Ask HN: How to Stop Reddit Addiction?

Using a bookmarking service such as Firefox Pocket (alternatives include Pinboard) helped me reduce my Internet time. I just bookmark all the pages I find interesting. This is, of course, entirely useless since I'm never actually going to read the thousands of bookmarks, but I get all the gratification of internet browsing from bookmarking without having actually spend time on reading (or RAM on keeping tabs open).

On a related note, I once read a very powerful post about the illusion of knowledge which Reddit gives you, but I cannot find it. If this rings a bell with anyone ...

Maybe a tool such as Self Control (Mac) can help you. It blocks websites for a certain amount of time without a possibility to unblock.

First of all: there is no silver bullet when it comes to addiction. No one tool, method, book, blog post, forum reply etc will make it all go away. (so try to stop looking for "the one perfect thing". It doesn't exist)

I can only list things that have helped me:

Making sure my sleep, exercise and nutrition was good. I found this helped reduce the intensity of negative emotions that would loop into social media.

I use supplements for Vitamin D and Fish oil. These seem to improve my concentration, though it could well be a placebo.

Using a timer for work. I set a timer and work 15 minutes and then take a 3 minute break. In my breaks I stand up, walk around, go into the other room. I try to avoid checking reddit etc in the same place as where I work. If I'm on a break with the timer then I will check it in the next room. I want to build an association of place and activity.

I use blocking tools, but they are just to remind you when you forget. Blocking tools are not a replacement for willpower. The seatbelt doesn't drive the car.

Keep a notebook and write in it before and after work. Try to predict things that will cause you distraction and avoid them or deal with them before it's a problem. At the end of the day, reflect on whether your strategies worked. If they did, keep doing them, if they didn't, try something else. When you start to understand your patterns of addiction you can work out better and more personal ways to deal with it.

Plan for the relapse. It will happen. That's ok, but what are you going to do after?

I hope some of this can help you.

See also the top answer to "Ask HN: How To Overcome Information Addiction?"

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25870702

Install a hackers news app!

Just delete your account and block it on the network. It takes a month and then you forget it even exists.