urge you to mix it up and listen to fiction. Get a decent old-fashioned blast of storytelling.

My two most recent audible purchases were: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman which is actually a children’s book, in which case it’s the scariest fucking children’s book going around.

But it is truly magnificent storytelling and it’s read by the author which is always nice because the characters come out the way they’re intended to.

It’s easy to listen to whilst also being knowingly cerebral. Guess where I got the recommendation? Tim Ferriss. Who’da thought it?

I also recently read two, wait for it, actual physical books.

One was a book about physics. Yep, I know.

It’s called Seven Brief Lessons on Physics By Carlo Rovelli.

This book blew my mind. It was actually comprehensible, which means I can now understand exactly how much I don’t know about life, the universe, pretty much everything.

But at least now I’m aware of just how little I know.

If you consider ‘Surely You Must Be Joking, Mr Feynmann’ a physics book, which is fair given it was written by a Nobel Prize winning physicist (it’s actually so much more than a physics book so don’t let that put you off – it’s a must-read for anyone who is a non-comformist or who at least wants to think a little for themselves – watch his youtube clip on fire (below) to get a taste), that means I’ve now read 2 physics books this year.

[video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g/dj1OMXBJWUk1SlFMRQ==[/video_player]

Which is 2 more than I managed in the previous 29 years.

Maybe a new career is just around the corner.

The second physical book is A Little History Of The World by EH Gombrich which is a delightful 270 page journey through a lot of the major passages of world history.

Again, for anyone who snored their way through history class, this is an absolute eye-opener.

Headspace

Headspace is a genius app whose fremium offer is 10 days of guided 10 minute meditations which means it’s an easy entry for those wanting to dip a toe in the mindset water.

I’ve recommended this to private coaching clients who have been freaking out over the impending arrival of a nipper and it’s chilled them the hell out.

It’s also the perfect antidote to the digital cacophony that enswirls our life, providing a little 10 minute oasis of calm that takes the edge right off.

I’ve dabbled with meditation in the past but this is the first time I’ve cobbled together anything with any regularity.

I’ve been checking out a few sessions at London Fields Yoga which are great because they’re only 30 minutes long so it’s not too intimidating to get started.

The results?

It’s still early days but, whoa, it’s kinda trippy and, although my mind is all over the shop during the session, it feel so much lighter and less burdened by the end.

I strongly recommend you overcome any prejudices you may have against medi on the grounds that it’s for hippies and is too woo-woo for you and switch off for 10 or 30 minutes per day.

Tactfit Timer

My go-to workout app for flogging my errant brother or any other London Fields hipsters who deign to turn up to bootcamp.

Let’s just say one of the major differences I’ve picked up between London and Sydney is the overall level of activity, especially in the morning.

But a Tabata workout is the same wherever you go and having a decent timer is important.

The variety of timers here means you never get bored or have to repeat the same exercise twice in quick succession.

Perfect for travelling and staying in hotel rooms or pokey Air BnBs.

Sleep Sounds

The sounds of waves lapping at the shore is never a bad thing.

If you’re landlocked and need to fake it until you make it….well, so be it.

Whatsapp

For messaging home for free.

Negative Apps

These are the crafty blighters that sneak into our daily habits and drain our time and prevent us from using that irreplaceable resource anywhere.

Daily Mail

Because who doesn’t love a bit of right-wing scare-mongering first thing in the morning?

I’m embarassed about this.

BBC Sport

Vanilla sports stories and part of the reason you need the Daily Mail for a salacious slant on every exclusive.

Facebook

Time-drain masquerading as a way of staying in touch with people you naturally drifted away from.

Does has some good points (he admits grudgingly, like perving on chicks you went to school with who didn’t get fat (jokes!).

Instagram

Another time-drain but I do love looking at inspirational travel pictures.

My feed consists exclusively of: watches, barbell movements, landscape shots of beautiful places, dogs, smoking hot chicks.

No idea how any of that came about.

Twitter

If you have the two above you shouldn’t have any time left for Twitter, right?

Conclusion

Smartphones and apps ain’t going anywhere fast.

However, I urge you to have a look at your usage and check you’re maxing the usefulness out of your usage.

If what you’re doing serves you and your aspirations, all power to you.

But if you’re one of those chaps who can’t nip out for a coffee without his phone or, far worse,  reading their phones at the pisser then it’s pretty apparent you have a problem that needs to be balanced out.

Either way, I’m here for you. Just not at the urinal because that’s just plain weird.

SFD