I was listening to a recent episode of Back to Work and the hosts were talking briefly, towards the end, about both primary and secondary computing. It was mentioned by one of the hosts that for most people their phone and/or tablet would be considered a secondary device whereas their desktop computer or laptop would be their primary device. They also talked about how people don’t put paid/subscription type apps on their secondary device if they aren’t going to use those apps, on that device, on a regularly/daily basis. Makes sense to me. Of course there are always going to be outliers to generalizations like this. Dan and Merlin (hosts of the show) got me thinking about my current state of devices.
I am fortunate enough to have a MacBook Pro (2015), iPad Pro (12.9 inch 1st generation), an iPhone XR, and a 4th generation Apple Watch. Note the manner in which I just listed these. I’ve gone through various phases in my life with iterations of each of these devices and can say with certainty right now that my primary devices are both the iPhone XR and my Apple Watch. My secondary device would be my iPad Pro, and my tertiary device is my MacBook Pro. As I went back and re-read this part of the post (prior to publishing) I found it a bit ironic that I listed these devices, in the second sentence, unconsciously, in the opposite order that I am currently using them.
Most...if not all of the paid apps (one time purchases and/or subscriptions) and my daily usage of said apps is happening on my iPhone XR and Apple Watch. Heck, I'm writing this section of the blog post on my iPhone XR right now while re-listening the exact portion of the podcast that has inspired me to write...1 hour 9 minutes 23 seconds in...for those keep track at home! If you’re wondering, I finished the post on my iPad Pro the following day!
Here is a list of some of the paid/subscription apps I am using heavily...
AutoSleep
Breathe
Drafts
Due
Fantastical
Gyroscope
HeartWatch
Omnifocus
Overcast
Squarespace
Timery
Ulysses
WaterMinder
I am also beta testing a few of these apps including...
Drafts
Timery
It seems to me that a workflow (if you can call it that) that consists of my current set up would only make sense to be taking place on one’s primary device. Why bother taking the time to go to the secondary or tertiary device? Case in point...I’ve taken email off of my iPhone XR and iPad Pro. Why? I’ve written about it in other posts but “the short version” is...having email on my primary/secondary device(s) provides me no level of joy nor does it help me cultivate any sense of mental silence. If and when I need/want to look at email (while I’m home) I literally have to go up a flight of stairs, to my office, open my laptop, and proceed. The same goes for social media via Twitter...for similar reasons.
What I have slowly been doing over the course of several years is a sort of fine tuning. My device usage has morphed into a hierarchical system based on my own self-diagnosis to take better “digital, mental, and spiritual care” of myself. The devices that are closest to me (my primary devices) and easy to access (my secondary device) have been configured (through my choice of apps) to provide me opportunities to be reflective, inspired, practice gratitude, and experience moments of joy and mental silence...like I am right now writing this blog post.
What does this all mean? I think what I am ultimately arguing for in this post is something close to what my Internet friend Chris Dancy articulates so eloquantly in his amazing book, Don’t Unplug. No spoilers...go read it...you will be a better person for doing so!
The only way a fine tuning like the one I have engaged in can be accomplished is to...LIVE and be MINDFUL!