I Got 17 Years of My Life Back and All It Took Was One Simple Change
When I started my one year no clothes challenge, I quickly realised it was only going to be possible once I understood the sources of what was causing me to buy beyond my needs. It became clear that my screen time was one of the biggest sources of temptation I needed to curb if I was going to be successful in my goal.
I have been trying to manage my screen time for a couple of years now, but since the period I had off to recover from burnout, it has been really easy to use my phone as a source of distraction. This isn't only mindless scrolling through social media feeds. The emergence of AI platforms has also become a huge time sucker, making it far too easy to look up any thought the moment it pops into my head.
The little time prompts on my iPhone were not enough and it is way too easy to override them. I honestly think they are designed to not be much of a barrier at all.
So I needed to take drastic action and stop the scroll altogether.
Enter the Opal App.
Firstly, this is not an endorsement for Opal. As I was deciding I needed to take drastic action, friends serendipitously mentioned it in conversation, and I knew I needed something that was going to block all the things I didn't want to be tempted by. It also happens to be pretty, which helps.
The data doesn't lie. When I started, my first day clocked up 4 hours 17 minutes and 93 phone pick-ups. Three weeks on, both my screen time and pick-ups have halved, sitting at 2 hours and 50 pick-ups.
That is a 54.5% decrease in screen time, and the app tells me I have reclaimed 17 years back in my precious life.
Here are five things I have learnt in my quest for a no clothes year and a healthier relationship with my phone.
Screen Time Can Add Up So Quickly, and So Can the Temptation to Spend
The app gives you a graph of screen time for each hour of the day. Looking through this in the first few days, it was surprising how quickly you can mindlessly rack up 25 minutes in one sitting without realising, and then how that accumulates across the day. What didn't feel like a long time on my phone was, at times, longer than my session at the gym.
My Tired and Bored Days Have Way More Screen Time, and Way More Temptation
Over the course of three weeks, I noticed that the days I felt tired were the days I spent significantly more time on my phone. And when I was tired or bored, that was when I was most tempted by targeted ads or the desire to buy something for that little dopamine hit.
Blocking Social Media at My Weakest Moments Has Killed the Impulse to Scroll
There were certain times of day where I had a tendency to reach for my phone even when I consciously didn't want to, and it was all too easy to keep scrolling. In particular, after work, in the morning before getting out of bed and before going to sleep. I set full blocks over those times and what has been really something is that the desire to scroll has genuinely subsided.
After about a week I started finding it boring and barely wanted to look at all. I have hijacked that mindless routine and replaced it with something more meaningful, giving my mind the break it deserves.
I Have More Time, and I Am Taking Life a Little Slower
One of the unexpected benefits has been the extra pockets of time I find myself with, whether that is when getting ready in the morning or winding down in the afternoon. Sometimes I fill it with reading, which is so relaxing. Other times I simply embrace a slower pace through my routines.
The busyness of our world can make that feel like the norm, but I have started to wonder whether it is our time with technology that is quietly stealing our inner peace and our ability to move through life in a more sustainable way.
Less Exposure to Advertising Is Making My No Clothes Year So Much Easier
I am starting to think the Opal app might be the strategy that actually gets me across the line with no new clothes in 2026. Less time on my phone and social media blocked at the critical moments of my day means less exposure to targeted marketing and less desire to buy something simply because it looks pretty in an ad.
I genuinely feel more balanced without the constant stream of targeted content. It has done wonders for my mental space. I did make one impulse purchase for some perfume, but I was much more aware of the process I went through, noticing the ad, feeling the pull, making the purchase and how I felt afterwards. That awareness made it clear that after a brief moment of happiness, I lost interest just as quickly. The process is no longer filling my cup the way it once did..
Trial Opal App for FREE - 30 Days
Overall, I have loved implementing this strategy in my quest for greater financial agency and a more mindful approach to spending throughout 2026. Our world is full of temptations, but this app has given me a real opportunity to break the habits and routines that were no longer aligned with my values and goals. I honestly feel like a better human for it.
I know you may have far more self-control than I do, but if you are curious to give the Opal app a go and consider this your "stop doomscrolling" invite. Tap the button or use your referral code "W943Y" for a free 30-day Opal Pro pass. See how it can reshape your relationship with your phone, and reclaim your life back!
Keen to learn more about going for your goals?
So how do you actually bring this to life in 2026? Every person has their own style, but by understanding some of the factors that go into this kind of inner work, I hope you feel inspired to begin taking steps towards what you are truly wishing for this year.
That is where coaching becomes such a powerful process. Just like an athlete has their team supporting them towards their competitive goals, a life coach plays that role for people who are aspiring towards the many goals they have in their own life.
As a coach, I work one on one with clients over a three month period across six sessions, where we focus on two to three goals together. Often clients find me when they are navigating changes in their career, but we also tend to work on personal goals, work-life balance, hobbies and relationships. Working on too many goals at once without support can quickly become unsustainable, but with the right accountability and guidance, it is absolutely possible.
I always begin with a pre-coaching questionnaire and a free discovery call before any commitment, so you can feel confident that I am the right coach for you and your goals. If it is something you are curious about or have questions around, you can find out more or please contact me at hello@jacquelinesmith.com.au. I would love to hear from you.