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Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

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Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#181

Post by hutzlibu »

yetanother-1 wrote: post #139
namelosw wrote: post #122

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…

I like your idea of offline paper-based programming for side projects and one-man-projects. However it becomes very difficult to do any of that in a group of people in the middle of a pendamic. But will give it a try. Thanks!

Why would it be difficult?

You just use a pen to bring your algorithms or designs on paper. And optional you print out code you are currently working on.

That works when working alone, but also with many people. Because of course in the end - you use the computer to actually type your code in.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#182

Post by davzie »

ibn-python wrote: post #149
davzie wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the most insightful things I found was actually that simply feeling that phone use is bad makes it feel bad and puts you in a bad loop of “I’m so terrible I can’t stop checking my phone etc”. Also when I’m stressed with work, I focus and fixate on how much screen time I have. I would hazard a guess that you have more emotional / other issues that would benefit you to address. For me it was stress with work and…

What books would you recommend? Have similar not good enough feelings towards work.

Just generally positive thinking. If you're in your head, you're dead. I really enjoyed "The Secret" for this sort of mindset. It's a bit mad but the core message I think is great!

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#183

Post by crazypython »

I've been using https://www.getintention.com/

It's the only "blocking app" that's been helpful. Some apps do a hard block, but that just tempts you to disable. Some apps add a delay, but it's annoying so I disable it. Instead Intention reminds you of how much time you spent, asks you how much time you want to spend, and regularly reminds you to stop. A soft block, so to speak.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#184

Post by FalconSensei »

What works for me is not removing the apps - as you can install them back - but having something else to do that is not on the phone/computer. Having paper books/kindle for instance.

Things you can do to avoid being on the phone/computer, mixed durations:

- paper books/kindle

- (print) sudoku, crossword, logic puzzles (I love those)

- journaling

- drawing (in general, or comic strips)

- playing an instrument (for larger 'do something else' sessions)

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#185

Post by hutzlibu »

I have a old phone where I can remove the battery.

A) banking app works, but no games etc.

B) browsing for information works, but no fun browsing the clickbait internet

C) removing the battery is an physical act of letting it all go, and a blockade to quickly turn it on again

D) with the battery removed, I know my phone is really off, together with all potential spyware

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#186

Post by keithnz »

All kinds of ways to approach these kinds of things and hard to say what will work well for you, however, my advice is more about making sure the rest of your life has some structure ( I'm not sure what this looks like for you). It's often better if these are things that are on time tables and require a commitment, ideally something quite tactile and social. So, you could do some kind of sport/sport like thing with regular training. Boxing/JiuJitsu or something like Dancing, or less active, you could go to chess club. Or alternatively you could take art classes, something like pottery is quite tactile, but you could do any kind of sculpture, painting, drawing. At home, you could try things like knitting/crochet, speed rubix cubing, juggling, etc. A good mix of things is ideal. The diversity helps with getting a better perspective. Sometimes it can be hard to commit to any of those things (or things like that) as they might not interest you, and you can't think of anything you want to do. In that case, just commit to trying things. Second piece of advice, share the problems you have with other people, it can help with not feeling like this is a problem locked up inside you.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#187

Post by cookiengineer »

Best thing I've done for my focus is to use an ungoogled AOSP based ROM like lineageOS. Initially it was for the purpose of maximum privacy, now it stays for the sake of focus and efficiency.

My phone distracted me too much, and I realized that I wasn't able to work concentrated (in the flow) when my phone was lying on the table.

Now I use a google free Android that also uses appwarden, blokada and, osmand+ and other privacy increasing measurements. I now have a perfectly useful tool without any destracting social apps.

The only thing I use regularly is Telegram FOSS (with deactivated notifications, so I decide when to check async messages). Can't use "google-free" signal because it actually still uses google's apis but that's a different story.

What also helped me to get into the working mood was that I also keep track of tiny, little things to do in my projects.

CSS fixes, little website or HTML bugs that are easy to start the day with are an awesome motivator. Then afterwards I start working on the hardcore netsec/debugging related issues, as they need more focussed attention.

If you lack the reward of working, something as simple as a wall with post-it notes containing the tasks at hand can be very helpful. Every time you move the tasks physically to the "done" area it can help increasing the dopamine effect.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#188

Post by coolspot »

vchynarov wrote: post #111

~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?

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#189

Post by cinntaile »

cle wrote: post #60

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…

A lot of this behaviour is habit though. Increasing the treshold just a tiny bit might be enough to break the habit could improve his situation. Anecdotally I had some sites I visited out of habit and not because I actually needed to visit them, my simple solution was to block them. This created enough of a treshold to get rid of the habit. Sure I can go and unblock them if I want to, there is nothing preventing me from doing that. It's just that this breaks the habit. At first it frequently happened that I tried to go to the site and it didn't work, but nowadays I simply don't visit them anymore. Everyone is different of course and you have to find what works for you. It's of course not a replacement for real professional help if that's needed.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#190

Post by catchmeifyoucan »

I’ve been down this path multiple times. I bought a Blackberry running android, the tiny screen and super slow place made it the right amount of frustrating, but with the right functionality.

I’ve since shifted back to iPhone since, and my methods still aren’t perfect, but I’ve found a few dirty techniques that work.

1. Turn off notifications. By this time most of us are hardwired to check these things naturally. One day you’ll just forget the mindless stuff exists and it won’t have a way to suck you in.

2. Sitting on the potty, or waking up next to your phone is a time sink for endless browsing (and hemorrhoids), so just keep it far away from you. Forget it. You can even ignore charging your phone at night and wake up at 7%, soo you conserve battery.

3. Disrespect your phone. Don’t adorn it with flashy cases, and personalize it. Keep it stock. Don’t invest time in making it “homely”

4. Over over indulge really fast. Like eating too much chocolate cake in one sitting in 5 minutes. Like Twitter? Click every link and every corner till your head hurts and you feel exhausted.

5. Screen time limits aren’t helpful for me because different content requires different engagement at varying times. In this case, setting aside a time of day to research and read is good.

I’ve been doing more research in the space, but something I’ve been working on in the space for desktop work is Amna (https://www.getamna.com/blog/focus-on-a-task-with-amna/)

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