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The minimalist phone setup that changed everything 📞

14 months ago, I turned my smartphone “dumb.”

Not in the old-school, Nokia-brick kind of way.
In the intentional and minimalist kind of way.

This is what my phone looks like now:

No icons.
No badges.
No traps.

No Instagram.
No TikTok.
No X.

The Result?

My screen time dropped by 13%.

But more importantly… my screen quality skyrocketed.

Because the real win wasn’t less time on my phone.
It was less wasted time.

Now, most minutes have purpose.

Only apps that add value are visible on my home screen.

Everything else?
Out of sight. Out of mind.

Want to Try It?

Here’s the exact tutorial I followed:

And, here’s a summary:

  1. Download an app called Blank Spaces (7-day free trial – I bought lifetime for $22.99).

  2. Remove all apps and widgets from your home screens.

  3. Set the minimalist wallpaper via the app.

  4. Customize the widget: number of apps, layout, font, etc.

  5. Add only apps that serve your well-being or daily function.

And yes, your phone still works.

I can scan QR codes, open Uber while traveling, and do the essentials…

They’re just less tempting now.

Final Thought

How often do you open your phone for one app…
and end up on three others?

With this setup, that rarely happens.

This isn’t about deprivation.

It’s about design—that makes distractions harder to reach.

If you want to live an intentional digital life,
you can’t rely on willpower alone.

You need smarter defaults.

“Your phone is a tool. The moment it stops being one, it becomes a trap.”

ChatGPT

See you next week,
George