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Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

neilchen.co

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Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#41

Post by abound »

layer8 wrote: post #33

This would work (even?) better if it wasn’t a switch, but a push button with the unblocking automatically timing out after some interval. Otherwise you’re prone to just letting it stay on unblock. The Amazon Dash buttons could be hacked to do something like that.

Similarly: https://flic.io/

Little programmable buttons, they're great. I've used them for similar habit formation stuff, in my case not ignoring my alarm, by making the button the only way to shut it off, and putting the button very far away from bed.

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#42

Post by spacemadness »

cardanome wrote: post #28

One thing that finally worked for me was using: https://one-sec.app/ It basically forces you to do a little breathing exercise before you can visit the site that you have on its block list. It has been life changing. It adds enough friction for me to stop any impulsive visits but also is not so annoying that I would completely disable it in a weak moment. One Sec was developed by someone with ADHD, I think and it def…

Interesting. How does this work with iOS? It seems like something Apple wouldn’t allow.

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#43

Post by seemaze »

mattbrewsbytes wrote: post #27

Can switches like this also detect usage, like current flowing? It might be a fun and healthy twist to plug a walking pad/treadmill into a smart plug and then either make it so brainrot websites are only viewable when the treadmill is being used or make a small app that tracks the time the treadmill is used and then only allows that amount of time on brainrot websites.

I've deployed countless Sonoff S31[0] which are easily hackable and have current monitoring capabilies

[0]https://sonoff.tech/product/smart-plugs/s31-s31lite/

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#44

Post by orionsbelt »

cardanome wrote: post #28

One thing that finally worked for me was using: https://one-sec.app/ It basically forces you to do a little breathing exercise before you can visit the site that you have on its block list. It has been life changing. It adds enough friction for me to stop any impulsive visits but also is not so annoying that I would completely disable it in a weak moment. One Sec was developed by someone with ADHD, I think and it def…

I quickly adapted and this barely slowed me down. I recommend the following iOS apps:

1. Jomo - you can create block lists of distracting apps. Like OneSec, when you try to open a blocked app, it makes you wait 5 seconds or more. More importantly, on that screen, you can select 5 minutes, so that it only gives you 5 minutes of unblocked access.

2. Brick - a physical device with an NFC tag you put somewhere. Block all the distracting apps on your phone. If you want to look at them, you need to physically scan the Brick with your phone to get back in.

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#45

Post by elektor »

spacemadness wrote: post #42
cardanome wrote: post #28

One thing that finally worked for me was using: https://one-sec.app/ It basically forces you to do a little breathing exercise before you can visit the site that you have on its block list. It has been life changing. It adds enough friction for me to stop any impulsive visits but also is not so annoying that I would completely disable it in a weak moment. One Sec was developed by someone with ADHD, I think and it def…

Interesting. How does this work with iOS? It seems like something Apple wouldn’t allow.

It used the Shortcuts app to essentially be a middle man between you and the distraction. So everyone I open Safari, it triggers the other app (the 5 second timer), then redirects me back to safari.

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#46

Post by jerlam »

65 wrote: post #17

Something that works well is to block websites like YouTube or Instagram in regular browsing but keep them unblocked in Incognito mode. This forces you to sign in every time you want to use these sites.

YouTube works fine in incognito mode so what am I missing? It just doesn't have any history or suggestions, until you watch a few videos.

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#47

Post by montroser »

prideout wrote: post #12
montroser wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I rigged up one of these so my wife could go push the button and her phone would play an alarm sound so she could find it when it goes missing. Was a good hack for a bit, but then the children figured out they could actually use the same button to _find their mom_, since the she was usually colocated with the phone!

Did you need to write an app for the phone?

I had the script call the phone, and set the phone to "emergency bypass" for that incoming number and set the ringtone to alarm bells

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#48

Post by warunsl »

I have been using Foqos app since a month now and it’s been amazing on my iPhone. You can create a block list of apps and when you start “Foqos” those apps will be blocked. You have to unblock before using those apps. But here is the best part. The unblocking can be configured such that it does only when you tap on a NFC tag. I spend a lot of time on the phone as soon as I wake up. So I have been blocking before sleep and keeping the NFC tag in the garage. Amazing setup for me.

This app I assume is exactly like the more mainstream Brick app but this app lets you configure any off the shelf NFC tags which you can get under $5.

Re: Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot

#49

Post by layer8 »

abound wrote: post #41
layer8 wrote: post #33

This would work (even?) better if it wasn’t a switch, but a push button with the unblocking automatically timing out after some interval. Otherwise you’re prone to just letting it stay on unblock. The Amazon Dash buttons could be hacked to do something like that.

Similarly: https://flic.io/ Little programmable buttons, they're great. I've used them for similar habit formation stuff, in my case not ignoring my alarm, by making the button the only way to shut it off, and putting the button very far away from bed.

Nice, but pretty expensive at $35 for the simplest button. For comparison, an IKEA smart button/dimmer is only $10.
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