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A guide to reduce screen time

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Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#61

Post by ivansavz »

golly_ned wrote: post #47
ivansavz wrote: post #41

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 "…

Great idea — do you live with others who do the same thing, or on your own?

I'm living on my own now so I don't have experience with the group version of this.

I try to be proactive if I know I'm meeting someone to remind them to call/text and not expect Signal/Telegram comms. The only thing that has been a problem are RCS text messages since my iPhone assumes if RCS was used once to communicate with someone, it should always be used. I can manually use "send as SMS" for outgoing, but I don't get the reply.

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#62

Post by ivansavz »

andai wrote: post #57
ivansavz wrote: post #41

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 used to do this every morning, for the first hour of the day. 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 un…

Very interesting.

I was thinking of scaling this up by adding Sunday too, but offline mornings might be even better... I'll look into adding a schedule in the router. I think it might be helpful to program the rule to start in the desired bedtime in the evening to make the pixel devices unexciting and incentivize reading old school books (the most efficient technology for getting me to sleep).

I've heard the advice don't touch the phone/email first thing in the morning so many times, but I can never stick to it, but if my "habit" is enforced at the network layer, I think it is doable ;)

UPDATE: Apparently iOS has a built in automation tool Shortcuts app, which allowed me to schedule this, see https://imgur.com/a/TsQJak3 I added similar rulesets to the router. Watch out world, Ivan's productivity is going to skyrocket!

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#63

Post by mglvsky »

> Completely quitting social media is getting less and less realistic. Platforms like Instagram or TikTok can be essential to connect with friends

I doubt it. Trying to not to use all of popular social for some time (for 30 days) was inspiring to me, so I don't have any idea why those apps so important.

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#64

Post by anzerarkin »

I also made an app to fix my scrolling issue — it’s called EvoCat.

The idea came from wanting to combine the best parts of all the focus apps I used: scheduled block sessions like Opal, mindful breathing interruptions like One Sec, and some light gamification to make it feel less like punishment.

EvoCat is a small animated character (a cat-phone hybrid) that evolves as you stay focused. The longer you avoid distractions, the stronger it becomes — and the harder it gets to cancel your focus sessions. It turns screen time control into something a bit more playful, but still effective.

I currently have a beta available on iOS and I’m happy to share a TestFlight link if anyone wants to try it out. You can also check it out here: https://evocat.app

Would love feedback from fellow builders and focus-app nerds :)

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#65

Post by MisterTea »

After a Psilocybin trip I found that anxiety was driving a vast majority of my desire for screen time. Post trip for the next few days my mind was perfectly calm - no thoughts were forcefully intruding, constantly causing distraction and frustration leading to seeking screen time.

During that time I could go to work, consume tasks, complete them without stress or distraction and feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Same when I went home and did chores around the house. That is a feeling that has been elusive most of my life. The big thing that stood out to me those few days: little to no desire for screen time.

If you think you have anxiety then do yourself a favor and seek professional help. Otherwise these life hacks are useless as they are ignoring the root cause of your desire for screen time.

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#66

Post by MarcelOlsz »

Geeek wrote: post #52
ivansavz wrote: post #41

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 "…

My family and I keep the Shabbat, which includes no electronics usage and I can not imagine doing it any differently.

I'm going to pivot into being a full-time techno shabbas goy if this movement gets large enough. I'll join the legions of dog-walkers and apartment-sitters.

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#67

Post by MarcelOlsz »

andai wrote: post #60
doright wrote: post #46

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've been doing a lot of mindfulness meditation lately, and also learning about self soothing, emotional processing etc. 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 b…

How does one get started? I've been doing 20 minute wim hof breathing sessions that help and I've been looking into TM due to David Lynch but nothing beyond reading.

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#68

Post by Geeek »

MarcelOlsz wrote: post #66
Geeek wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My family and I keep the Shabbat, which includes no electronics usage and I can not imagine doing it any differently.

I'm going to pivot into being a full-time techno shabbas goy if this movement gets large enough. I'll join the legions of dog-walkers and apartment-sitters.

Or just go hang out with friends, that's what I do. I get to hang out with people I like, people I like a little less, people I agree with, people I disagree with it. It makes me for a more humble and understanding person.

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#69

Post by f_allwein »

doright wrote: post #46

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 don’t use TikTok at all. AMA.

Re: A guide to reduce screen time

#70

Post by grigri907 »

f_allwein wrote: post #69
doright wrote: post #46

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 don’t use TikTok at all. AMA.

I think the challenge is to use TikTok, but to use it in moderation.
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