51–60 of 108 posts
You probably see it enough already in your ads, but this has been the most effective app blocker for me: https://getbrick.app
I've ignored it because it's advertised :) What's your experience with it?
One thing that has been working really well for me this year is the "internet Shabbat" rule: 24 hours of no TCP/IP every week. Friday night I pull the plug on the modem + turn off data on my phone, then enjoy all of Saturday in a disconnected mode. I can still be on the computer, just no internet. It's amazing how much things I get done... it literally feels like I have two days instead of one. If I put a item like "…
Like SpeedBump, ScreenZen also has a "wait before using addictive apps" function (though, it doesn't have the "wait a bit longer to get 15mins vs. 2mins" - that would be really nice).
ScreenZen also keeps track of "streaks" of days not going over your overall limit in addictive apps. Unfortunately, that limit is counted by number of sessions, not the actual overall app screen time (by default, if you set your limit to 1 hour, it gives you 6 sessions of 10 minutes per app). It would be nice to combine this with SpeedBump's different-time-limit feature: if I want to quickly check a post or show a friend something on Instagram, I could use only 2mins out of my overall hour limit, instead of 10mins.
1. Delete any app with any kind of algorithmic feed (YouTube, TikTok, etc)
2. Uninstall Safari
That's right, I've been rocking a browserless phone for about a year now, and I'm never going back. AMA
Most of these tools are focused on blocking apps. I read everything through browser.
As someone who’s been building LookAway[0] (a mindful break reminder app for Mac), I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is to slip into hours of continuous screen time at a desk resulting in things like eye strain, posture issues, and even productivity dips.
Would love to see more awareness and tools around managing desktop screen habits!
[0]: https://lookaway.app
One thing that has been working really well for me this year is the "internet Shabbat" rule: 24 hours of no TCP/IP every week. Friday night I pull the plug on the modem + turn off data on my phone, then enjoy all of Saturday in a disconnected mode. I can still be on the computer, just no internet. It's amazing how much things I get done... it literally feels like I have two days instead of one. If I put a item like "…
I started doing it to cope with severe unmedicated ADHD. I found the only way I could get any work done was to turn off my phone and unplug the router.
(I downloaded offline docs, and if I got really stuck, made a note of what to Google later and just switched tasks.)
I then found that I enjoyed getting stuff done so much, that I'd usually keep it off until after lunch.
Which Android apps for limiting screen time does the HN crowd recommend? Is there one that doesn't sell your data or request network access? (Ideally of course the app would be open-source but I'm not getting my hopes up.) I've been wanting to try Digital Wellbeing but it looks like it's still not available for non-Google devices. Or at least it's shown as "not compatible" when accessing the Play Store from GrapheneO…
I recommend this one for Android: https://github.com/markusfisch/ScreenTime It doesn't limit apps, it just displays your screen time in a permanent notification and allows you to view and export past statistics. I've found that to be very effective. From a systems perspective, it amounts to adding a new feedback loop, similar to this leverage point described by Donella Meadows[1]: There was this subdivision of identi…
For my phone:
- Deleted all apps for social media, all browsing has to be via browser.
- Used SocialFocus (https://socialfocus.app/) to remove feeds and recommendations from all apps, any post access happens via shares or search
- Also turned on a timer for social media (45 minutes each for reddit/insta).
- Turned social media black/white instead of color.
- Used dumbify launcher (https://dumbifyapp.com/) to turn my menu bar into a text based one instead of icons.
For my computer:
- Used Cold Turkey (https://getcoldturkey.com/) to set up blocks for various websites, subreddits etc.
- Locked up my Cold Turkey block with a long random text string, which increases friction if I want to unlock and as a result reduces my inclination to do so.
- Use News Feed Eradicator (https://github.com/jordwest/news-feed-eradicator/) to remove feeds from websites which have some utility for me (e.g. LinkedIn) but can be a time sink.
Honestly, these steps have worked quite well for me thus far. I have managed to get back into reading (both fiction, non-fiction as well as academic textbooks), freed up time to spend with family and friends, and also gotten into watching TV shows - something I had not really done in the last 2-3 years due to being hooked on short form media
It's not like TikTok has a 100% chance of hypnotizing you into a zombie that can only spend its waking hours thinking about dancing people and positive vibes. Only a very high chance, depending on how anxious/bored you are, amplified by the hard work of psychology PhDs. It's so difficult to imagine the mindset of a person who can approach TikTok from a healthy perspective and not need to rely on what used to be calle…
I found that now that I can access blissful and peaceful states at will, and deal with difficult emotions without getting overwhelmed, my "need" for compulsive behaviors has dropped massively. There's no longer so much pain to medicate.
It's like you say, we use this stuff because we don't know a better way.
As for social media, there's also the systemic issue of atomization in modern society. People spend so much time alone now, so that's another great pain to cope with.
I wonder why that is. How did we get here?