My cell phone lives in my sock drawer with the only exception being when I take it out for GPS. Otherwise, I have fully replaced my mobile computing with my Daylight Computer tablet. I feel like I have a much healthier relationship with this thing than I had with my cell phone. The lack of color and the lack of notifications has made my usage feel way more intentional. Before, I wanted to kick my habit of scrolling social media before I got out of bed in the morning, but I didn't actively work on that. One day, I simply realized I had kicked the habit without even trying!
Not having a phone on me at all times to cope with boring or awkward moments has really been eye opening, and I believe very healthy for me. Especially as someone who has had a phone on me for my teenage years and throughout most of my adult life thus far.
The issue then wasn't phone specifically, but social media apps installed there. I have phone at home around on the desk (but then again not always sitting by it), but since having 0 social apps its just a tool for emails, calls, whatsapp, navigation etc. and I quickly check it maybe every 1-2h for new emails/calls and thats it.
I still check FB on desktop from time to time if somebody close doesn't have anything interesting, but that is 1-3 mins max. FB has a very hostile UI on desktop these days (Firefox and ublock origin) and a lot of bugs on their sites, so I quickly get disgusted and close it.
The best part is, it completely refreshes whole timeline with new stuff every few mins, so anything I was just reading just blips out of existence, never to be seen again. So even if I manage to stay 3 mins it literally kicks me out. Thanx FB.
Another issue with that social media (don't use any other, why ffs its all mind cancer) is being overflooded with fake AI generated bullshit posts full of half truths and outright lies. Normally via suggested groups, cesspool of scum. So I have no idea what friends actually do, and not missing it.
The only other e-paper device that I had was a small nook many years ago. As far as connecting with people, I think quite well? The only social media I really use is bluesky, which has been really nice. Otherwise I keep in touch with my meatspace friends either over SMS (I use JMP Chat for SMS over XMPP on any device) or Signal (I use the molly.im client, which is easier to use without a cell phone (particularly because you can't scan QR codes on the Daylight)).
Ironically I actually feel like I experience far less FOMO than when I was hyper connected too :P
I have always had trouble keeping on top of email, but probably as good as anything? I don't use a Bluetooth keyboard, but I use a USB keyboard (ZSA Voyager) and a Bluetooth mouse (Logitech MX Anywhere 3S) and it works well for me. For some reason I have to re-pair the mouse often, but I think that's on the mouse side. My headphones have no trouble staying paired.
Not having a phone on me at all times to cope with boring or awkward moments has really been eye opening, and I believe very healthy for me. Especially as someone who has had a phone on me for my teenage years and throughout most of my adult life thus far.