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I'm trying to recalibrate my own relationship with my phone from its current status as the "this is what I do if I'm bored" device to a "this is a tool, I shoul

by kris-s 8y ago

I'm trying to recalibrate my own relationship with my phone from its current status as the "this is what I do if I'm bored" device to a "this is a tool, I should use it for a task and then put it away" type situation. Both Android and iOS have gotten features to help curtail excessive phone use, which is a good first step. Something I do while I'm at work is put my phone in my drawer and in airplane mode. The biggest pillar I'd like to see destroyed in modern tech (specifically wrt smartphone overuse) is advertising - the incentives are just so poisonous. Ads seem to be the driving force behind making certain apps, like instagram, as addictive as possible. A hard regulatory line needs to be drawn.

SllX 8y ago
This is essentially what I do. I don’t pull my phone out unless there is some intent behind why I am pulling it out. If I pull it out to check the time, I don’t then unlock it to mindlessly browse the web. If I pull it out to read a book, I’ll treat my phone as if I’m reading a book and won’t care so much about how much “screen time” I have. Or if I’m using something like Instapaper. If I’m using Reddit, I’m looking for news on a specific thing or I’m looking for information on a topic, and Reddit is just one stop I make along the way, that doesn’t change whether I’m on my phone or laptop. If I’m watching a movie or something in bed, then it is time I would have spent on a television screen anyway. If I’m taking notes, I’m taking notes. If I’m journaling, I’m journaling. I’m not interested in how much time I spend on my phone specifically, I’m interested in knowing if I waste time. So far, I don’t feel like I waste time. My recreation time is well accounted for, and some of it is spent on my phone too, but I’m not against spending some of it on my phone. At the end of the week when iOS 12 sends me a report on how I spent my time, I’m generally not surprise. If I am surprised, I try to be more conscientious going into the next week.

by kris-s 8y ago

SllX 8y ago

This is essentially what I do. I don’t pull my phone out unless there is some intent behind why I am pulling it out. If I pull it out to check the time, I don’t then unlock it to mindlessly browse the web. If I pull it out to read a book, I’ll treat my phone as if I’m reading a book and won’t care so much about how much “screen time” I have. Or if I’m using something like Instapaper. If I’m using Reddit, I’m looking for news on a specific thing or I’m looking for information on a topic, and Reddit is just one stop I make along the way, that doesn’t change whether I’m on my phone or laptop. If I’m watching a movie or something in bed, then it is time I would have spent on a television screen anyway. If I’m taking notes, I’m taking notes. If I’m journaling, I’m journaling. I’m not interested in how much time I spend on my phone specifically, I’m interested in knowing if I waste time. So far, I don’t feel like I waste time. My recreation time is well accounted for, and some of it is spent on my phone too, but I’m not against spending some of it on my phone. At the end of the week when iOS 12 sends me a report on how I spent my time, I’m generally not surprise. If I am surprised, I try to be more conscientious going into the next week.