It’s interesting you’ve said this. I was reading an article the other day about the link between this and increased ADHD symptoms / diagnosis.
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Snippysnips
VIP Member
I give myself a no screen weekend once a month, will put on some music in the background an do crafts, if the weather's nice I'll go walking or cycling, I'll get a book out an read, just whatever to keep me away an I've found that I actually don't have much a desire to go back to my phone/tablet instantly when it's over, it's helped cut down my screen time because I've realised how nice it can be to not constantly be scrolling on something, I've also stopped using screens a hour before bed as well to try an calm my mind down otherwise I'd be up all night
I have such little regard for my phone that (rather smugly) I thought this was an issue for others. I don't use a new phone with fun features, I don't have social media accounts apart from youtube (for which I don't use the app) and an instagram account in which I follow about 20 friends, also without the app. I don't play games on my phone, I find group chats overwhelming, I mostly watch series during my lunch breaks etc. It wasn't until I actively tried to step away from my phone and very uncomfortably failed that I realized how deep I'm in. It's like that tweet: "I'm not an addict. I've gambled everyday for 20 years, I still haven't gotten addicted."
I hate that my monkey brain gobbles up whatever clever research they put into these devices to make them so addictive. I tried to occupy myself with everything I used to do before we had smartphones but it doesn't quite hit the spot. I put it away, out of reach but it doesn't quite work. I don't mind being bored but I don't even get a chance to be bored before my hand twitches to reach the phone or the tablet or my pc.
has anyone else had an issue with this and succeeded at overcoming it? The hours on my screen time tracker is shocking and I don't want to live my life glued to a phone (or other stuff) instead of doing the things I actually want to do.
I hate that my monkey brain gobbles up whatever clever research they put into these devices to make them so addictive. I tried to occupy myself with everything I used to do before we had smartphones but it doesn't quite hit the spot. I put it away, out of reach but it doesn't quite work. I don't mind being bored but I don't even get a chance to be bored before my hand twitches to reach the phone or the tablet or my pc.
has anyone else had an issue with this and succeeded at overcoming it? The hours on my screen time tracker is shocking and I don't want to live my life glued to a phone (or other stuff) instead of doing the things I actually want to do.
I'm definitely experiencing this. I used to be a very strong reader, talking about hours easily spent reading one book without needing to switch to another activity. Now I'm lucky if I can go 5 uninterrupted minutes without needing to reach my phone or catch myself getting distracted.
If you turn the phone into black and white this is meant to help
i'm.just.highly.selective
Well-known member
OMG this is amazing!
It was already on dark mode, but now my eyes keep looking around me instead of at my phone, and it's really hard to stop them.I had no idea this was a thing.
Want To Decrease Your Scroll Time By 20 Min Per Day? Experts—And Mel Robbins—Stand By This Simple Hack
Your brain will thank you, promise.
RainbowFuzz
Well-known member
On the iPhone you can turn on a setting so that at a set time you can't access anything. Obvs you can override it but I've found it's really helped and I've not been tempted to override it. It goes from 10pm to 7am, no notifications or anything. The only ones I've allowed to stay on are maps, phone calls, my bank and audio books. It's helping me, I've reduced from an average of 5h 28m a day down to 4h 39m
i'm.just.highly.selective
Well-known member
Apparently it's a form of dopamine addiction. Also there's an element of time blindness/suspension of reality, the same as when you're watching TV - because you're basically staring at an artificial light, whereas we're designed to run by natural daylight.
I think you have to actively stop yourself from using your phone, or at least use its digital wellbeing tools to limit your usage and delete whichever apps aren't absolutely necessary.
I think you have to actively stop yourself from using your phone, or at least use its digital wellbeing tools to limit your usage and delete whichever apps aren't absolutely necessary.
Maybe take a breather and see how it goes if it’s getting you down?Feel I need to give up insta and Tattle
Snippysnips
VIP Member
I didn't know you could check screen time, I've been 4 hours today (currently 5:45pm the now) an 3 hours were for Amazon music which I was at work listening to, prob won't go much higher than that as I'll be off out later an I cut down at night, so I'd say maybe around 5 hours(ish) I'll be today
6h 52m yesterday
AladdinSane
VIP Member
Ive just found this threads and wanted to resurrect it as I'm starting to go down the phone rabbit hole.
Anyone got any tips or tricks? I'm starting to hate having it in my hand but just cant stop scrolling sometimes.
Its definitely made to be addictive!
Anyone got any tips or tricks? I'm starting to hate having it in my hand but just cant stop scrolling sometimes.
Its definitely made to be addictive!
I don't know, no clue! Youtube takes a lot of my time I think but not more than a few hours and I listen to the videos more than I watch. I'm annoyed because I don't know what I do, except mindless scrolling and browsing.
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I tend to get 6-9 hours, depends on the day. On a day where I'm depressed and rotting in bed while scrolling, I got as much as 12~ hours.
Megansnarkle
VIP Member
What are you doing on your phone that is taking all the time if not social media or chats?