Aniket Bin
In today’s world, smartphones have arguably become the most important tool in our daily life. It serves as a tool for not just for all kinds of communication, but also work and entertainment. Surprisingly, some well-known personalities have chosen a different path, they have either limited their dependence on technology or have completely moved on from it. Their decision may seem surprising given the demanding nature of their career, but this decision shows that they might care more for their privacy and simplicity and choosing to protect themselves from the negative influence of technology.
Saswata Chatterjee –
Saswata Chatterjee is a popular Bengali actor who gained fame for his small yet impactful and iconic role of Bob Biswas, a hitman, in the 2012 film Kahaani. Surprisingly, the actor doesn’t carry a smartphone with him. In an industry where he comes from being reachable is often seen as important, his decision stands out. According to sources, it’s a feature phone that he carries during his outdoor shoots. The interesting part is that he keeps it switched off during the day hours and only communicates with his family at night. This really helps him fully concentrate to get into character during his work.
Ed Sheeran –
The famous Grammy-winning singer and song writer made a significant lifestyle change when he decided to give up his smartphone. His decision was actually connected to a health issue, more specifically a mental health problem. His huge fan following resulted in influx of notifications from social media, messages and calls which distracted him from focusing in his work i.e. creating music. This change had a positive impact on his creativity and allowed him to channel his energy into his work and gave him a sense of balance in his life.
Michael Cera
Michael Cera is a Canadian actor who chose not to have a smartphone as he was worried that it might take over his life. In an interview he said that when smartphones first came out, his best friend got a Blackberry. So, during lunch, he noticed that he spent the whole time replying to or typing emails, which made him feel lonely and bored. This is why he began to dislike smartphones right from the beginning.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, having known for movie franchises like Mission Impossible and Top Gun, is known for having a very private lifestyle. According to some reports, Cruise not only does not own a smartphone, but he does also not even own a phone! The renowned actor is known to prefer face-to-face conversations more and this choice also shows his desire for privacy and most importantly meaningful interactions, emphasizing quality over quantity. This lifestyle enabled him to focus on his acting career and deliver his best performance to his fans.
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell, a well-known television personality and an entrepreneur stopped using his smartphone in 2017 because he got overwhelmed by all the unread messages and realized it was actually stopping him from working or living properly. He shared an incident where he woke up with 50 unread messages which really annoyed him as even if he replies to all those texts, he will receive another 50 replies as a bonus!
Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley a famous American actress got rid of her smartphone in 2014 because of her concerns about privacy. She prefers a flip phone which suggests her simplicity. According to her staying away from technology can lead to more meaningful interactions and can provide a greater sense of freedom. Her choice really encourages us to focus on real life connections.
Christopher Nolan
Lastly, we have none other than the legendary director Cristopher Nolan famous for his iconic films like Inception, Interstellar, The Dark Knight and more which had left a significant mark on the film industry. Nolan has chosen to let go carrying a smartphone as he was too distracted by frequent calls and unwanted messages. He uses a regular phone and he prefers to avoid using the internet as well as much as he can. According to sources, he often found it difficult writing his scripts, so he decided to use a computer with no internet connection allowing him more focus on his work. He also prefers not to use email, and prefers handing his scripts to actors by hand.
Conclusion
Each of these individuals has found that stepping away from constant digital access has actually helped them focus on their respective fields, reduce anxiety and most importantly maintain a healthier balance between their personal and professional lives. Today, we have become so dependent on technology that it is getting hard to set boundaries. However, it is important that we learn from these individuals to live more mindfully in a world where there is constant connectivity.
