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Honestly, I'm an information addict. I'm online far too much mainly reading news etc. I think I've forgotten how I lived without a constant stream of informati

Honestly, I'm an information addict. I'm online far too much mainly reading news etc. I think I've forgotten how I lived without a constant stream of information. I'm seriously tempted to get a dumb phone to remove temptation to browse when I have a few minutes to spare. The stupid thing is for all my reading, I don't feel any wiser or even knowledgeable. At the same time I think I'm less able to engage in normal conversation.

nicbou 4y ago
Instead, try cutting the triggers with an ad blocker and a few changes to your settings. I hide recommended content, unsubscribe from everything, unfollow everything, and generally have a "don't call me, I'll call you" approach to information. I went as far as removing pagination buttons on websites I tend to browse too much. I also use Pocket to save more interesting articles. Combined with a "things I don't understand" to-do list, I spend more time reading about practical things instead of just browsing. I don't regret that sort of reading.
raptorraver 4y ago
I was like you few months ago. When summer started I decided to stop reading news from online. It was hard at first but quite fast I started seeing the benefits. More focus, more happiness, not being so worried all the time. Now I only read HN (way too often of course :)) and I ordered a newspaper to my home which is published 3 times a week. I get distilled look on whats going on in the world but it’s not eating my focus.
- crims0n 4y ago
  I tried to do this as well... bought a year subscription to the local paper. Unfortunately I live semi-rural and it is written so egregiously its only worth is feeding the firebox each week.
  - Calamitous 4y ago
    If it makes you feel any better, I did the same thing, but I live semi-urban, and it was similarly egregious. I don’t have a firebox, but I suppose it kept the recycling man in business.
rendall 4y ago
I have a few rules and habits that helped me kick. They might help you? Never to walk down the street looking at my phone. Eyes on the road. If I need to look at my phone, I stop somewhere out of the way of foot traffic. All notifications are silent except calls or text messages from specific people. Calls from people I don't know and text messages get only a slow blinking light. Social media get no notifications. When I am with someone or a group in person, phone goes away. If I wouldn't allow someone to interrupt a conversation, the phone doesn't either. I won't answer it if someone is talking to me, especially something important. When there's a pause in the conversation, I'll ask politely to check to see who called. Finally, and this might be the biggest, I am constantly listening to audiobooks and podcasts. It scratches that itch of needing constant stimulation, but I can still be aware of everything around me.
- bamboozled 4y ago
  Do you listen to audiobooks and podcasts while working? I code for work and I actually find myself increasingly doing this. Sometimes when I really have to focus I stop it but ultimately, it doesn't feel so bad.
  - rendall 4y ago
    I do too, but if I have to learn something new or step through complex logic, then I have to pause.
bamboozled 4y ago
Same symptoms as you and was also on the Nokia website a few days back looking at dumb phones. Others also mentioned the Apple watch also was a good alternative. > The stupid thing is for all my reading, I don't feel any wiser or even knowledgeable. At the same time I think I'm less able to engage in normal conversation. 100% if I spent all the time I spend online reading actual books, I'd be much better off.
FpUser 4y ago
>"I think I've forgotten how I lived without a constant stream of information. I'm seriously tempted to get a dumb phone to remove temptation to browse when I have a few minutes to spare." Up until few month ago my phone did not even have data plan. I ordered it now but purely for business needs. I use my phone strictly for phone calls and as GPS (I have offline maps). I use another phone to control gizmos like drone. For everything else I use PC and since I spend enough time doing various physical activities I consider my life balanced.
crims0n 4y ago
Something that really helped me was a smartwatch. I picked up an Apple Watch (cellular) a few weeks ago so I didn't have to carry my phone around, and subsequently, would not be tempted to mindlessly use it. I think the experiment has been pretty successful. For the most part my phone stays on the charger all day, and I don't feel like I am missing out on calls or texts since they come to my watch. Being able to leave the house without a phone is a particularly freeing experience.
mark_l_watson 4y ago
You realize a problem so you are on a good path. Two things that help me: prefer not carrying an iPhone and rely on my Apple Watch. Also, instead of spending over an hour a day on YouTube watching alternative news commentaries from people like Matt Taibbi, etc. I try to cut down on that substituting YouTube channels on philosophy, Thai Chi exercises, etc. Also, having a library card at your local library gets you books to read, both physical books and eBooks through the Libby book reading app. Anyway, congratulations on recognizing the problem: you are ahead of the game compared to most of my friends in real life and family.

nicbou 4y ago

Instead, try cutting the triggers with an ad blocker and a few changes to your settings. I hide recommended content, unsubscribe from everything, unfollow everything, and generally have a "don't call me, I'll call you" approach to information. I went as far as removing pagination buttons on websites I tend to browse too much. I also use Pocket to save more interesting articles. Combined with a "things I don't understand" to-do list, I spend more time reading about practical things instead of just browsing. I don't regret that sort of reading.

raptorraver 4y ago

I was like you few months ago. When summer started I decided to stop reading news from online. It was hard at first but quite fast I started seeing the benefits. More focus, more happiness, not being so worried all the time. Now I only read HN (way too often of course :)) and I ordered a newspaper to my home which is published 3 times a week. I get distilled look on whats going on in the world but it’s not eating my focus.

crims0n 4y ago
I tried to do this as well... bought a year subscription to the local paper. Unfortunately I live semi-rural and it is written so egregiously its only worth is feeding the firebox each week.
- Calamitous 4y ago
  If it makes you feel any better, I did the same thing, but I live semi-urban, and it was similarly egregious. I don’t have a firebox, but I suppose it kept the recycling man in business.

rendall 4y ago

I have a few rules and habits that helped me kick. They might help you? Never to walk down the street looking at my phone. Eyes on the road. If I need to look at my phone, I stop somewhere out of the way of foot traffic. All notifications are silent except calls or text messages from specific people. Calls from people I don't know and text messages get only a slow blinking light. Social media get no notifications. When I am with someone or a group in person, phone goes away. If I wouldn't allow someone to interrupt a conversation, the phone doesn't either. I won't answer it if someone is talking to me, especially something important. When there's a pause in the conversation, I'll ask politely to check to see who called. Finally, and this might be the biggest, I am constantly listening to audiobooks and podcasts. It scratches that itch of needing constant stimulation, but I can still be aware of everything around me.

bamboozled 4y ago
Do you listen to audiobooks and podcasts while working? I code for work and I actually find myself increasingly doing this. Sometimes when I really have to focus I stop it but ultimately, it doesn't feel so bad.
- rendall 4y ago
  I do too, but if I have to learn something new or step through complex logic, then I have to pause.

bamboozled 4y ago

Same symptoms as you and was also on the Nokia website a few days back looking at dumb phones. Others also mentioned the Apple watch also was a good alternative. > The stupid thing is for all my reading, I don't feel any wiser or even knowledgeable. At the same time I think I'm less able to engage in normal conversation. 100% if I spent all the time I spend online reading actual books, I'd be much better off.

FpUser 4y ago

>"I think I've forgotten how I lived without a constant stream of information. I'm seriously tempted to get a dumb phone to remove temptation to browse when I have a few minutes to spare." Up until few month ago my phone did not even have data plan. I ordered it now but purely for business needs. I use my phone strictly for phone calls and as GPS (I have offline maps). I use another phone to control gizmos like drone. For everything else I use PC and since I spend enough time doing various physical activities I consider my life balanced.

crims0n 4y ago

Something that really helped me was a smartwatch. I picked up an Apple Watch (cellular) a few weeks ago so I didn't have to carry my phone around, and subsequently, would not be tempted to mindlessly use it. I think the experiment has been pretty successful. For the most part my phone stays on the charger all day, and I don't feel like I am missing out on calls or texts since they come to my watch. Being able to leave the house without a phone is a particularly freeing experience.

mark_l_watson 4y ago

You realize a problem so you are on a good path. Two things that help me: prefer not carrying an iPhone and rely on my Apple Watch. Also, instead of spending over an hour a day on YouTube watching alternative news commentaries from people like Matt Taibbi, etc. I try to cut down on that substituting YouTube channels on philosophy, Thai Chi exercises, etc. Also, having a library card at your local library gets you books to read, both physical books and eBooks through the Libby book reading app. Anyway, congratulations on recognizing the problem: you are ahead of the game compared to most of my friends in real life and family.