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First, I Refusing to blame someone for their phone addiction. Now I find it almost impossible to do even the smallest task without the help of a smartphone. My iPhone is not only my alarm clock and kitchen counter, but also my calendar and grocery list. I text my husband and check my work on Slack and look up recipes and play podcasts while cooking.
So if I have a hard time putting your stuff down, I don’t blame you. Our entire infrastructure revolves around everyone using some form of mobile device. I was going to install a landline in our house so that our children could access emergency services, but then it occurred to me that I could reuse the old Apple watches for my children’s use. Moreover, there is some debate as to whether phone addiction actually exists.
That being said, I find it hard not to fall into black holes. On a recent morning, I suspiciously clicked on TikTok while I was brushing my teeth and instead of getting my kids ready for school, I was completely engrossed in watching videos of small dogs sitting on giant mushrooms. If you can pay a company to block sites and apps on your computer while you work, paying a company to help you put your phone down starts to seem more reasonable.
Box it
Photography: Taralynn Lawton / Arlo
Aro is both a vessel and a member. You can join for $18 a month or slightly cheaper with annual or two-year subscription plans. Each subscription covers each member of your family.
Once you join, you’ll find the Aro Home, a large white box measuring 12.5 inches by 8 inches. A seamless bamboo lid with a metal nub reveals four interior slots for four phones, one wireless charger, and four Lightning connectors. (Android app and version coming soon.)
The app connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Once you put your phone in the box, it automatically starts tracking your hands-free session, which ends when you take your phone off the Aro. When viewing the Aro app, you can tag your session with an account. The tags I use the most are breakfast, work, and family time.
Aro starts with an initial goal of keeping your phone alone for an hour a day and adjusts as you spend more time, but after a few weeks I haven’t seen any change. The subscription also covers challenges and lets you view your accumulated data, but so far these are pretty basic. For example, I have currently achieved challenge badges for a seven-day streak and 10 sessions. You can compete with teams but I don’t know anyone else who owns an aro.
I put it in our Aro kitchen because it’s a place where I have trouble juggling multiple tasks and paying attention to what’s at hand. But if I keep the Arrow in my bedroom, I can have more or longer sessions, including nights. Fortunately, I have no problem putting my phone aside to sleep. (I’m not better than you, I’m tired)
Hands free
Placing Arrow Home in such a prominent position had one immediate effect. My kids who don’t have phones see that I’m committed to getting off my phone. Best of all, they had a safe place to put it when they forced it out of my hands.
I know what you’re thinking. “An hour a day? Haha, puffy” But it’s not as easy as you might think, especially for a mom of two elementary schoolers who also works full-time from home. There have been many times when I put it in the box only to find out I have to bring it out a few minutes later.
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