I've reduced my screen time by 50% in the last 2 months.
It feels like I've gotten a big part of my life back.
Here are the 6 small changes I made:
It feels like I've gotten a big part of my life back.
Here are the 6 small changes I made:
I want to preface this by saying I don't think phones or the internet are bad.
I have no desire to live out my days in a log cabin with no Wi-Fi, sending letters via carrier pigeon.
The internet is something I enjoy a lot.
I just wanted to have a healthier relationship with it.
I have no desire to live out my days in a log cabin with no Wi-Fi, sending letters via carrier pigeon.
The internet is something I enjoy a lot.
I just wanted to have a healthier relationship with it.
I knew I couldn't do this alone.
So I enlisted the help of the habit master @JamesClear (Atomic Habits).
I applied his 4-step formula for breaking any habit:
1. Make it invisible
2. Make it unattractive
3. Make it difficult
4. Make it unsatisfying
Here are the steps I took:
So I enlisted the help of the habit master @JamesClear (Atomic Habits).
I applied his 4-step formula for breaking any habit:
1. Make it invisible
2. Make it unattractive
3. Make it difficult
4. Make it unsatisfying
Here are the steps I took:
1. I deleted apps (make it invisible)
I have atrocious willpower.
And like the majority of humanity, I struggle to break bad habits.
For me, it's best when I don't have the option to do it.
For that reason, deleting unnecessary apps was the logical first step in my journey.
I have atrocious willpower.
And like the majority of humanity, I struggle to break bad habits.
For me, it's best when I don't have the option to do it.
For that reason, deleting unnecessary apps was the logical first step in my journey.
2. I set hard limits (make it unsatisfying)
Of course, there are apps I need to keep on my phone.
For these, I set hard screen time limits.
If I hit the limit, I have to enter a password.
To prevent cheating... I let my friend set the password.
I don't know it.
Of course, there are apps I need to keep on my phone.
For these, I set hard screen time limits.
If I hit the limit, I have to enter a password.
To prevent cheating... I let my friend set the password.
I don't know it.
3. I logged out of accounts (make it difficult)
Sometimes all it takes is a little friction between you and the bad habit.
For me, it was too easy to just pop an app open and start scrolling.
This added effort of having to log in is almost always enough to stop me.
Sometimes all it takes is a little friction between you and the bad habit.
For me, it was too easy to just pop an app open and start scrolling.
This added effort of having to log in is almost always enough to stop me.
4. I turned off notifications (make it invisible)
This one is tricky
I understand that there are emergencies we need to respond to.
I also know that we greatly overestimate the importance of always being "available".
My suggestion is to try this out and adjust as necessary.
This one is tricky
I understand that there are emergencies we need to respond to.
I also know that we greatly overestimate the importance of always being "available".
My suggestion is to try this out and adjust as necessary.
5. I turned my phone to grayscale (make it unattractive)
I feel like I don't even have to say anything here.
Just look at that.
It's hideous.
I feel like I don't even have to say anything here.
Just look at that.
It's hideous.
6. I replaced it
@JamesClear says it's extremely difficult to eliminate a bad habit outright.
Instead, we should seek to replace it with a better one.
For me, that has taken the form of:
- making music
- walking
- reading
I'm honestly shocked by how much more time I have now.
@JamesClear says it's extremely difficult to eliminate a bad habit outright.
Instead, we should seek to replace it with a better one.
For me, that has taken the form of:
- making music
- walking
- reading
I'm honestly shocked by how much more time I have now.
Now, I'm not saying this is for everyone.
But if you're like me.
And you want to have a healthier relationship with your devices.
This is an effective way to do it.
But if you're like me.
And you want to have a healthier relationship with your devices.
This is an effective way to do it.
If you want to check out Atomic Habits by James Clear, I suggest using Shortform.
Shortform makes the worldβs best guides to non-fiction books.
Like book summaries on steroids.
Use my link before the end of the week to get a 5-DAY FREE TRIAL:
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Shortform makes the worldβs best guides to non-fiction books.
Like book summaries on steroids.
Use my link before the end of the week to get a 5-DAY FREE TRIAL:
shortform.com
That's a wrap!
If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Follow me @thecolbykultgen for more of these
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If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Follow me @thecolbykultgen for more of these
2. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
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