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The struggle is real. I wrote about this a while back: https://renegadeotter.com/2023/08/24/getting-your-focus-back.html https://renegadeotter.com/2023/08/24/ge

The struggle is real. I wrote about this a while back: https://renegadeotter.com/2023/08/24/getting-your-focus-back.html https://renegadeotter.com/2023/08/24/getting-your-focus-back... What you are doing is "self-limiting" which is not very effective. The devil on your shoulder will always fight this - "don't tell me what to do!" The wanting to not doom-scroll should be intrinsic. I know that right now, for obvious reasons, it's easier said than done.

bryancoxwell 2y ago
I’ve actually found using screentime limits on my phone for specific apps (which is essentially self limiting) to be very effective. Once time is up, there’s only a single button click stopping me from continuing doomscrolling, but that’s just enough friction that I’m able to say “oh right I don’t need to be doing this”.
- nevi-me 2y ago
  Chrome on Android also has per-site limits, which I've also found useful in addition to the overall app limit. 15 minutes on HN, then I'm out even if I still have a Chrome limit. It's really interesting that we have to resort to little jails like this to get our attention back.
InsideOutSanta 2y ago
"The wanting to not doom-scroll should be intrinsic" For me, it is, but I would still automatically open Reddit or Twitter when compiling code, and then get stuck in a loop of looking at interesting and/or annoying stuff. The solution was easy, though, I just put all of these sites, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, etc. into my hosts file and pointed them to localhost. It took about a week for this automatic behavior to stop. Instead, I have a language learning app, so now I go through some flashcards while my code compiles. Or open news.ycombinator.com. Maybe the next addition to my hosts file.
- Alex-Programs 2y ago
  I do the same. There's also the bonus that, even if you want to quickly remove the block, it'll take a few minutes to apply unless you go through the bother of wiping the DNS cache.
slothtrop 2y ago
This is just short-term vs long-term gratification and competing desires. That's not intrinsic, except insofar as newly formed habits are compulsive. Choice and opportunity-cost is all "self-limiting", the only difference is perspective. It's better to have an additive-mindset, i.e. replace a habit with another that provides value rather than merely focusing on restricting something. This works for everything, including diet. In the words of Allan Carr, if you view your actions as sacrifice, you won't succeed.
james-bcn 2y ago
I think the secret is: a) Make your feeds more worthy and less attention grabbing by blocking anything that isn't one of your specific interests. b) If you make good use of your time, you'll find doing stuff more interesting than scrolling. I've written about this too: https://thisisjam.es/reflecting/on-information-diets/ https://thisisjam.es/reflecting/on-information-diets/
- meiraleal 2y ago
  This obviously doesn't work long-term because when it works, they change the algorithms, the UX, everything to hook you again.
Reeddabio 2y ago
I like your solutions. I do think having your phone in another room helps tremendously. I fight every morning to not take my phone into the bathroom for my morning ritual and waste 15-20 minutes of dooms scrolling.
gkrimer 2y ago
Damn that's spot on. Thank you for sharing! Glad to know I'm not the only one struggling with this at a mature age.

bryancoxwell 2y ago

I’ve actually found using screentime limits on my phone for specific apps (which is essentially self limiting) to be very effective. Once time is up, there’s only a single button click stopping me from continuing doomscrolling, but that’s just enough friction that I’m able to say “oh right I don’t need to be doing this”.

nevi-me 2y ago
Chrome on Android also has per-site limits, which I've also found useful in addition to the overall app limit. 15 minutes on HN, then I'm out even if I still have a Chrome limit. It's really interesting that we have to resort to little jails like this to get our attention back.

InsideOutSanta 2y ago

"The wanting to not doom-scroll should be intrinsic" For me, it is, but I would still automatically open Reddit or Twitter when compiling code, and then get stuck in a loop of looking at interesting and/or annoying stuff. The solution was easy, though, I just put all of these sites, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, etc. into my hosts file and pointed them to localhost. It took about a week for this automatic behavior to stop. Instead, I have a language learning app, so now I go through some flashcards while my code compiles. Or open news.ycombinator.com. Maybe the next addition to my hosts file.

Alex-Programs 2y ago
I do the same. There's also the bonus that, even if you want to quickly remove the block, it'll take a few minutes to apply unless you go through the bother of wiping the DNS cache.

slothtrop 2y ago

This is just short-term vs long-term gratification and competing desires. That's not intrinsic, except insofar as newly formed habits are compulsive. Choice and opportunity-cost is all "self-limiting", the only difference is perspective. It's better to have an additive-mindset, i.e. replace a habit with another that provides value rather than merely focusing on restricting something. This works for everything, including diet. In the words of Allan Carr, if you view your actions as sacrifice, you won't succeed.

james-bcn 2y ago

I think the secret is: a) Make your feeds more worthy and less attention grabbing by blocking anything that isn't one of your specific interests. b) If you make good use of your time, you'll find doing stuff more interesting than scrolling. I've written about this too: https://thisisjam.es/reflecting/on-information-diets/ https://thisisjam.es/reflecting/on-information-diets/

meiraleal 2y ago
This obviously doesn't work long-term because when it works, they change the algorithms, the UX, everything to hook you again.

Reeddabio 2y ago

I like your solutions. I do think having your phone in another room helps tremendously. I fight every morning to not take my phone into the bathroom for my morning ritual and waste 15-20 minutes of dooms scrolling.

gkrimer 2y ago

Damn that's spot on. Thank you for sharing! Glad to know I'm not the only one struggling with this at a mature age.