3 ms·

This doesn't work for me in spite of over 10 years of trying. I am currently eating lunch and wasting time on HN on my phone, but my ebook reader full of edifyi

by TFNA 2mo ago

This doesn't work for me in spite of over 10 years of trying. I am currently eating lunch and wasting time on HN on my phone, but my ebook reader full of edifying material is sitting there ignored on the table, right in front of me. I need some way of leaving the phone at home completely, but in my country so much basic everyday stuff relies on a phone (and strong bank authentication through a phone).

dewey 2mo ago
For me it’s about building a routine. I go to a coffee shop every morning with my kindle and phone. Phone in my pocket on do not disturb and just read for an hour. It’s not that hard to disconnect if you really want to.
- TFNA 2mo ago
  I am an academic and do the same reading of books for hours each day without phone distractions. The problem is precisely the less formal environments where, instead of a serious book, I'm going to be reading news or other light content. Hard to go for the ereader then instead of the phone.
  - al_borland 2mo ago
    What about adding some lighter content to the e-reader, even some fiction, to match the vibe you’re looking for in those less formal environments? If your e-reader is only associated with serious book, I can see where that would be a lot for a casual lunch that you want to feel like a break.
mswphd 2mo ago
I've found having draconian phone blocking rules helps. I use Jomo https://jomo.so https://jomo.so but I'm sure there are other competing products. Roughly, you can classify apps in your phone to things that 1. are fundamentally fine (various bank/payment apps, messaging app, map apps), and 2. are known time wasters (social media) you then just block the time wasters. you can configure it so that to edit the settings of the app, you have to enter some 150 character randomized code. it is very annoying to do. this is the point though. there are other ways you can add friction to using your phone. setting its display to be black and white makes it much less enjoyable to use, for example. if you add in enough friction (and stick with it over an initial "hump"), you'll findi yourself reaching for other options.
noman-land 2mo ago
Set your phone to display only in greyscale. It takes all the fun and cartoonishness out of it, which is a good thing.
righthand 2mo ago
I always hear the “I need my phone for bank stuff” but can’t you just leave your phone at home and then schedule going to the bank if it’s that necessary to a part of your day? I can’t imagine you need to be interacting with the bank 24/7/365.
- TFNA 2mo ago
  In some countries, authentication to a wide variety of non-bank services and payments is done through bank apps. The bank has done the work to verify who you are, so they conveniently serve as the proof of your identity to everyone else. "Going to the bank"? Banks around here began to close physical branches well over a decade ago now, and visiting one of the remaining branches often requires a multi-hour wait in the queue, if not an appointment made many days in advance.
  - righthand 2mo ago
    But my point stands, do you need to do the type of banking that requires constant identification every day to the point where you need it always around it distracts you from what you’d like to be doing? If that’s true then the bank has completely captured you. Or leave your phone in your bag or at home and you shouldn’t have this issue. The “I need my phone for banking” excuse is a vague reason to keep using it. They don’t need their phone for banking, they want their phone and banking is a convenient reason to placate that want.
    - TFNA 2mo ago
      Again, we are not talking about banks or banking. In my country one's bank app functions as the strong authentication used to log in to all the other services where one has to prove one's identity. And yes, pretty much every day while I am on the go, I have to authenticate to some service or another.
      - carlosjobim 2mo ago
        > In my country... It's not your country. It's the banks' country if they own it to the extent that they own your identity.
fragmede 2mo ago
schedule a meeting on your calendar for no phone time
dominotw 2mo ago
sure ppl still take cash. also what are you buying all the time? just go out and dont buy anything

by TFNA 2mo ago

dewey 2mo ago

For me it’s about building a routine. I go to a coffee shop every morning with my kindle and phone. Phone in my pocket on do not disturb and just read for an hour. It’s not that hard to disconnect if you really want to.

TFNA 2mo ago
I am an academic and do the same reading of books for hours each day without phone distractions. The problem is precisely the less formal environments where, instead of a serious book, I'm going to be reading news or other light content. Hard to go for the ereader then instead of the phone.
- al_borland 2mo ago
  What about adding some lighter content to the e-reader, even some fiction, to match the vibe you’re looking for in those less formal environments? If your e-reader is only associated with serious book, I can see where that would be a lot for a casual lunch that you want to feel like a break.

mswphd 2mo ago

I've found having draconian phone blocking rules helps. I use Jomo https://jomo.so https://jomo.so but I'm sure there are other competing products. Roughly, you can classify apps in your phone to things that 1. are fundamentally fine (various bank/payment apps, messaging app, map apps), and 2. are known time wasters (social media) you then just block the time wasters. you can configure it so that to edit the settings of the app, you have to enter some 150 character randomized code. it is very annoying to do. this is the point though. there are other ways you can add friction to using your phone. setting its display to be black and white makes it much less enjoyable to use, for example. if you add in enough friction (and stick with it over an initial "hump"), you'll findi yourself reaching for other options.

noman-land 2mo ago

Set your phone to display only in greyscale. It takes all the fun and cartoonishness out of it, which is a good thing.

righthand 2mo ago

I always hear the “I need my phone for bank stuff” but can’t you just leave your phone at home and then schedule going to the bank if it’s that necessary to a part of your day? I can’t imagine you need to be interacting with the bank 24/7/365.

TFNA 2mo ago
In some countries, authentication to a wide variety of non-bank services and payments is done through bank apps. The bank has done the work to verify who you are, so they conveniently serve as the proof of your identity to everyone else. "Going to the bank"? Banks around here began to close physical branches well over a decade ago now, and visiting one of the remaining branches often requires a multi-hour wait in the queue, if not an appointment made many days in advance.
- righthand 2mo ago
  But my point stands, do you need to do the type of banking that requires constant identification every day to the point where you need it always around it distracts you from what you’d like to be doing? If that’s true then the bank has completely captured you. Or leave your phone in your bag or at home and you shouldn’t have this issue. The “I need my phone for banking” excuse is a vague reason to keep using it. They don’t need their phone for banking, they want their phone and banking is a convenient reason to placate that want.
  - TFNA 2mo ago
    Again, we are not talking about banks or banking. In my country one's bank app functions as the strong authentication used to log in to all the other services where one has to prove one's identity. And yes, pretty much every day while I am on the go, I have to authenticate to some service or another.
    - carlosjobim 2mo ago
      > In my country... It's not your country. It's the banks' country if they own it to the extent that they own your identity.

fragmede 2mo ago

schedule a meeting on your calendar for no phone time

dominotw 2mo ago

sure ppl still take cash. also what are you buying all the time? just go out and dont buy anything