Like it or not, smartphones have changed photography forever. But photography isn't the only thing they've changed: look around when riding the bus, waiting in line at the grocery store, or dining out. Most people are physically there, but their minds are far, far away.

Even though mine is a mostly distraction free phone, this happens to me way too often: I pull out my phone to check the time, end up opening a few apps and still have no idea what time it is when I put it back in my pocket.

This is why I wear a watch.

The same thing happens when I want to just take a quick snap. It's never just a snap, there's always something to do on your little device.

This is why I always bring a standalone camera with me (RX100VA).

The photos look better and I never find myself wasting 15 minutes browsing through the menus of the camera.

Avoid the exposure

The simple act of pulling your phone out to take a snapshot can trigger a chain reaction. We didn't mean to reply to that message, we weren't thinking about checking the weather, we surely didn't plan on opening Facebook. It was just a quick photo.

Sometimes avoiding exposure to what triggers a bad behavior is our best option. Bringing the RX100VA with me has kept me away from my phone and saved me many wasted hours.