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En tus palabras: Vivir con una sobrecarga digital

noviembre 10, 2023 | 6 lectura mínima

¿Te sientes increíblemente distraído en el mundo moderno?

“Simplemente apaga el Wi-Fi”.

“Deja el teléfono.”

“Si te distraes tan fácilmente, no eres un verdadero escritor”.

Constantemente escuchamos estos comentarios de personas que no han probado Freewrite. Y cuando eres un escritor que tiene dificultades para plasmar sus palabras en el papel, esos comentarios pueden ser increíblemente dolorosos. Pero estamos aquí para decirte que: a) no son ciertos; y b) lo sabemos porque no estás solo.

Recientemente organizamos un sorteo con Light Phone , una compañía increíble tan obsesionada con la tecnología útil como nosotros. Como parte del concurso, se pidió a los participantes que compartieran un momento de sobrecarga digital que les afectara la vida. ¿Sabes qué aprendimos?

El problema es aún peor de lo que pensábamos.

A la mayoría de las personas les costó elegir un solo momento. Y muchos se emocionaron al describir cómo la abrumadora tecnología ha afectado sus vidas. Como dijo el participante Phillip S.:

Un momento sugiere un período aislado con un principio y un final definidos; internet no fomenta los finales. La mayoría de los sitios de streaming de vídeo comenzarán automáticamente otro clip si el usuario no interviene y detiene el proceso, a menudo incluso antes de que el primer vídeo haya llegado al final de su duración... El sol nunca se pone en este mundo.

Si se siente solo en su búsqueda por simplificar y usar la tecnología para apoyar su vida, en lugar de dominarla, lo invitamos a leer algunas de las respuestas a continuación de otros miembros de la comunidad.

(Nota: Todas estas son respuestas reales enviadas al sorteo, editadas para mayor claridad y extensión).

Sobre los momentos perdidos…

Me perdí el tiro ganador de mi hija en su partido de baloncesto porque estaba demasiado ocupado mirando la pantalla como para molestarme en prestarle atención a su victoria. ¡Basta ya! - Abrian S.

Recuerdo a mi hija, cuando tenía unos dos años, impidiéndome tomarle una foto. Creo que era un momento banal, cotidiano. Quizás estaba comiendo algo o leyendo un libro, pero yo sentía la necesidad de sacar mi teléfono y tomarle una foto porque, bueno, lo hacía todos los días. Si no hubiera tenido mi smartphone, ¿qué habría sido de ese momento? Habría sido otro momento trivial, pero habría sido un momento en el que mi hija supo que yo estaba allí, allí, allí. - Jooun U.

Estuve todo el día navegando por la muerte y un día me desperté con una barba gris. Literalmente. - Joshua R.

Sobre recordar cómo aburrirse…

Vivimos en una época en la que la posibilidad del aburrimiento se ve aplastada bajo pantallas de información y distracción. Cuando internet era un lugar que visitaba intencionadamente para responder a mis preguntas, era una herramienta eficaz para despertar mi curiosidad. Con el auge de las redes sociales, la red mundial se ha convertido en una máquina tragamonedas digital de entretenimiento donde el precio que pago es el tiempo. - Carlo B.

“Debemos aborrecer esta idea de que necesitamos permanecer en un estado constante de entretenimiento y, en cambio, aprender a aburrirnos ocasionalmente y estar completamente presentes para que podamos experimentar estos momentos verdaderamente únicos en la vida que suceden a nuestro alrededor todos los días”. - Emily J.

Sobre la salud mental y física…

“Mi relación más problemática es con mi teléfono”. - Harrison C.

He pasado años reprimiendo mis emociones, pensamientos y necesidades bajo oleadas de novedades y tecnología de gratificación instantánea. Supongo que podría decirse que soy un auténtico nativo digital. Y quiero emigrar. - Bryce U.

Empecé a notar una conexión directa entre mi estado mental y mi propensión a usar el teléfono sin pensar para obtener una dosis de dopamina: cuanto más ansiosa y estresada estaba, más lo hacía. Y esto hacía que la ansiedad y el estrés aumentaran en lugar de disminuir, en un ciclo de retroalimentación positiva. - Havely C.

Desde la dificultad para pensar con claridad (niebla mental) hasta la reducción de la capacidad de atención, he llegado a la conclusión de que necesito dejar de usar las pantallas con frecuencia... Al fin y al cabo, la locura es intentar lo mismo una y otra vez y esperar resultados diferentes. - Jeremy

Era 2016 y mi celular se rompió. Decidí arriesgarme y prescindir de él por un tiempo. Fue liberador. Escribía cartas y las enviaba por correo para mantenerme en contacto con mis seres queridos. Experimenté la libertad. En lugar de ser esclava de una pantalla que siempre exigía mi atención, era libre de estar presente en cada situación, con quien y lo que tenía frente a mí. ¡Mi alegría aumentó a medida que la ansiedad disminuyó! Bailé más. Reí más. Viví cada minuto del día al máximo. - Sara Z.

Me dolía la mano de tanto hacer la garra; sujetar el móvil para ver las noticias o el correo, etc. No solo me dolía, sino que empecé a sentir vergüenza al hacer la garra, a pesar del dolor. ¿Qué había sido de mí? - Chrissy W.

Sobre la escritura y la creatividad…

“Todo lo que quiero es poder tener la cabeza despejada para que las palabras y las ideas puedan fluir en algo que sea nutritivo para mí y para las personas que más quiero”. – Seth K.

¿Un dispositivo de escritura específico? ¿Como ver a mi padre usando la vieja IBM Selectric? ¡Escribió libros en ella! ¡No veía videos! ... ¡Regresaré a esa época! - John VP

“He hecho un trabajo muy coordinado en los últimos 5 o 6 años para convertirme en un minimalista digital: no usar más redes sociales, darme de baja de todo, hacer que mi teléfono sea lo más tonto posible, pero no poder separar mi procesador de textos de mi navegador web fue mi talón de Aquiles, sin importar cuánto intentara hacerlo de otra manera”. - Julia W.

“Ha sucedido un millón de veces: sentí que una idea se acercaba, ese ruido sordo de algo que venía por la montaña, y en mi excitada urgencia corrí a mi teléfono para anotarlo en mi aplicación de notas; media hora después, estaba desplazándome hacia algo, no sé qué, no me importa qué, y la idea que me había atrapado con tanta urgencia se perdió para siempre en el viento”. - Sammie S.

Estaba intentando escribir una historia para la clase. Mi smartphone estaba sincronizado con mi portátil y recibía muchísimas notificaciones. ¡Acabé escribiendo sin querer algunas líneas de los mensajes en mi historia y no me di cuenta! - Matt R.

“Soy un artista independiente de hip-hop y me gustaría compartir algunas letras de una nueva canción que he estado escribiendo llamada 'Stuck':

AYO NOS QUEDAMOS ATASCADOS - AYO NOS QUEDAMOS ATASCADOS
CARA PEGADA EN NUESTROS TELÉFONOS - OJOS PEGADOS EN LA PANTALLA
AYO NOSOTROS ESTAMOS ATASCADOS - ¿POR QUÉ ESTAMOS ATASCADOS?
ATRAPADO EN UNA RED CON MUCHAS MENTIRAS EN EL ARROYO”
- Douglas F.

Al tocar la hierba…

“…Dejo el teléfono y salgo a hundir los pies en la suave hierba verde amarillenta, solo para darme la vuelta y coger el teléfono para llevar la cámara. Encuentro setas silvestres creciendo y les saco una foto, recordando enseguida que tengo correos electrónicos que enviar.” - Dalone L.

“Ding, zumbido, clic, desplazamiento, clic, clic, madriguera de conejo, y no a ningún paraíso que quisieras. Apágalo, respira hondo, mira a tu alrededor, ¡estás vivo!” – Eli A.

Es como intentar capturar una foto de la luna llena con un smartphone. Simplemente disfruta el momento. ¿Para qué agobiarte? Ve ligero. - Noah M.

Sobre la vida misma…

“Casi me atropella un coche.” - Patrick S.

Lo que intento decir es que quiero recuperar mi vida. Es tan difícil alejarme de estas máquinas de distracción. Quiero ese vigor para vivir fuera de la tecnología que tenía a los 18 años y quería viajar y vivir en todas las grandes ciudades de Estados Unidos. Quiero ser ese niño lleno de asombro, incluso ante lo mundano. Quiero volver a escribir. Quiero volver a leer. Quiero sentirme de nuevo en casa, en el mundo. - Alexander A.

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No estás solo

Una última cita del sorteo para llevar contigo:

Parece que Light Phone y Freewrite son dos amigos que vienen a decir: "¡Oye, te apoyamos! No tienes que dejar ese hábito solo". - Adonis D.

Hola, amigos. 👋 En Freewrite, creamos herramientas de redacción sin distracciones para el escritor moderno. Light Phone es un teléfono diseñado para usarse lo menos posible. Vivamos un poco más, y un poco más despacio, juntos.

Comprar Freewrite | Comprar Light Phone

noviembre 29, 2025 4 lectura mínima

The Great Freewrite Séance: A Ghost'ly Charity Auction Full Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern participation in The Great Freewrite Séance: A Ghost'ly Charity Auction (“Auction”), organized by Freewrite (“Organizer,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By registering for, bidding in, or otherwise participating in the Auction, you (“Participant,” “Bidder,” or “Winner”) agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Auction Overview

1.1. The Auction offers for sale a limited number of Freewrite Traveler Ghost Edition units (“Items” or “Ghost Traveler units”), each personally signed and drawn on by a featured author.

1.2. All proceeds, net of explicitly disclosed administrative costs, will be donated to the charity or charitable initiative (“Charity”) identified on each auction item’s page, as chosen by the respective author.

2. Eligibility

2.1. Participants must be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, whichever is higher.

2.2. Employees of Freewrite, the participating authors, or any affiliates directly involved in the Auction are not eligible to bid.

2.3. By participating, you represent that you are legally permitted to take part in online auctions and to pay for any bids you win.

3. Auction Registration

3.1. Participants must create an account on the auction platform or otherwise register using accurate, current, and complete information.

3.2. Freewrite reserves the right to verify identity and to disqualify any Participant who provides false or misleading information.

4. Bidding Rules

4.1. All bids are binding, final, and non-retractable.

4.2. Bidders are responsible for monitoring their bids; Freewrite is not liable for missed notifications or technical issues on the auction platform or the Participant’s device.

4.3. Freewrite reserves the right to:

  • set minimum bids or bid increments;
  • reject bids deemed in bad faith or intended to disrupt the Auction;
  • extend, pause, or cancel the Auction in case of technical difficulties, fraud, or events beyond reasonable control.

5. Winning Bids and Payment

5.1. The highest valid bid at the close of the Auction is the Winning Bid, and the corresponding Participant becomes the Winner.

5.2. Winners will receive payment instructions and must complete payment within 48 hours of the auction’s close unless otherwise stated.

5.3. Failure to complete payment on time may result in forfeiture, and Freewrite may offer the Item to the next highest bidder.

5.4. Accepted payment methods will be listed on the Auction platform. All payments must be made in the currency specified.

6. Item Description and Condition

6.1. Each Ghost Traveler unit is authentic, and the signatures, doodles, and messages are original works created by the participating author. These are authors, not artists. By bidding on the Item, you acknowledge that you are receiving a one-of-a-kind unit marked with unique art and messages and you agree to these terms and conditions.

6.2. Because Items are customized and signed by hand, variations, imperfections, or unique marks are to be expected. These are considered part of the Item’s character and not defects.

6.3. Items are provided “as-is” and “as-available.” Freewrite makes no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

7. Shipping & Delivery

7.1. Shipping costs, import duties, and taxes may apply unless explicitly stated otherwise.

7.2. Freewrite will make reasonable efforts to ship Items within the estimated timeline but cannot guarantee delivery dates.

7.3. Title and risk of loss transfer to the Winner upon delivery to the carrier.

7.4. Freewrite is not responsible for delays, damage, or loss caused by the courier or customs agencies.

8. Charity Donation

8.1. Net proceeds from the Auction will be donated to the Charity designated on each Item page.

8.2. Donation amounts and recipients may be disclosed publicly unless prohibited by law.

8.3. Winners acknowledge that they are purchasing Items, not making a tax-deductible donation to Freewrite; therefore, Winners will not receive charitable tax receipts unless Freewrite explicitly states otherwise in compliance with applicable laws.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1. All trademarks, brand names, product names, and creative materials associated with Freewrite and the Ghost Traveler remain the exclusive property of Freewrite or their respective rights holders.

9.2. Participants may not reproduce, distribute, or publicly display the authors’ doodles without permission where such rights are applicable, except as allowed by law (e.g., resale of the physical Item).

10. Privacy

10.1. By participating, you consent to Freewrite’s collection, use, and storage of your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

10.2. Freewrite may publicly announce auction results, including Winner’s first name, last initial, city, state/country, and winning bid amount unless prohibited by law or unless you formally request anonymity when possible.

11. Prohibited Conduct

Participants may not:

  • engage in bid manipulation, fraud, or collusive bidding;
  • use automated systems (bots, scripts, scrapers) to place or monitor bids;
  • interfere with the Auction, platform, or other participants

Freewrite may ban or disqualify any Participant violating these rules.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

12.1. Freewrite is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from the Auction or purchase of Items.

12.2. Freewrite’s total liability in connection with these Terms shall not exceed the amount of the Winning Bid actually paid by the Participant.

12.3. Freewrite is not responsible for technical malfunctions, internet outages, system failures, or other issues beyond its control.

13. Cancellation and Force Majeure

Freewrite may cancel, postpone, or modify the Auction due to unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to natural disasters, system failures, strikes, or events affecting participating authors or the Charity.

14. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

14.1. These Terms are governed by the laws of Michigan, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.

14.2. Any disputes arising under these Terms will be resolved through binding arbitration or the courts of the specified jurisdiction, as applicable.

14.3. Participants waive any right to participate in class-action lawsuits relating to the Auction.

15. Amendments

Freewrite may update these Terms at any time. Continued participation in the Auction after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

16. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding the Auction or these Terms, contact: hello@getfreewrite.com.

noviembre 25, 2025 1 lectura mínima

This is a great gratitude writing exercise to be done alone or in a group, with people of any age.

How to Play

    1. Designate someone to read out each prompt below. (Feel free to add your own prompts.)
    2. After each prompt is read, set a timer for one minute. (With younger kids, this can be shortened. For older folks who want to freewrite meaningfully, more time can be added.)
    3. Each person freewrites by finishing the sentence and elaborating until the timer goes off. (For little kids, this can be done verbally with an adult recording their answers. Hilarity will ensue.)
    4. Remeber that freewriting — allowing yourself to write with abandon — enables you to let go, tapping into your subconscious to explore your thoughts more deeply.
    5. When everyone is done with all the prompts, take turns going through some your answers. Some people may be eager to share. Others may not want to. Respect their decision.

The Prompts

  • I'm grateful for... [After you've finished this prompt, repeat it five times. Challenge yourself and others not to repeat a singe word with each new answer.]
  • The silliest thing I'm grateful for is...
  • The littlest thing I'm grateful for is...
  • The biggest thing I'm grateful for is...
  • The grossest thing I'm grateful for is...
  • One thing I love about myself is...
  • My favorite thing that happened this year was...
  • My hope for next year is...

This writing exercise has resulted in some sweet answers — and many hilarious ones, too. If you try it out, do let us know.

Write on.

noviembre 21, 2025 4 lectura mínima

For the release of Sailfish, our new firmware update for Smart Typewriter Gen3 and Traveler, we created a brand-new boot-up animation to surprise and delight our writers.

We worked with talented Danish animator Mathias Lynge to bring our experience of the writer's journey to life.

We had a blast visualizing the writer's journey in this new way. Our engineers also had a blast (or something less than a blast) figuring out how to adjust this fun, playful animation to E Ink's very tricky specifications. Hello, refresh rate woes! But we think the result is pretty fun.

"The little animation made my day when I noticed. I love a good flourish."

- Freewrite user

The process of creating this animation was long and full of Zoom calls where we deeply discussed the writing process. We were struck through those conversations by how much overlap there is in creative processes of all disciplines.

So we sat down to chat with Mathias about his creative process and what it's like being a full-time animator.

ANNIE COSBY: Let's start with the basics. What kind of art do you make?

MATHIAS LYNGE: I'm a 2D animator and motion designer working freelance with a wide range of clients. The style varies depending on the project, but it’s usually either a hand-drawn look animated frame-by-frame on a drawing tablet, or a more digital, vectorized look made in After Effects.

While much of what I do is commercial work, I try to keep up with my own passion projects as well. That could be a 10-second Instagram loop of a nature scene, or an interesting character design I’ve sketched down with a pencil. It’s there that I get to sharpen my skills and try out new techniques, which often find their way into later client projects.

AC: You often share educational content on social media for other artists. Are you formally trained, or did you teach yourself?

ML: I’m mostly self-taught. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until I went to university that I realized drawing could become a career.

When I first heard terms like “motion design” and “The 12 Principles of Animation” I was on a student exchange program at UCSB in California, where I had chosen a class called "Introduction to Animation." It was a big eye-opener for me, and from that point I was hooked.

But it’s mainly been online YouTube tutorials and my existing drawing experience that have taught me what I know.

Now, I have a big presence on social media, where I share my art as well as educational content centered around animation in Adobe After Effects, so I guess you could say that I'm also an animation influencer!

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until I went to university that I realized drawing could become a career.

AC: That's actually how I first found your work. Do you have any specific artists who inspire you?

ML:In the world of 2D animation, I have a list of personal heroes that inspire me with their unique style: Reece Parker, Ariel Costa a.k.a. BlinkMyBrain, and Tony Babel, to name a few.

I also find a lot of inspiration from illustrators and painters I discover online, on platforms such as Pinterest. Last year I made a sparkling water animation that was heavily inspired by Cornwall-based artist Gordon Hunt. He makes these beautiful nature-inspired pointillist paintings that capture how light hits the ocean using colorful dots of paint. I tried to recreate that effect using After Effects to bring it to life, and it led me to a whole new way of animating within the program.

AC: Where else do you draw inspiration to create your work?

ML: I’m heavily inspired by the nature and cityscapes around me in Copenhagen, and I find that taking long walks through parks or down the streets of my neighborhood really sparks my imagination.

I’ll often carry around a sketchbook to quickly scribble down an idea or a loose sketch of something I find interesting, such as seeing how the light from a lamppost hits the surrounding leaves, or how the wind moves the tree in a certain way.

Then I’ll think to myself, “I wonder if I can recreate that motion using a specific technique in After Effects?”

I’m heavily inspired by the nature and cityscapes around me in Copenhagen...

AC: What does your daily routine look like as a full-time artist?

ML: It varies a lot, but I’m usually either working hard on a client project or tinkering away with a new animation tutorial for my social media channels.

I love being able to switch between the two, and when I’m going through a client dry spell, I find that staying creative and posting animation-related content helps keep me inspired while also putting things out into the world that may lead to my next client down the road.

AC: What's your #1 piece of advice for animators new to the industry?

ML: Keep experimenting and trying out new techniques. There’s no such thing as running out of creativity, and even though many of the things you try don’t necessarily go anywhere, it’s all experience that adds up and expands your toolbox. It’s a muscle that needs to be worked out regularly.

Plus, you’ll have more awesome animation to choose from when you’re putting together your next showreel or portfolio!

There’s no such thing as running out of creativity...

AC: What's one fun fact about you completely unrelated to animation?

ML:I’m a big sucker for history podcasts, especially if they are about ancient civilizations, such as The History of Rome by Mike Duncan.

I find it fascinating to hear how mankind was able to build such great empires without ever knowing what electricity, cars, or the internet are.

--

Follow along on Mathias's creative journey and find his free educational content on Instagram.

To learn more about working together, find him on LinkedIn or visit his website at www.mathiaslynge.com.

Learn more about Sailfish here.