Recently, I went one year doing such an experiment: owning only one item of technology.

An iPad mini. 

After a previous no-phone experiment, I concluded two things.

One: I didn’t particularly staring at my phone.

I always felt really creeped out essentially being on-call to anyone who wants to talk to you at the exact second they want to talk to you.

And, Two: that I could do everything on a pad that I could do on a phone, without a contract or a bill.

Because I'm against bills.

How can you survive with only one device?

Use wifi.

And get a global data sim card so you can access cellular data when you don't have wifi access.

You can call and text via Talkatone, FaceTime, Facebook, Skype and lots more apps will give you a phone number you can use for texting, calling, voicemail, and even two factor authentication.

Then, it was just me and my iPad.

It came everywhere with me. I dropped it, carried it in pouring rain, wind, snow, hail, took it to mountains, rivers, and oceans, all dangerous places.

But it was fearless, and it mostly survived them all.

And, I figured out that it really can completely sustain a person.

Or, more specifically - very minimalist me.

Here's how.

1. calls
2. texts
3. iMessages
4. emails
5. Skype
6. Facetime
7. internet browser
8. address book
9. alarm clock
10. calendar
11. maps
12. written note taker
13. spoken note taker
14. reminders
15. weather forecaster 
16. camera
17. photo editor 
18. photo storage
19. social media manager
20. spreadsheet management 
21. document scanner
22. document creater
23. document storage
24. document sharing
25. software manager
26. food finder
27. bar finder
28. hotel finder
29. airfare finder
30. activity finder
31. tour finder
32. rental car finder
33. ride finder
34. date finder
35. language translator 
36. budget manager
37. banking manager
38. calculator
39. tip percentage calculator
40. currency converter
41. tv watcher
42. movie watcher
43. book reader
44. magazine reader
45. music listener
46. podcast listener
47. game player
48. video player
49. website creator
50. art creator

It's so easy and simple to have only one thing.

You don't feel overwhelmed by multiple devices.

Or multiple cables and connectors.

Or syncing multiple things.

Or the burden of owning lots of expensive, fragile things.

It forces you to be aware of the apps you collect.

It's pretty much a minimalist's dream and you can travel ultra-light.

The most unexpected benefit of not having a phone was actually not having a phone.

Not being one of those people that gets their devices out all the time to endlessly check things online.

Without the temptation, you can be more present. 

Overall, it was not as hard as I thought, it was actually easy and fun, and I loved not being glued to a phone. 

• Get a tablet!

• Get these travel apps and food apps for to make your life easier.

• Get a contract-free SIM card. Check out knowroaming, iroam, keepgo, onesim.