Digital Minimalism/Mindfulness

[de_omnibus_dubitandem]

For the last month or two, my cellphone data has been on the fritz. Part of me wants to think of it as a sign to be on my phone less. So now I have started the process of trying to pare down what is actually necessary. I feel like, despite efforts to self regulate and impose restrictions on my screen time, I always end up back where I started.

My main priorities are maintaining access to websites that enrich my life (like this one), connect me to world events, and keep safety features.
I really think that my time can be better spent looking inward, but I am having a very hard time with FOMO.

Right now, the best solution I have in mind is switching to a 'dumb' phone that still has GPS/internet access. And then when I am home, still being able to access websites like this. I would love to hear any suggestions/experiences with media consumption that still honors your interests/endeavors.

 

[Xenophon]

My computer has a permanent sticky note laminated on top the unused portion below the keynoard: "Is this the best use of your energy this moment?" The nagging question seems to spill over onto my smartphone use. Also I have made it a policy to "fast" from a topic one week. (E.g., no NFL history, no guns next week, no politics the week after.) This makes me consider later whether I need info or am just gossiping with the Net.

 

[SkullTraill]

My computer has a permanent sticky note laminated on top the unused portion below the keynoard: "Is this the best use of your energy this moment?" The nagging question seems to spill over onto my smartphone use. Also I have made it a policy to "fast" from a topic one week. (E.g., no NFL history, no guns next week, no politics the week after.) This makes me consider later whether I need info or am just gossiping with the Net.

Wow, this is actually a great habit.

 

[Morell]

My rule: No internet on smartphone. (only accepted exception is maps)
I break it from time to time to play one video, but never I allow myself more than one. Any step back from rule would be loosing control and I would end addicted.
I use phone as mp3 player, with occasional use of phone and SMS... and camera of course.

My best thing to fight with screen time is to be mindful od the moments when I get bored. Those are the ones that usually drive me to YouTube for few hours.
Also I watch for the time I spend scrolling on AliExpress. Scrolling is almost like meditation so it can hook one quite well.

 

[Robert Ramsay]

I was on a course with someone who only read the news once a week, and I thought that was a reasonable idea.

In my research, I discovered that the more you read about a thing, the more that thing will kind of crystallise around you, and if you ever want to do any magic about that thing, you will be more restricted in your possible outcomes. Obviously there is a balance to be struck - you can't go around knowing nothing about anything

But yes, like any addictive thing, you need to take whatever steps you think will help keep it under control.

 

[Pyrographer]

I like to question why something has my attention and then explore the consequences of ignoring it. It helps to filter out a lot of the BS. News obsession is a big one. Staying aware of events enough to know what is actually going to be significant to your life and not getting sucked in to the world of constant debate is a balancing act.

 

[Romolo]

Right now, the best solution I have in mind is switching to a 'dumb' phone that still has GPS/internet access.

Be careful or you will end up playing Snake or Solitaire for hours in a row. The Serpent is creative and will always find new ways to tempt you.

Something that might help is putting your phone in black and white, or use the ios/android “distraction free
phone” settings. This will transform any phone in a lump of boredom.

 

[Taudefindi]

My main priorities are maintaining access to websites that enrich my life (like this one), connect me to world events, and keep safety features.
I really think that my time can be better spent looking inward, but I am having a very hard time with FOMO.

If you acquire more hobbies or start doing more activities, you'll have less time for social medias.I myself never was much of a social media person(I'm already not much social in real life due to being an introvert that prefers to be left alone) but even if I was, I keep myself quite busy enough to stay away from them.
For example, rehearsals and university take the lion's share of my time.Then it is the time I spend to learning other things(like programming or animation), and finally time for my hobbies.Social media usage is between 5 and 10 minutes every hour or every couple of hours.If anything the time spent on my phone is more to read books than to use social medias.

I would love to hear any suggestions/experiences with media consumption that still honors your interests/endeavors.

Reddit is a good use in my opinion, as there are many communities there of which you can learn new skills or develop knowledge, and thus the social interaction with other users makes sense as you will be learning from them too.For example, there is the 52 books subreddit of which it is a challenge to read one book per week, totaling in the end 52 weeks of reading(one year), there people share their readings as well as how far they are in the challenge.

Something that might help is putting your phone in black and white, or use the ios/android “distraction free
phone” settings. This will transform any phone in a lump of boredom.

There are apps where you can set a timer of how long you don't want to touch your phone, and the app will work as a type of game.For example, one will "grow a tree/plant" in your cellphone and the longer you're off your phone, the more it will grow(or more of it will grow).Imagine having an entire forest in your phone as a display of committment of self-control?

 

[Rowena]

My computer has a permanent sticky note laminated on top the unused portion below the keynoard: "Is this the best use of your energy this moment?" The nagging question seems to spill over onto my smartphone use. Also I have made it a policy to "fast" from a topic one week. (E.g., no NFL history, no guns next week, no politics the week after.) This makes me consider later whether I need info or am just gossiping with the Net.

That's a good idea.
Of course, getting banned - again - also gives you a time-out as well, so perhaps you stick with that - after all you seem so good at it.

 

[esque_ish]

The Center for Human Tech's "Take Control" page is my favorite resource for introducing different techniques to enact boundaries around tech and platforms optimized with highly addictive features to encourage unhealthy boundlessness.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

 

[unchainthewolves]

I have spent the past year without a smartphone and I love it. Long term, I would like to transition to not carrying a cell phone (using a pager instead), and not having email.

A lot of modern "conveniences," especially those provided by the grace of a corporation, are a source of distress for me.

Edit: To clarify, I do have a cellular phone, but it's a "dumbphone."