I highly recommend the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport - it really helped me redefine my relationship with tech and productivity, and I especially recommend it for anyone in the creative space!
oh this was such a joy to read! i love how you broke down your screen time by day! it's inspiring me to do this challenge as well since im trying to cut down. i downloaded this app called "jomo" and my screentime has been wavering around 1.5-2.5 hrs. still not the best! but better than before :)
I resonate with all of this so much! I've been on an arduous years-long trek to attack my social media usage. My friends think all my strategies are absolutely bananas, but they work for me! I rely wholly on this app called "Freedom" - yes, I paid for it, but it's truly saved my life, haha. I have schedules set up where it forcibly blocks me from certain apps or sites for specific days/times. Some examples:
--All social media is blocked on all devices until 1PM every day, and then cuts off access at 11PM. It allows me to get into a work flow without social media, and cuts out my morning scroll AND bedtime scroll, which were huge time sucks for me.
--I've blocked Substack from my phone 24/7, 6 days a week, because I found myself scrolling (""supporting writers!!"") and then I realized that notes are just social media and it's just a more aesthetically pleasing algorithm. I access it on my computer, but never on my phone.
--I'm perma-banned (self-imposed) from TikTok. I quit it in 2021 after having a serious problem with it. I don't have the brain chemicals to just shut the app. If only!
--I'm doing a temporary full purge of some sites that started creeping up my screen time - Reddit, and some blogs I love. I'm cutting them out 100% for a few weeks just as a reset. So far, it's felt sooo freeing.
These all sound Byzantine when I write them out like this, but I've just learned over the years that my own instincts and habits CAN'T be trusted for good self-moderation. I don't have the muscles! I decided to stop beating myself up over it and just set some guardrails that I can't bust down. It really takes away that sick feeling in my stomach from a screen time overdose. Best of luck on your mission!
I love these rules! I think I see a future where I bring back some social media in limited uses like this, but I agree, cutting it out all together for a bit is a great way to refresh!
If you're up for it, I think turning your phone on grayscale all (/most) of the time is a HUGE help, especially once the buzz of a short-term challenge has worn off a bit. I still scroll on my phone ofc (it feels unavoidably sometimes, especially on days when I turn grayscale off lol) but overall it's made a big difference in my day-to-day phone usage over the past couple of months. I also think it's a great idea to use certain website/apps on your laptop instead! This was an awesome, super interesting deep-dive, I love all the care and attention you put into it
Thanks for sharing the daily breakout! I've been struggling with wanting to delete IG and FB again, but also not wanting to miss certain things, BN group, etc. Gave me some tactical things to think about and try!
This was so interesting! I'm inspired to try it, just to get a sense of how my phone usage fluctuates through the week. I'm with you though that Sunday is the slipperiest slope - easily my most phone scrolly day.
I love the idea to switch to using social media apps on your iPad only. That seems like an easy swap to make that time more intentional. You did great with this challenge! I signed up after you shared but honestly haven't put in the effort to look at my usage yet.
I really enjoyed your detailed documentation of cutting down screen time. Funny enough, that same video popped up in my YouTube recommendations a couple weeks ago. After watching it, I felt motivated to give it a shot. Haven't tried it yet, but after reading your story and wanting similar results makes me think now's the perfect time to start.
If you try it let me know how it goes for you!! I feel like I've watched and read so many things about how to cut down on screen time that didn't work and this one really worked for me!
I highly recommend the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport - it really helped me redefine my relationship with tech and productivity, and I especially recommend it for anyone in the creative space!
Thanks, I'll check it out!!
Yes! Such a great book 👏🏻
oh this was such a joy to read! i love how you broke down your screen time by day! it's inspiring me to do this challenge as well since im trying to cut down. i downloaded this app called "jomo" and my screentime has been wavering around 1.5-2.5 hrs. still not the best! but better than before :)
I just looked up that app and love it! Sometimes I do that screen time journaling in my own journal (or a version of it)
I resonate with all of this so much! I've been on an arduous years-long trek to attack my social media usage. My friends think all my strategies are absolutely bananas, but they work for me! I rely wholly on this app called "Freedom" - yes, I paid for it, but it's truly saved my life, haha. I have schedules set up where it forcibly blocks me from certain apps or sites for specific days/times. Some examples:
--All social media is blocked on all devices until 1PM every day, and then cuts off access at 11PM. It allows me to get into a work flow without social media, and cuts out my morning scroll AND bedtime scroll, which were huge time sucks for me.
--I've blocked Substack from my phone 24/7, 6 days a week, because I found myself scrolling (""supporting writers!!"") and then I realized that notes are just social media and it's just a more aesthetically pleasing algorithm. I access it on my computer, but never on my phone.
--I'm perma-banned (self-imposed) from TikTok. I quit it in 2021 after having a serious problem with it. I don't have the brain chemicals to just shut the app. If only!
--I'm doing a temporary full purge of some sites that started creeping up my screen time - Reddit, and some blogs I love. I'm cutting them out 100% for a few weeks just as a reset. So far, it's felt sooo freeing.
These all sound Byzantine when I write them out like this, but I've just learned over the years that my own instincts and habits CAN'T be trusted for good self-moderation. I don't have the muscles! I decided to stop beating myself up over it and just set some guardrails that I can't bust down. It really takes away that sick feeling in my stomach from a screen time overdose. Best of luck on your mission!
I love these rules! I think I see a future where I bring back some social media in limited uses like this, but I agree, cutting it out all together for a bit is a great way to refresh!
If you're up for it, I think turning your phone on grayscale all (/most) of the time is a HUGE help, especially once the buzz of a short-term challenge has worn off a bit. I still scroll on my phone ofc (it feels unavoidably sometimes, especially on days when I turn grayscale off lol) but overall it's made a big difference in my day-to-day phone usage over the past couple of months. I also think it's a great idea to use certain website/apps on your laptop instead! This was an awesome, super interesting deep-dive, I love all the care and attention you put into it
Thanks! Yes I’m mostly in greyscale mode for now! I agree it has helped a lot
Thanks for sharing the daily breakout! I've been struggling with wanting to delete IG and FB again, but also not wanting to miss certain things, BN group, etc. Gave me some tactical things to think about and try!
Thanks for sharing! Just signed up for the Guardian email!
That's great!! Let me know in a few weeks after you try out the steps how it goes for you! I hope it goes great
This was so interesting! I'm inspired to try it, just to get a sense of how my phone usage fluctuates through the week. I'm with you though that Sunday is the slipperiest slope - easily my most phone scrolly day.
Well done Maria, you did incredibly well on your challenge!
I love the idea to switch to using social media apps on your iPad only. That seems like an easy swap to make that time more intentional. You did great with this challenge! I signed up after you shared but honestly haven't put in the effort to look at my usage yet.
Yes, I'm hoping it'll help make things a little more intentional. Trying that new step out this week!
I really enjoyed your detailed documentation of cutting down screen time. Funny enough, that same video popped up in my YouTube recommendations a couple weeks ago. After watching it, I felt motivated to give it a shot. Haven't tried it yet, but after reading your story and wanting similar results makes me think now's the perfect time to start.
If you try it let me know how it goes for you!! I feel like I've watched and read so many things about how to cut down on screen time that didn't work and this one really worked for me!