I often would go to local coffee shops with a book and journal. Leaving a device at home has nothing to do with it.

One of the reasons I don't see much value-added from meditation is that it seems like a ritualistic wrapper around something I already do and value: clearing one's head, quiet time without consuming visual stimulus and without brooding. We are prone to bombarding ourselves constantly and wonder why we're fatigued partway through the day.

I like to reserve the "thinking" component to journaling time, as that seems to help organize thoughts. Or else, do it while walking.