I'm starting to think I have a problem. I spend way more time on my phone than I really want to. I've never used one of those apps that tracks your usage because I'm kind of afraid of what it would show. It's to the point that it's become a problem in my life, I feel like. I'd like to read a lot more but I don't because I spend that time on my phone. Anyone else have this problem, and figured out how to overcome it?

  • bubbalu [they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    This could be a bit drastic or unrealistic for you with work or school, but I replaced my smart phone with a Nokia 3310, and bought an SD card so I could put podcasts and musics on it so I would have enough internet-style hyperstimulation available to avoid getting back on the internet directly. I keep my old smart phone in my car with maps for my local area downloaded so I can still get around to new locations, and I use a car charger so I have no excuse to take it inside with me and relapse. Another big help was reading Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher, and especially chapter 4 on 'depressive hedonia' that provided me with a really powerful self-understanding as to why I tend to self-destruct with the internet.

    That being said, I'm certainly not perfect and I'm far from clean. If you'll check my post history you can pretty much track when I've brought my old phone inside, or when I've busted out my laptop, but overall getting rid of my smart phone has been the best structural aid I have been able to give myself in terms of fixing my internet habits, I really hope this helps and good luck comrade, I'm rooting for you :)