Offline November: the month without smartphones.

That's a shame! 🙁 You could of course still try to switch your smartphone off at moments when it is possible. If that isn't feasible for you for whatever reason, you can still support this initiative by sharing this website with others. Perhaps you know people who'd like to take part. Your interest is appreciated regardless, so thank you for that!

Many people tend to associate smartphones with social media, but they're actually two separate subjects. Both deserve their own discussion when it comes to how we use them. In short, you could say the smartphone acts as a kind of 'facilitator' for social media. Social media itself doesn't necessarily have a negative impact — but it does when we use it excessively. So be sure to let people know you're still reachable.

You can only really judge this after you've tried it. In practice, it turns out that many social contacts don't expect an immediate reply: most things can wait a while. On top of that, you'll most likely handle work-related matters via your computer or in person anyway, without using your smartphone. For certain personal tasks you may have to go about things a little more awkwardly without a smartphone, but this can be rewarding at the same time and give you a renewed sense of independence and self-reliance. 💪

While that's certainly an option, there's still a chance you'll be distracted by the possibility of staying online through your web browser. Although some people may have the discipline to then not use their smartphone except for, say, navigation, others will still feel the urge to stay connected to the digital world. Without a smartphone there's no chance of tempting yourself. But this remains a personal choice, of course.

You can look for a simple model, such as the Nokia 105, at various online shops like Bol.com or Coolblue. Some models even support dual SIM cards, handy for people who want separate SIMs for work and personal use. These phones are designed for basic functions such as calling and texting, and sometimes even offer a built-in radio tuner. Best of all is the impressive battery life!

This initiative grew out of a personal experience of its founder. It was so positive that, ever since, more people have shown interest. This year the decision was made to build a website around the initiative, and you're now looking at the result. Above all, we hope it encourages people to look more critically at their smartphone use in relation to their mental (and physical) health.

The honest answer is that the month is somewhat down to chance. But... in hindsight it isn't so illogical. October is regarded by many as a smoke-free month, and internationally as Sober October. December is then often full of festivities, family and comparatively more communication. January and February are sometimes used as alcohol-free months too. And although November also focuses on men's health, a smartphone-free initiative surely fits right in. 😉