How do you control your phone use?

3 points by TomGarden 3 days ago | 9 comments

I've spent considerable time in my adult life on "choice architecture", meaning ways to coax desired behavior out of myself without exerting willpower. Phone use has been the main concern.

Some things I've tried:

I bought a Kitchen Safe timed box and would leave it in there for hours, sometimes days.

I limited available iPhone apps with iMazing

I hacked together blocking systems in Tasker on a Pixel.

Currently, I'm running a vibe coded blocker app, device owner mode, on the pixel. Works ok, but a fair amount of upkeep and edge cases.

What, if anything, have you tried?

shant_extry 1 day ago |

I think it was here on HN but someone said they put their phone on grayscale. His thesis was that making the phone experience less pleasurable to use (whether visually or practically clunky) to counter the fact that the smartphone experience is so smooth and beautiful, helped him to just not look at it. I started using the grayscale method and it actually worked for me. When I unlock it out of boredom I almost immediately put it back down, and when I pick it up for something I actually have to do - whether messaging someone or whatever - I don't care that I'm looking at grayscale.

lordkrandel 2 days ago |

Take any notes app. when you finished scrolling instagram, write even half a line of anything noteable you've seen, or thoughts you had. Not only it focuses your mind on what you're doing, being active instead of passive, it also gives you the feeling you were actually doing something, and you can bring the good inside your life and out the phone.

lordkrandel 2 days ago | |

I look up for lots of wooden forniture, stationary, painters videos. if you put one screenshot in the note, it will be your private collection.

TomGarden 2 days ago | |

Love this

drywater2 3 days ago |

I also have a kitchen safe and it's the best thing that worked for me. Unfortunately blocking apps aren't that good as you can still unblock them pretty easily. I still can't live without a smartphone (unfortunately), but I use one sec for blocking social media or short form video like Youtube Shorts.

TomGarden 3 days ago | |

Yes, the kitchen safes are great!

I assume you're on an iPhone if blocking is weak? Have you tried iMazing?

On my pixel the blocking is quite hardcore, it's more about managing when access should be allowed for special circumstances

Individuum 3 days ago |

I don't use any apps that have an algorithmic feed. That helps a lot.

TomGarden 3 days ago | |

Straight to the point! I've got a very addictive personality, so I'd need to block installations as well for the bad days

zippyman55 2 days ago |

leave your phone at work. Or leave it in the car. Or on the other side of the house.