The unparalleled convenience of smartphones is undeniable, and that’s probably one of the reasons they are so addictive. And in your quest to break from the chaos of your smartphone, you may have tried customizing your notifications or blocking distracting apps, with varying degrees of failure. You are now left with one option—switching to a dumbphone.

This switch can significantly improve your lifestyle, especially if the cons of using a smartphone outweigh the pros—but that doesn’t mean it will be easy.

1. Scan QR Codes in Bars and Restaurants

One of the most significant everyday challenges of switching to a dumbphone is losing your ability to scan QR codes in stores and restaurants. Scanning QR codes in restaurants and other hospitality businesses to access the menu and make payments has become increasingly popular, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

QR codes (quick response codes) are barcodes used to store data, and retrieve it quickly using your smartphone’s camera without having to type in a long URL. Considering that most dumbphones lack a camera and access to the internet, you won’t be able to use this handy feature. This means you will have to ask the waiter for a traditional menu to choose your food or drink and pay your bill using cash or a card.

Alternatively, you could ask someone with a smartphone to scan the QR code for you—this could be a little awkward, but it could also be an excellent conversation starter and an opportunity to make new friends! Either way, you will be pleased to know that you will avoid some potential dangers of scanning QR codes, such as malware and phishing attacks.

2. Navigate Unfamiliar Territory

There are several reasons to switch to a dumbphone, but living without GPS and map apps is probably not one of them. This convenient smartphone feature makes it easy to find your way around a new place and get to your destination with minimal stress.

Thankfully, modern cars have built-in navigation systems that you can use instead. You can get a portable car GPS navigation system if your vehicle does not have this feature. Alternatively, you can plan by looking up the directions on your computer, familiarizing yourself with the area and memorizing landmarks, or printing out a map of the area before you leave. If you get lost, you can ask someone for directions.

3. Look Up Information on the Go

If you are like most people, you likely use your smartphone to quickly access information on the go. For instance, you rely on Google for everything from looking up a flight time to finding the ingredients for a recipe or your reminder app to keep track of your commitments. In fact, you have probably developed an over-reliance on your smartphone to access information, which can ruin your memory—a phenomenon called digital amnesia.

That said, you will be doing your brain a favor by switching to a dumbphone, as you won’t rely on your smartphone to remember things for you. That’s because knowing that you can’t easily reach out to your smartphone whenever you need answers will force you to exercise your memory more often, boosting your ability to recall information. At least you won’t have to rely on your smartphone to remember your partner’s birthday!

4. Read and Respond to Emails

Another everyday challenge of using a dumbphone is that you won’t be able to read and respond to emails on the go, as most of them don’t support email access. This means you have to rely on your computer to do this, which can be inconvenient, especially if you are always on the move.

However, chances are, this won’t be such a bad thing. Your ability to use your smartphone to read and respond to emails on the go might seem like a productivity hack on the surface, but it can also be a massive distraction. The constant pings of new emails can divert your focus from important tasks. With a dumbphone, you can avoid this and plan specific times to check and respond to emails.

5. Escape Boredom

Think about when you relied on your smartphone to kill time in long queues, during long commutes, or while waiting for your friend to show up for lunch. Whether playing games, streaming your favorite tunes, or listening to podcasts or audiobooks, your smartphone has been the perfect boredom buster.

Switching to a dumbphone means finding other ways to escape boredom during such times. Filling this time seems arduous, but it does not have to be. You can carry along with you a physical book or magazine to read. You can also bring along a word puzzle book to work on, sit back and observe the world around you, or strike up conversations with other people around you.

In the end, embracing boredom might be the perfect way to unplug from technology and find new ways to entertain yourself—you might also discover several ways to limit screen time without using a screen.

6. Deal With Social Stigma

Chances are, switching to a dumbphone won’t be the most popular decision among those around you. Having a smartphone has become the norm in our modern society, and you may likely feel like an outcast when you switch to a dumbphone—say goodbye to the blue bubbles.

Your loved ones may not support this decision, others may make fun of you, and another group may take longer to understand and accept it after they know the reasons behind it. Whatever the case, this lifestyle change is personal, and it’s up to you to make this decision if you feel it’s best for you, especially if the benefits of using a dumbphone outweigh any social consequences. As for the blue bubbles, you can use your Apple ID on your Mac or iPad to communicate with your loved ones via iMessage.

7. The Limited Ability to Immortalize Memories

Smartphones double as cameras, allowing you to capture moments conveniently and immortalize them. This is an excellent way of preserving memories you can treasure for years. With a dumbphone, you don’t have access to this convenience, as most don’t come with a camera.

Although this is a significant inconvenience, it allows you to focus on the experience and savor the moment instead of spending most of the time taking pictures and editing them on the spot. You can also invest in a digital camera to capture those moments in much better quality.

Embrace the Simplicity of Dumbphones and Escape the Chaos of Smartphones

Whether you want to try it or make it a permanent switch, dumbphones can offer a refreshing break from the attention-sucking capabilities of smartphones. Although it comes with its own set of inconveniences, knowing the challenges you might face beforehand can make the transition smoother. And if you still find this journey too daunting, just think about all the potential benefits of making the switch.