I deleted my maps app, and I’m going old school. From here on out, it’s only MapQuest, street signs, paper maps, and my own memory. I decided to challenge myself this way in 2026 because I’m looking for ways to put friction back into my life in places where convenience has taken over.
You may have heard of the idea of “friction maxxing”— a trend where people intentionally do things the slow, inconvenient way as a strategy to undo the effects of convenience culture. The reality is that convenience culture is causing our brains to atrophy. We aren’t exercising those muscles the way we used to, and our own knowledge and understanding of the world around us is dwindling.
Listen in to hear more about my personal challenge—and what I gained from deleting my maps app.
-Pamela 🪱
