The Quest for Presence: Reclaiming Time with the Punkt MP02

Firstly, I think it’s important you know who I am, where I live, and how I spend my time.

I’m a Brit living and working in New York with my wife, our two young daughters, a young dog, and an aging cat. I work for a large events agency, producing some of the largest conferences, trade shows, and festivals in the world.

Unsurprisingly, I strongly believe in the value of face-to-face human engagement. There is nothing more powerful or impactful than people coming together to share real experiences.

At the same time, I consider myself a skeptic when it comes to social media.

I worry about the effect it may have on my daughters. While there is undoubtedly some value in connecting globally, I feel that the negatives often outweigh the positives. It may not be a popular opinion, but I would not regret it if social media disappeared entirely.

Time, and the Realisation That Changed Everything

Recently, I’ve been thinking more and more about time.

Perhaps it’s because I’m getting older. Perhaps it’s because my parents are approaching their 80s. Or perhaps it’s simply watching my children grow up so quickly.

Like many people, I’ve come to realise that our time is finite and incredibly valuable.

The most important conclusion I’ve reached is this:

I need to take back control of how I spend my time.

Because somewhere along the way, I had lost that control.

Quantity vs. Quality of Time

I recently came across a striking statistic:

We spend 80% of our total time with our children before they turn ten.

It’s a sobering thought.

It forces you to reconsider how we measure time. Not just in hours or minutes, but in quality.

• Are we truly present?

• Are we engaged?

• Are we setting the right example?

How do we ensure that the time we spend with our children is filled with attention, presence, and meaning?

The Problem: A World of Constant Distraction

To achieve that, we need to stop filling every moment with distraction.

We need to allow space. To let moments breathe.

That sounds simple. It isn’t.

The system is designed against us.

As humans, we are naturally drawn to stimulation. We are habitual. Social. Influenced by others.

And layered on top of that are algorithms designed to predict and shape our behaviour, keeping us engaged for as long as possible.

A quote I read recently stayed with me:

“Did it make sense to treat unclaimed time as a problem? We’ve solved it algorithmically — and now we have none.”

This is what is often referred to as “algorithmic life”.

And it is consuming our time — while reducing its quality.

At this point, I realised I needed help.

That’s where the Punkt MP02 came in.

The idea is simple: remove the constant noise, and regain control over your attention.

At its core, the MP02 allows you to focus on what matters most:

your time, your attention, and your relationships.

That was enough for me to try.

First Use: A Shift in Awareness

My first outing with the MP02 was a family walk around our neighbourhood in Brooklyn.

Almost immediately, I felt something shift.

Without a smartphone, I was more present, more aware, and less distracted.

There was no impulse to check the news. No Slack messages. No background noise pulling me away.

Just the moment.

Texting, however, was different.

The T9 keyboard felt unfamiliar, and naturally pushed me toward shorter, more intentional messages.

In two cases, I even chose to call instead of text — something I would rarely do with a smartphone.

And it felt… better.

A Different Kind of Device

My children were immediately curious about the phone.

But their interest faded quickly when they realised it had no games, no videos, no entertainment.

My youngest even objected when I called it a “dumb phone”:

“That’s not nice, daddy.”

They couldn’t quite understand the idea of a phone being just a phone.

The Trade-Offs

Of course, the experience wasn’t perfect.

There are limitations:

• No WhatsApp or group messaging

• No camera

• A reliance on more traditional communication methods

WhatsApp, in particular, is difficult to replace. Despite understanding Punkt’s stance on privacy, convincing others to switch platforms is not realistic.

The absence of a camera was noticeable at first. As a parent, capturing moments is something I’ve become used to. But over time, I realised something important:

not every moment needs to be captured to be meaningful.

The Immediate Impact

What surprised me most was how quickly the change took effect.

Almost immediately, I felt less compelled to fill every moment.

I began to notice and appreciate time differently.

Instead of looking at a screen while my children played, I was present with them.

That shift alone changed the quality of our time together.

It even felt, at times, as though time itself slowed down.

That is what this experience ultimately comes down to: quality over quantity.

Not more time — but better time.

The pull of modern technology is strong.

It is easy to fall into patterns of constant use.

I don’t plan to abandon my smartphone completely. For me, that wouldn’t be realistic.

But now, I have a choice.

The MP02 gives me control over when and how I engage with technology.

Instead of reacting constantly, I can act intentionally.

Despite the challenges of today’s digital environment, I remain cautiously optimistic.

Younger generations seem increasingly aware of the downsides of constant connectivity and social media.

There are small but meaningful signs of change.

For example, a music festival I follow recently moved away from social media entirely, choosing a platform without algorithms or intrusive advertising.

Just a direct, focused community.

More of that — and we might find a healthier balance.

We don’t need to eliminate technology.

But we do need to redefine our relationship with it.

The Punkt MP02 is not just a phone.

It is a reminder that:

our time is ours — and it deserves to be used intentionally.

- Andrew Todd