When Your Phone Is Your Job: Navigating Analogue April as a Working Professional
- Amelia Christie
- Aug 12
- 2 min read
Let’s face it for many of us, ditching the phone altogether simply isn’t an option. It’s not just a communication device anymore; it’s our calendar, our inbox, our camera, our to-do list, our navigation, our Zoom room. Especially for those in client-facing roles or running their own businesses, it’s how we stay responsive, efficient, and informed.
But here’s the catch: the line between using our phone and being used by it is getting blurrier by the day.
And it’s not just about time on screen. It’s about where your attention goes. It’s the reflexive scrolling after dinner, the work emails creeping into your weekend, the “quick check” that turns into 45 minutes of swiping. So how do we balance the reality of needing our phones for work with the desire to be more present with our families, friends – and ourselves – after hours?
Work Needs the Phone. You Don’t 24/7
That’s the spirit behind Analogue April. Not a digital detox, but a digital reset. We’re not saying throw your phone in a drawer forever. We’re saying: use it when it serves you. And learn to spot when it doesn’t.
Instead of an all-or-nothing approach, we encourage professionals to set time-bound digital boundaries. Think of it as the Analogue After 6 model:
Use your phone as much as you need during the workday
After 6pm? Step back
Photo by Matias North on Unsplash
You’d be surprised how much mental space opens up when your evening isn’t filled with message pings, Slack alerts, or doomscrolling through headlines.
Try These Analogue April-Style Challenges
Small shifts can have a big impact. Here are a few gentle, realistic experiments you can try during evenings, weekends, or holidays:
Out of sight, out of mind: Leave your work phone in a drawer or a different room after 6pm
No tech at the table: Make mealtimes sacred again even if it’s just you and a bowl of pasta
Mapless evenings: Try getting somewhere new without using Google Maps (or at least turn the voice off)
Tactile time: Use a real alarm clock. Write with a pen. Read a paper book. Give your brain a break from screens
These aren’t about being anti-tech. They’re about being pro-choice with your attention.
Who’s This For?
It’s for anyone who’s ever said, “I just need to send one more message” at 9pm. It’s for busy professionals, agency folks, freelancers, entrepreneurs, parents – anyone juggling digital demands and craving a bit more mental breathing room.
Let’s Redefine "Available"
Being always-on is not a badge of honour. In fact, setting boundaries around availability is one of the most underrated leadership skills of the modern workplace.
When we model digital balance, especially as leaders, we signal to others that it's not just okay to disconnect after hours, it’s expected.
So, this August (or April), take on your own version of the Analogue Challenge. Your job can have your phone during working hours. But your evenings, your weekends, your relationships, your rest?
Those are yours to reclaim.
Bee Christie
