191–200 of 266 posts
Any technical advice about how to block yourself is beating around the bush IMO. Not only is it easy to bypass most of that stuff, but you'll be way better off learning how to deal with this psychological issue directly instead of trying to avoid triggering it. Edit: They are not mutually exclusive by any means, I just mean that you will benefit in the long-run by addressing the psychological problem that leads to th…
I am inclined to agree with the others than a technological solution is not likely what you need. The trick is to segregate these areas mentally, so that you are acutely aware of when you are "on forbidden ground". The "rubber band" trick has been mentioned here already, and it's based on helping to re-enforce that awareness. Technological solutions can help do this. Timer apps that give you a regular notice to "GTFO…
>tand when you're on the phone. Don't sit down and slump and relax. I like this and though I rarely talk on the phone, when I do the vast majority of the time I pace back and forth. Even at the office I’d close the door and do the same. Never thought about these actions at all until now. Maybe somewhat related growing up my older brother used to do push-ups (usually 20) every time he opened the refrigerator. Watching…
I used to spend hours playing two simple online games (Generals and Slither) compulsively, to the detriment of sleep, work, and relationships. Something that weaned me off for a while was going to a conference where I didn't have my regular laptop with me, but a new one; because the laptop felt different, I didn't feel compelled to play, and even when I got back in town, I stayed off the games for a while.
But I started playing again. I realized that playing was just a very very compelling habit, so I beat it with another habit: when I felt the desire, I'd go to one of the games' websites, hit the start button to join a game, then logout immediately and close my browser, multiple times. At first just 5 or 10 times, but sometimes 20 or 30 times in a row in rapid succession, enough times to get really bored doing it.
So my advice, if you can make it work: whenever you think about using one of those sites, go to the website, login, logout immediately, turn off the phone, then turn it back on and repeat. 10-20 times, beyond the point where you get bored. Repeat this daily for at least a week or two.
In an effort to not repeat some of the great comments already, I think it would be beneficial for you try to find things to do that don't involve your phone. Try to find something to do that you find more interesting than being on your phone, sports (Running/Cycling), hobbies, walks etc. I'm as guilty as anyone for looking at my phone too often, its usually only when I have nothing better to do, because of that it ma…
Thank you. I do run and this is another trigger, because I’m “feeling good” I will download apps like Strava, Nike running, Garmin app (linked to running watch) - I also illustrate and not being able to have apps like Instagram to promote work is annoying
Apple goes out of it's way to make sure no app like this exists in it's App Store. If Screen Time is not good enough, you'll need a physical lock box like a few others have mentioned. Forest is good for helping create good habits though. On Android, you can use one called AppBlock. This is the most difficult app to circumvent on mobile. Others like Freedom can be easily bypassed. I sell desktop software (Windows/macO…
Yeah, it's basically a game where you do better the longer you can keep away from your phone: You set a timer and your virtual tree dies if you use your phone before the timer is up and it can finish growing. Every tree you grow or kill gets added to your virtual forest, so it ends up looking pretty bad if you keep killing them.
I suggested it to a co-worker and he likes it, seems to really work for him.
I don't have problems with phones but I have problems with computers - I was usually ended up with HN and YouTube when I tried to learning/writing/programming for side projects. Then I recall I read from somewhere that Donald Knuth prefers pen and paper to computer. I tried it and it did work for me. I just turn off the computer and use pen and paper/book/printed stuff most of the time. When I have to use the compute…
It seems like such an obvious/silly thing, but I have found that having a nice large desk space with a good chair and lighting with no single computing device on it is a pretty powerful thing when you've become addicted that way. At least it's useful as a place to read books and magazines, and to sketch stuff on paper. For the past 25 years, my best (and often only) desk at home has had an Internet-connected desktop…
~The Triple Ziploc Bag method.~ I dedicate a few days a month to being absolutely phone-free. The key point is I'm allowed to use Reddit/IG but I have to use a laptop/desktop to access them. This method requires a key ingredient: three ziploc bags. I wrap both my work phone (when not oncall) and my personal phone in three nested ziploc bags and put them in a drawer. This acts as a great deterrent most of the time. I'…
Can you elaborate why ziploc bags specifically and why three? I assume ziplocs because you still can see the screen and probably could even interact with it, but not easily. Then three, because if you really need the phone right now, you could rip it open, just not easily. Are my guesses right?
tldr; life changing books, read 'em.
And in case no one here mentions cognitive behavioural therapy, look that up too. CBT is really the same techniques used by elite athletes and performers to learn to control their minds, absolutely worth learning.
I then purposely ‘time block’ in time for when I am allowed to go wild browsing HN, Reddit, etc without feeling any guilt or anxiety whatsoever.
This process can be done digitally or with a printed calendar. I’d suggest the latter given your circumstances.
Lots of good resources out there for how to do time blocking effectively. Cal Newport and Nir Eyal being two that come to mind right away.
Any technical advice about how to block yourself is beating around the bush IMO. Not only is it easy to bypass most of that stuff, but you'll be way better off learning how to deal with this psychological issue directly instead of trying to avoid triggering it. Edit: They are not mutually exclusive by any means, I just mean that you will benefit in the long-run by addressing the psychological problem that leads to th…
I see no reason not to combine willpower with psychology tricks. I think of it as playing a game between my rational brain vs limbic system. Yes, my rational brain might be ahead for a while, but limbic system is always there to find me in moment of weakness. So I remove opportunities for it to take control. Turning off PC before work, laptop in the closet, phone across the room, ringer on. Simple and effective. I ha…