I hiked across the Alps, alone, on foot and camping in the wild for 3 months. I had no phone with me (no GPS) and just paper maps, and a pen to keep notes on paper. It was the best time I ever had my whole life. I thought I might get lonely but being in the flow of walking every day actually created some kind of an internal dialogue in my head which never made me feel lonely. I met others who were on a similar trail but they all looked and talked like they needed to achieve some kind of a "goal" by posting shit on Insta and none of them would do it without GPS. Since I didn't grow up with all that nonsense and have been using Tech since I turned 20 - I really appreciated being "bored" again after so many years of being distracted. Paper and pen (and your ability to walk) are all you really need. Tech is what makes things complex and as soon as you remove all of it is an empowering experience unlike nothing else.
I did a 10 day trek in Patagonia last year. Best experience of my life.
I totally agree. Not having any any tech with me, allowed me to live in the moment. I remember every part vividly, and have some of the best memories spending time with others on the trail, cooking breakfast, setting up and tearing down camp, and enduring crazy weather. Just simple things that we take for granted everyday, just felt rewarding and great to do. It was a crazy realization that you don't need all of this stuff we filled our lives with. You really can get by just fine with less.
I can't wait for the next opportunity I have to just get away from all the tech noise.
Apple Cider Vinegar instead of acid reducers (Tums, Zantac, Prilosec) for heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion.
Water Fasting instead of caloric restriction, weight loss pills, and diet fads for curing metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, mid-section fat buildup, inflammation, diabetes).
Kettlebell, mace, stretching, and sprinting instead of a gym membership with classes and steady state cardio (or a Peloton).
Barefoot foot strength and 0-drop shoes instead of surgery and lift-pads for fasciitis and tendonitis.
A whole food, conservative, omnivorous diet of your ancestors instead of becoming vegan or carnivore.
Journaling (#bujo), practicing meditation, and studying stoicism instead of counseling and medicating.
Reading books and leaving your devices “default off” instead of aimlessly scrolling all day.
Cast iron and glass for cooking/storing instead of Teflon and plastic.
This list makes me think that I'd love if you could elaborate with a few sentences for each item. I somehow perceive a lot of quality and study behind these things, and it makes me curious to hear more.
e.g. most notable things I am very curious about: 0-drop shoes, apple cider vinegar, glass for cooking
I'd say reading books and spending time with friends and family are the main low tech that shouldn't be replaced by the digital version.
The other big thing is taking time off from smartphones.
I haven't written more than maybe a page a month on paper in years, I never buy incandescent bulbs, I don't want a film camera or a record player. There's very few appliances I wouldn't chose the smart version of.
But nothing is going to replace planting things in the garden, lighting a campfire, or reading a book(Although e readers are just fine now).
In general, I'm not a fan of low tech. Man-made items done without silicon tend to be heavy, delicate, and hard to use compared to the digital ones, and things made of modern materials.
Things that actively involve living beings very closely, like clothes and food, are sometimes but not always better off low tech.
Things that are, or should be be, mostly hands off, like the insulation material in a house, the network stack in a computer, or a power plant, should usually be as high tech as possible.
It's odd that we've reached the point where this comment is the odd one out, despite being (I imagine) the way the that the vast majority of people live.
I recently got my first multitool and it has sort of changed something fundamental about how I view the world to have a small, basic toolkit in the bottom of my bag at all times.
I live a life where cycling everywhere is very feasible. My bike is cheap, I get exercise.
I made a sunscreen for my laptop out of illustration board, drafting tape, and some magnets. When the weather's nice (and I live somewhere where it's nice a lot) I can go out to a park and work in the middle of trees while debating if I should share my snacks with the raccoons and squirrels and birds.
I meditate. There is not much lower tech than "sitting quietly in one place for a while". It has done some very interesting things to my brain.
A lot of my reading has been physical books again after most of a decade of e-books. I'm supporting my local economy when I buy some from actual stores instead of Amazon, and being able to pick up a pen and take notes in the margin is really really pleasant.
I would answer: my bike, and within my bike the dynamo hub and my lights that lit as soon as I start and remain on when I stop :) ... peace of mind at its purest.
I don't know if this counts as low enough tech, but I disabled the equivalent of "auto advance to next episode" on my Netflix and Prime Video subscriptions.
This means that watching the next episode of a show has to be a conscious choice on my part as opposed to the inertia of just letting it happen. Just the small added friction of having to hunt down the remote control and hit "Play" gives me a few seconds to (albeit involuntarily) reflect on whether I really need to watch the next episode, or if I could really be doing other hobbies / chores around the flat.
The result has been a notable decrease in binge-watching, a cleaner and more organised home, more/better sleep, and the subsequent improved health that follows the aforesaid.
I did the same thing and I enjoy Netflix much more. My maim gripe was that it always treated the ending music and credits as disposable. However, sitting and listening to the music and reading the credits helps me reflect on what I just watched and get the full experience the artist intended.
I did this too! Huge quality of life increase, especially with Amazon where they barely give you a second to process what you just saw before starting the next episode. Plus, sometimes the music in credits is really good - I'll just sit there and think for a while.
I do this on YouTube of course. But I went a step further and used ublock to hide recommendations on the right, at the end of the video, and when you hit pause.
Stretch ~15 minutes a day. You don't need a special routine or a bunch of research. Stretch whatever is sore/stiff. If you can't think of anything start by touching your toes. Think of it as general maintenance on your joints. The effort compounds and starts to feel really good after a few months.
At night, I plug my phone in across the room from my bed, turn it on airplane mode, then power it down.
It's a wonderful moment that marks a healthy "disconnection" from the outside world, allowing me to have some quiet time with myself (or my partner).
Airplane mode ensures sure I'm not flooded with notifications first thing upon turning on my phone in the morning. Even if I need to use an app in the morning, I can take 15 minutes to an hour before I switch off airplane mode, which makes for calmer and more centered mornings.
The only thing you'll need if you want to adopt this change is an old school cheap alarm clock. I've been doing this for probably five years, and haven't looked back.
If you're anxious about missing emergency calls, you can optionally get a landline phone whose number only close friends & family have, and know only to use in case of emergency -- this step is optional, but can be achieved with Google Voice & some hardware for under $100.
I do the same, but I just turn WiFi and mobile data off. Nobody calls me anyway, especially not in the middle of the night, so it's still available for emergencies. Also I still use the phones alarm clock, that ensures that I really have to get out of bed to turn it off.
It's not as low-tech as some of the examples here, but I'll say that an e-reader with Pocket sync functionality has dramatically improved my life.
Reading long form articles on an offline device with no incoming notifications, no games, no podcasts etc has been a great boon to my ability to focus and really dig into what I'm reading. Plus these days, getting any kind of screen-off time is valuable.
I've been using Kobo ereaders for years, and a big attraction is the Pocket sync functionality. (Mind you, I think overall Instapaper does a better job than Pocket, if and ereader integrated with them I would jump.)
Currently using the 7" Libra H20. Had considered the 8" Forma, but the power button is very mushy, and it is bordering on too big.
> Reading long form articles on an offline device with no incoming notifications, no games, no podcasts etc has been a great boon
The biggest boon for me is the e-ink display. No light being emitted directly from my reading device into my eyes. I don't think I could ever read a full length book off an iPad or similar.
1. A powered height-adjustable table. Now when I work I stand more often, and sit less. It has a 4 position memory, which makes changing the height as simple as a button push, so I switch between standing and sitting as frequently as I wish.
2. An oven with electric grill and a timer. It makes cooking healthy whole food so easy. Just throw it in, set the timer, pull it out, and eat. I use the oven to cook chicken, fish, beets, carrots, potatoes, sweet pepper, zucchinis, and eggplants. It's low-effort, requires little time, and tastes great. The timer is important for someone whose work requires a lot of focus concentration. The louder, the better :)
Casio F-91W watch, as "low-tech" of a digital watch as you can get.
- They cost about $15 USD, so I can travel with a spare, and have lost at least one.
- Feature wise, it's a watch with a timer, a dead simple interface I am very familiar with, and perfect for taking to the gym to time myself between sets without getting distracted by my phone.
I got back into working out about a year ago. The amount of workout apps and online resources was SO overwhelming, I didn't know where to start. I decided to just ask my brother (who is big into working out) to show me a few basic exercises with dumbbells and body weight that I could do at home. Then I just used a notebook and pen to keep track of my progress. I love not having the phone around while working out. I feel like it can be such a distraction. And there's something about writing out a log with pen and paper that is just really satisfying. I love looking back and seeing pages and pages of workouts that I wrote out. It really helped me to get back into working out on a regular basis and make it a habit.
It turns out that making basic garments for oneself is really relaxing, and, if you have a hard time finding things that fit well in stores, practical.
It felt like a clear upgrade from DIY wearable electronics and suchlike as a hobby. It's not as bloggable, but the price- and effort- to payoff ratios are immeasurably better. It's nice to be rediscovering some leisure activities that don't involve screens, too.
It's funny I just posted about the same thing. If you're interested, check out vintage Elma grinders on ebay. I have one we restored and it looks nice. If something smaller, Kalita makes nice ones too. Somehow I now have 3 total. It's not as fast or simple as electric, of course, but there is some satisfaction to its simplicity.
Exercise. Standing desk. Focusing on productivity. Dieting (not that goal-oriented, just trying different diets (keto, vegan, carnivore, paleo, IF) and seeing the effect they have on my body). Meditation (not as much as I'd want though). Talking to people (come in positive, usually making a funny comment on something or just introducing myself). Buying stuff (carefully chosen... like new socks, new gym shorts, kitchen aid like a stick blender... with high total lifetime expected value).
I got a mechanical automatic watch with a day and date window (Seiko 5, affordable and well featured). It was a direct result of a few days with a soft bricked phone due to Lineage OS issues, I realized the thing I missed the most was knowing the time and everything else was replaceable (texting too due to Google voice).
Also I've found a wall mounted white board with colored markers to be quite helpful for personal organization and brainstorming. It's also great for leaving messages and pictionary.
I started journaling daily back in 2016. No apps, no computer. just paper and pen. Some days pages pour forth of writing. Other days I simply set a task of finding and writing down a good quote to save for later. This investment of time for me has yielded better discernment as I can look back at interactions I've documented and how I felt when events unfolded. Bonus, there are no notifications to interrupt you and in a world full of interruptions, the pen and paper have none.
[+] [-] DyslexicAtheist|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] agitator|6 years ago|reply
I totally agree. Not having any any tech with me, allowed me to live in the moment. I remember every part vividly, and have some of the best memories spending time with others on the trail, cooking breakfast, setting up and tearing down camp, and enduring crazy weather. Just simple things that we take for granted everyday, just felt rewarding and great to do. It was a crazy realization that you don't need all of this stuff we filled our lives with. You really can get by just fine with less.
I can't wait for the next opportunity I have to just get away from all the tech noise.
[+] [-] throw51319|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] highhedgehog|6 years ago|reply
I love hiking but I often rely on mountain huts here in the alps, limiting tent
[+] [-] rhcom2|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unhashable|6 years ago|reply
Apple Cider Vinegar instead of acid reducers (Tums, Zantac, Prilosec) for heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion.
Water Fasting instead of caloric restriction, weight loss pills, and diet fads for curing metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, mid-section fat buildup, inflammation, diabetes).
Kettlebell, mace, stretching, and sprinting instead of a gym membership with classes and steady state cardio (or a Peloton).
Barefoot foot strength and 0-drop shoes instead of surgery and lift-pads for fasciitis and tendonitis.
A whole food, conservative, omnivorous diet of your ancestors instead of becoming vegan or carnivore.
Journaling (#bujo), practicing meditation, and studying stoicism instead of counseling and medicating.
Reading books and leaving your devices “default off” instead of aimlessly scrolling all day.
Cast iron and glass for cooking/storing instead of Teflon and plastic.
[+] [-] fyfy18|6 years ago|reply
How do the "mineral stone" [0] pans compare? Is it just a Teflon equivalent with a new name?
[0] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FXPXSC6/
[+] [-] simonebrunozzi|6 years ago|reply
e.g. most notable things I am very curious about: 0-drop shoes, apple cider vinegar, glass for cooking
[+] [-] jangstrom|6 years ago|reply
Water fasting, by definition, is a type of caloric restriction.
[+] [-] neuroticfish|6 years ago|reply
Not sure how that's low tech or ancestral. Veganism is quite sustainable and many peoples of the past have practiced it.
[+] [-] eternityforest|6 years ago|reply
The other big thing is taking time off from smartphones.
I haven't written more than maybe a page a month on paper in years, I never buy incandescent bulbs, I don't want a film camera or a record player. There's very few appliances I wouldn't chose the smart version of.
But nothing is going to replace planting things in the garden, lighting a campfire, or reading a book(Although e readers are just fine now).
In general, I'm not a fan of low tech. Man-made items done without silicon tend to be heavy, delicate, and hard to use compared to the digital ones, and things made of modern materials.
Things that actively involve living beings very closely, like clothes and food, are sometimes but not always better off low tech.
Things that are, or should be be, mostly hands off, like the insulation material in a house, the network stack in a computer, or a power plant, should usually be as high tech as possible.
[+] [-] g4d|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] egypturnash|6 years ago|reply
I live a life where cycling everywhere is very feasible. My bike is cheap, I get exercise.
I made a sunscreen for my laptop out of illustration board, drafting tape, and some magnets. When the weather's nice (and I live somewhere where it's nice a lot) I can go out to a park and work in the middle of trees while debating if I should share my snacks with the raccoons and squirrels and birds.
I meditate. There is not much lower tech than "sitting quietly in one place for a while". It has done some very interesting things to my brain.
A lot of my reading has been physical books again after most of a decade of e-books. I'm supporting my local economy when I buy some from actual stores instead of Amazon, and being able to pick up a pen and take notes in the margin is really really pleasant.
[+] [-] navyad|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] abdullahkhalids|6 years ago|reply
Otherwise, nice. I am still waiting for the eink screen laptop that works in daylight.
[+] [-] jerome-jh|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] apineda|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] shrikant|6 years ago|reply
This means that watching the next episode of a show has to be a conscious choice on my part as opposed to the inertia of just letting it happen. Just the small added friction of having to hunt down the remote control and hit "Play" gives me a few seconds to (albeit involuntarily) reflect on whether I really need to watch the next episode, or if I could really be doing other hobbies / chores around the flat.
The result has been a notable decrease in binge-watching, a cleaner and more organised home, more/better sleep, and the subsequent improved health that follows the aforesaid.
[+] [-] alistproducer2|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 1auralynn|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bvinc|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lammalamma25|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nobody_nothing|6 years ago|reply
It's a wonderful moment that marks a healthy "disconnection" from the outside world, allowing me to have some quiet time with myself (or my partner).
Airplane mode ensures sure I'm not flooded with notifications first thing upon turning on my phone in the morning. Even if I need to use an app in the morning, I can take 15 minutes to an hour before I switch off airplane mode, which makes for calmer and more centered mornings.
The only thing you'll need if you want to adopt this change is an old school cheap alarm clock. I've been doing this for probably five years, and haven't looked back.
If you're anxious about missing emergency calls, you can optionally get a landline phone whose number only close friends & family have, and know only to use in case of emergency -- this step is optional, but can be achieved with Google Voice & some hardware for under $100.
[+] [-] Double_a_92|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rchaud|6 years ago|reply
Reading long form articles on an offline device with no incoming notifications, no games, no podcasts etc has been a great boon to my ability to focus and really dig into what I'm reading. Plus these days, getting any kind of screen-off time is valuable.
[+] [-] anotherevan|6 years ago|reply
Currently using the 7" Libra H20. Had considered the 8" Forma, but the power button is very mushy, and it is bordering on too big.
> Reading long form articles on an offline device with no incoming notifications, no games, no podcasts etc has been a great boon
The biggest boon for me is the e-ink display. No light being emitted directly from my reading device into my eyes. I don't think I could ever read a full length book off an iPad or similar.
[+] [-] rciorba|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aashu_dwivedi|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dgudkov|6 years ago|reply
2. An oven with electric grill and a timer. It makes cooking healthy whole food so easy. Just throw it in, set the timer, pull it out, and eat. I use the oven to cook chicken, fish, beets, carrots, potatoes, sweet pepper, zucchinis, and eggplants. It's low-effort, requires little time, and tastes great. The timer is important for someone whose work requires a lot of focus concentration. The louder, the better :)
[+] [-] londons_explore|6 years ago|reply
Who on earth thought that was a good plan? If I wanted a timer, I'd have used my phone.
[+] [-] wespiser_2018|6 years ago|reply
- They cost about $15 USD, so I can travel with a spare, and have lost at least one.
- Feature wise, it's a watch with a timer, a dead simple interface I am very familiar with, and perfect for taking to the gym to time myself between sets without getting distracted by my phone.
[+] [-] cyberjunkie|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] subpixel|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] geoffchan23|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mumblemumble|6 years ago|reply
It turns out that making basic garments for oneself is really relaxing, and, if you have a hard time finding things that fit well in stores, practical.
It felt like a clear upgrade from DIY wearable electronics and suchlike as a hobby. It's not as bloggable, but the price- and effort- to payoff ratios are immeasurably better. It's nice to be rediscovering some leisure activities that don't involve screens, too.
[+] [-] somesortofsystm|6 years ago|reply
Now in my later years, my garden is one of my most treasured pursuits.
It is pretty low-tech, although you'd be surprised at how valuable debugging skills can be when it comes to the seed-box and sprouts and things.
Mostly, you just do a couple basic things - care for the plants, encourage a system, use your resources - and things will grow.
A garden will always heal you.
[+] [-] BonoboIO|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] AdmiralAsshat|6 years ago|reply
But being a perfectionist tech geek, I had to ruin it by investing in an expensive Barzata conical burr grinder, so I guess it's not low tech anymore.
Does it still count if I switch to a manual burr hand-grinder? :P
[+] [-] axaxs|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|6 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] agitator|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tomp|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] matthberg|6 years ago|reply
Also I've found a wall mounted white board with colored markers to be quite helpful for personal organization and brainstorming. It's also great for leaving messages and pictionary.
[+] [-] stevenfoster|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] diminish|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jerome-jh|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] g4d|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rbosinger|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unhashable|6 years ago|reply