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The one greatest internet life hack I discovered in the last couple of years is to delete browser autocompletes (cmd + shift + delete or similar). Once I becam

The one greatest internet life hack I discovered in the last couple of years is to delete browser autocompletes (cmd + shift + delete or similar). Once I became aware of the "slot machine" effect of websites I deleted the default autocompletes for Facebook and Hacker News, for example. Prior to doing this, if I typed "F" into chrome I went to my Facebook news feed, and "N" in chrome took me to HN. I deleted those defaults and made it so the autocomplete takes it to my profile on each site. My Facebook profile page is inherently non addictive. It's just me. I can then choose to click on events or whatever. My HN profile is even more boring. This forces me to make one extra click before viewing the news stories but that single click is enough to stop me from compulsively checking news. I can't overstate how many hours per week I reclaimed from this one change. It is better for my purposes than any sort of focus blocker. It doesn't prevent me from doing anything, it just removes the addictive trigger. I also moved my Facebook app from the first screen on my iPhone, and disallowed any notifications. This is better for me than deleting the app. As long as I don't see the little red circle with a number, there's no compulsive reminder. As a consequence of using this technique I am able to get what I want from web services without the addictive component. --edit: grammar--

graeme 9y ago
Brilliant, thank you. I use Facebook only on my phone, but there's no newsfeed eradicator I can use on my phone. This approximates it. Way less cumbersome than unblocking using 1blocker, but should still be effective.
thearn4 9y ago
This is a great idea for FB and Reddit. For HN, it's a tougher call for me, I value the topics and discussions a lot more than I do most other sites. But it is probably a giant distraction when taken as a whole. Slack is another one I've found myself trying to stop compulsively checking. I've been collecting a lot of public slack teams lately.
smokeyj 9y ago
I use this app to block websites when I'm trying to work: https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol It's amazing how reflexive opening a tab and going to your favorite distraction is. I also make sure to put my phone silenced and out of arms reach.
ivm 9y ago
Yes, I have a separate laptop for all the distracting sites including HN. My main machine is for work. But why do you need Facebook app on your iPhone at all? Messenger is enough.
- softawre 9y ago
  Would you really be surprised to learn that others use technology differently than you? Why do you need Messenger on your phone at all? Snapchat/iMessage/etc is enough.
  - ivm 9y ago
    What's with the sarcasm? I asked why somebody keeps a purely entertaining app while trying not to get distracted by it. The Messenger argument is completely unrelated because it's a useful app to stay in touch.
    - logicallee 9y ago
      Not the other poster, but something that might explain their reaction is that you mentioned keeping an entire separate computer. It is easy to see why this would cause an extreme reaction. (Not saying it's not a good idea.)
      - ivm 9y ago
        I wasn't able to predict that discussing a better setup can cause "an extreme reaction". The second machine is not that important, I would prefer to schedule distraction blocking on my computer for most of the day and removing apps like FB from my phone.
        logicallee 9y ago
        Right, but that's not what you stated. If we take an extreme view of "scheduling distractions" why not keep your second computer in another apartment you rent for this purpose, a block away? You can still go there whenever you take a 10 minute break, but it's a shift in environment and context that it takes will to go through. Regardless of whether this would work or not, or the dollar value you place on your increased productivity, it is easy to see why the suggestion of renting a whole other apartment would be extreme! Likewise, given that a single computer can switch tasks easily, the suggestion of using a whole separate computer is clearly extreme.
swiley 9y ago
The only reason I use hackernews is that it's the only site with the "noprocrast" feature. I'm still on here way more often than I should be but getting forced off to get actual stuff done is really great.
ssivark 9y ago
I use a slightly different trick in the same spirit. I prevent my browser from saving login credentials for Facebook. So, any time I want to check Facebook, I need to type my email address and long password. One can also set the password to be some message one wants to reinforce, eg: 'nomorethanfiveminutes'.
- marcuslager 9y ago
  Can I have your email address? I just need to send you something. Nothing fishy.
  - ssivark 9y ago
    LOL; what I typed up there is not my password :-) You can ping me at notmorethanfiveminutes@mailinator.com :P
bargl 9y ago
My Facebook hack was to remove it from my home screen. I don't know what it was about having a number next to the app but I just HAD to check it. Just to get rid of the number... 30 minutes later... Wow what a waste of time. So now it sits in my apps and I only see it when I have to access something I don't typically use. This cut me down to using Facebook about once a week max.
- dionidium 9y ago
  You can disable the "Badge App Icon" on a per-app basis in Settings -> Notifications on iOS.
blakewatson 9y ago
That's great advice. I recently changed one of my bookmarks from my Twitter feed to my own Twitter profile and experienced the same effect.
wutbrodo 9y ago
> I deleted those defaults and made it so the autocomplete takes it to my profile on each site. My Facebook profile page is inherently non addictive. It's just me. I can then choose to click on events or whatever. People are going to start thinking I'm associated with this extension because I bring it up every time Facebook's addictiveness comes up, but Newsfeed Eradicator is a pretty elegant (and more complete) solution to this problem for me. It just removes the newsfeed and puts a daily quotation there instead.
eeeeeeeeeeeee 9y ago
I did the "disable notifications" for every single app on my phone, with the exception of Messages (which doesn't vibrate or make a sound) and Phone. Oh, and Pagerduty :) It's a very positive change. Default setup on phones/apps encourages maximum distraction and slot machine functionality.

graeme 9y ago

Brilliant, thank you. I use Facebook only on my phone, but there's no newsfeed eradicator I can use on my phone. This approximates it. Way less cumbersome than unblocking using 1blocker, but should still be effective.

thearn4 9y ago

This is a great idea for FB and Reddit. For HN, it's a tougher call for me, I value the topics and discussions a lot more than I do most other sites. But it is probably a giant distraction when taken as a whole. Slack is another one I've found myself trying to stop compulsively checking. I've been collecting a lot of public slack teams lately.

smokeyj 9y ago

I use this app to block websites when I'm trying to work: https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol It's amazing how reflexive opening a tab and going to your favorite distraction is. I also make sure to put my phone silenced and out of arms reach.

ivm 9y ago

Yes, I have a separate laptop for all the distracting sites including HN. My main machine is for work. But why do you need Facebook app on your iPhone at all? Messenger is enough.

softawre 9y ago
Would you really be surprised to learn that others use technology differently than you? Why do you need Messenger on your phone at all? Snapchat/iMessage/etc is enough.
- ivm 9y ago
  What's with the sarcasm? I asked why somebody keeps a purely entertaining app while trying not to get distracted by it. The Messenger argument is completely unrelated because it's a useful app to stay in touch.
  - logicallee 9y ago
    Not the other poster, but something that might explain their reaction is that you mentioned keeping an entire separate computer. It is easy to see why this would cause an extreme reaction. (Not saying it's not a good idea.)
    - ivm 9y ago
      I wasn't able to predict that discussing a better setup can cause "an extreme reaction". The second machine is not that important, I would prefer to schedule distraction blocking on my computer for most of the day and removing apps like FB from my phone.
      - logicallee 9y ago
        Right, but that's not what you stated. If we take an extreme view of "scheduling distractions" why not keep your second computer in another apartment you rent for this purpose, a block away? You can still go there whenever you take a 10 minute break, but it's a shift in environment and context that it takes will to go through. Regardless of whether this would work or not, or the dollar value you place on your increased productivity, it is easy to see why the suggestion of renting a whole other apartment would be extreme! Likewise, given that a single computer can switch tasks easily, the suggestion of using a whole separate computer is clearly extreme.

swiley 9y ago

The only reason I use hackernews is that it's the only site with the "noprocrast" feature. I'm still on here way more often than I should be but getting forced off to get actual stuff done is really great.

ssivark 9y ago

I use a slightly different trick in the same spirit. I prevent my browser from saving login credentials for Facebook. So, any time I want to check Facebook, I need to type my email address and long password. One can also set the password to be some message one wants to reinforce, eg: 'nomorethanfiveminutes'.

marcuslager 9y ago
Can I have your email address? I just need to send you something. Nothing fishy.
- ssivark 9y ago
  LOL; what I typed up there is not my password :-) You can ping me at notmorethanfiveminutes@mailinator.com :P

bargl 9y ago

My Facebook hack was to remove it from my home screen. I don't know what it was about having a number next to the app but I just HAD to check it. Just to get rid of the number... 30 minutes later... Wow what a waste of time. So now it sits in my apps and I only see it when I have to access something I don't typically use. This cut me down to using Facebook about once a week max.

dionidium 9y ago
You can disable the "Badge App Icon" on a per-app basis in Settings -> Notifications on iOS.

blakewatson 9y ago

That's great advice. I recently changed one of my bookmarks from my Twitter feed to my own Twitter profile and experienced the same effect.

wutbrodo 9y ago

> I deleted those defaults and made it so the autocomplete takes it to my profile on each site. My Facebook profile page is inherently non addictive. It's just me. I can then choose to click on events or whatever. People are going to start thinking I'm associated with this extension because I bring it up every time Facebook's addictiveness comes up, but Newsfeed Eradicator is a pretty elegant (and more complete) solution to this problem for me. It just removes the newsfeed and puts a daily quotation there instead.

eeeeeeeeeeeee 9y ago

I did the "disable notifications" for every single app on my phone, with the exception of Messages (which doesn't vibrate or make a sound) and Phone. Oh, and Pagerduty :) It's a very positive change. Default setup on phones/apps encourages maximum distraction and slot machine functionality.