HARDY recently collaborated with UScellular to promote living in the moment away from our phones. When I sat down to chat with him, he explained to me why he's such an advocate of time away from your phone.
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Back in 2022, he released "Screen," a song all about how time on our phones only distracts us from living life. UScellular's initiative to encourage more time in the real world echoes this message, making them a perfect match.
I asked HARDY (after getting over being star-struck) whether his thoughts around this have amplified since releasing the single.
"Yeah, I think so. The older that I get, and really, the more time I spend with my wife, especially since we are about to have a kid, all of those things have definitely helped remind me, or have pushed me even further, to stay off my phone as much as possible," he said.
"I understand that there's times where you're bored and this and that, but I really feel like I've been practicing what I preach, and think that I'm getting better and better at it."
"It's funny, the older I get, the more I believe that, you know, 'put the phone down," he said, "It was not just a phase or a fad to me."
HARDY Believes That Time Away From Our Phones Is Crucial
HARDY explained to me his own relationship with phones and such devices.
"I have an iPhone, I'm not extreme enough to go to a flip phone," he joked. He naturally admitted that he needs his phone for his career, emails, and communication. But the moment he clocks off work, he avoids his devices as much as he can.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my phone on me at all times," he continued. "I just choose my battles. I hunt a lot, if I go on a hunting trip or a fishing trip, anything that is outside, or anything that is soaking in a moment, I've made a rule for myself to take that in up here," he said, motioning to his head, "and not on this thing. Just something I've always done."
"If I'm just living life, I don't feel like I have to have [his phone]."
The country musician told me that UScellular reached out to him about their campaign to reduce the nation's screen time. Apparently, UScellular reached out to HARDY, and despite his surprise, he was "thankful that they heard [his] message."
He also alluded to a moment when he was performing "Screen" live a couple of years ago. He said he "encouraged the audience" to put their phones away, to "enjoy this moment together."
So HARDY has always been an activist about reducing one's phone use, and honestly, I've been inspired to tuck the phone away a little more often.
