5,203 Things to Do Instead of Looking at Your Phone

by Barbara Ann Kipfer

Because life is calling.
 
Put down your phone, close the lid on your laptop, and get back in touch with the wonders of the world around you. With thousands of ideas for simple, beautiful things to do instead of scrolling down the rabbit hole of cyberspace, this healing little book offers the opportunity, 5,203 times, to slow down, look up, and rediscover what makes you feel nourished and grounded as a human being. With illustrations throughout by Scot Ritchie.
 

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Health

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2020

About the author

Dr. Barbara Ann Kipfer (born in 1954) is a lexicographer,as well as an archaeologist. She has written more than 60 books, including 14,000 Things to be Happy About (Workman), which has more than a million copies in print and has given rise to many Page-a-Day calendars. The 25th anniversary edition of the book was published in October 2014. She is the editor of Roget's International Thesaurus.

Kipfer is Chief Lexicographer of the company Temnos. She has worked for such companies as Google, Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, Answers.com, Ask Jeeves, Bellcore/Telcordia, Federated Media Publishing, General Electric Research, IBM Research, idealab, Knowledge Adventure, Textdigger, The Chicago Tribune, and WolframAlpha. Barbara holds a PhD and MPhil in Linguistics (University of Exeter), a PhD in Archaeology (Greenwich University), an MA and a PhD in Buddhist Studies (Akamai University), and a BS in Physical Education (Valparaiso University).

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jennifer Ladd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to rate since it’s not a story. This list is comprehensive and fun. I liked that it’s not organized by difficulty or time to complete. You can easily discover a task right now or one that would take quite some planning. Would be great to gift

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun guide book. During the current state of events in present day, this book helps to provide entertainment. It is a book that the whole family can have fun with. Who knew there were so many things to do. A lot of them get you outside.

This book is a good bonding one. There are so many ideas like teach someone to cook your favorite dish, or there is write backwards. How about go on a secret mission. Some of the ideas were really silly but funny. Like I did not know there is thirteen ways to fold a napkin. Cat lovers. Why not rig a cat feeding device. There are tons more things to be found in this book. So, pick up a copy today and start having fun without electronic devices.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my life! Literally!

I’m currently in recovery from an eating disorder and multiple other mental/physical health conditions. I found this book at just the right time because I was drawing up a list of healthy coping mechanisms I could use to “change the channel” on rumination and not turn to avoiding things or numbing myself with detrimental behavior. I now have a list with over 700 varied coping mechanisms that range from very small, simple actions to very large ones, that can be used at any point in my life. Now I have a compendium of coping mechanisms I can just look at whenever I’m going into a negative thought spiral. My only complaint about this book is that it’s not really 5,203 different things… it’s more like 500-1000, and I’m being generous. Many of the things are just rehashed versions of previous suggestions. But otherwise, this is the most life changing book I’ve ever come across!

[aves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this- definitely more than I expected for a book that was really just a very long list. I kept a checklist note (on my phone, ironically) of all the things I really want to do so I could actually put this book into practice, and there are so many things (big and small) that I want to do!
It got me thinking that maybe if I spent just a little less time on a screen, would I have stronger friendships? Spend more time outdoors? Have more fulfilling experiences? Be more creative? Be more productive? Live in the moment more?
Great read! :)

[BookTrib.com]

This book offers a guide to using devices with intention rather than as a distraction, helping you change your relationship with technology, reduce mindless screen time and enjoy life even when your phone is tucked away.

Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/09/29/5203-...

[Jeffrey Ning · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are clueless in balancing your mind, body and soul, Barbara Ann Kipfer lists out 5,203 things to do instead of looking at your mobile phone. It is up to you to execute them because there is no how-to steps. Wish categories or themes are established for ease of lookup. Could lost in free flow of lists.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay, be real, we look at our phones a damn lot. it feels like a needed thing, looking away. i’ve always been fond of her books - 14,000 things & the wish list were highschool favourites - but they come so heavily from her own experience (white, middle class, i’m guessing new england) they’ll always be threes for me. still i love the font, & a good ol’ meditative list

[Ricky Kimsey]

List Of Activities

This is just a list of activities. I could have easily done this without handing over money to Amazon. There are things listed I have done or will do in the future.

[kris harper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t waste your time. The To-do list started to raise my anxiety.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of little things that we don't regularly do that much anymore. Nice things that I think we need to get back to.

[Amruta Bhave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book to keep on hand when you are tempted to look at your phone for no reason whatsoever! It would even justify looking at your phone to pull open a page of this ebook! :D
Needless to say, the book isn't a start to finish read, but it's fun and hilarious and intriguing enough to keep going back to it!

Special mention: Pick an event from your day and imagine describing it to your alien :D:DDDD