Reducing computer and Internet use support thread - Yeah yeah we all know it's ironic discussing this here but don't be a faggot

[Mulbruk]

One of the easiest ways I found to minimise tech use was to just start by recapturing small pockets of time first and limiting what you use your phone for.
For example, reclaim the time between you waking up and going to work, or some arbitrary time like 10:30am. Phone all notifications turned off apart from calls and messages on charge in another room. You'll struggle at first but you've probably become so accustomed to reaching for the phone whenever there's a lull, but it's easier if you give yourself something to do each morning. I used a journal to record what I did the day before (also a good reminder if you have nothing to write but "Fucked around on the computer all day but can't remember anything of worth coming from it") but it could be any analog activity like caring for a plant or walking a pet. Just something to acclimatise your brain to actually working for dopamine.

 

[⋖ cørdion ⋗]

One of the easiest ways I found to minimise tech use was to just start by recapturing small pockets of time first and limiting what you use your phone for.
For example, reclaim the time between you waking up and going to work, or some arbitrary time like 10:30am. Phone all notifications turned off apart from calls and messages on charge in another room. You'll struggle at first but you've probably become so accustomed to reaching for the phone whenever there's a lull, but it's easier if you give yourself something to do each morning. I used a journal to record what I did the day before (also a good reminder if you have nothing to write but "Fucked around on the computer all day but can't remember anything of worth coming from it") but it could be any analog activity like caring for a plant or walking a pet. Just something to acclimatise your brain to actually working for dopamine.

Every single "un-rot" video I've seen always talks about all these apps and timers and shit and I'm just wondering like, how are you in any place ready to start removing rot if you can't even grow the spine to uninstall an app and keep it gone? I guess the same people who're still on twitter despite it literally being 90% bots and porn. There is NO reason to be on twitter even if you're a social media addict. Like, straight up.

I deleted the few entertainment apps I had on my phone and don't miss any of them. I pull out my phone almost instinctively yet have nothing to look at on it. If I keep it in my locker at work I won't even be affected by it. First thing I do when I get home is toss it on my bed and forget about it. It's like I actively try to re-include it in my life instead of just pulling the last pin and not bring it to work, at all, but obviously at some point you're just being irresponsible with your neglect. What'd you do if you crashed your car? Send a pidgeon? "Oh I missed dad's last few minutes cause I was minmaxing my anti-brainrot vibes fr fr".

Grow the self-control or become self-aware enough that having your phone out makes you feel embarrassed. Neck leaning over, staring down at your palm instead of whistling and looking up at the clouds. Even at my workplace we'll sit 12 people in the break room and someone will always make a comment about everyone being on their phone, yet nobody actually combats it (except I who instead burn my lips trying to sip my tea over and over). I spent a whole workday trying to figure out the name of an actor with a coworker instead of googling it. Shit was fun.

 

[9th year in hell]

Every single "un-rot" video I've seen always talks about all these apps and timers and shit and I'm just wondering like, how are you in any place ready to start removing rot if you can't even grow the spine to uninstall an app and keep it gone?

> want to use apps less
> needs an app for it
> ...
> you just replaced one digital distraction for another one

That's the business model, it was never about actually solving it. Most of these shills just want you to spend less time on their competitors.

 

[Forsaken Wanderer]

What if you have nothing else to replace the internet with? I don't use my phone for anything other than the odd text and call, and a few photos here and there, the only apps I've ever installed are for my job. But when it comes to eating dinner, doing the dishes, or eating breakfast, I like to have youtube on for something to listen to/watch.

What would I do without it? Just be in silence and have to use my imagination? Regular media has sucked for 15 years so I can't turn to that.

I also like to keep up with the goings on in the world which needs to be in video format if I want to get the information while I'm using my hands elsewhere.

 

[WTBOnlineFather]

What if you have nothing else to replace the internet with? I don't use my phone for anything other than the odd text and call, and a few photos here and there, the only apps I've ever installed are for my job. But when it comes to eating dinner, doing the dishes, or eating breakfast, I like to have youtube on for something to listen to/watch.

What would I do without it? Just be in silence and have to use my imagination? Regular media has sucked for 15 years so I can't turn to that.

I also like to keep up with the goings on in the world which needs to be in video format if I want to get the information while I'm using my hands elsewhere.

This isn't really easy but just focus on what you're doing. Stop multitasking all the time. Whatever one thing you're doing, do it 100%.
If it's really boring shit like hanging clothes then call a friend or your mom. Put on some music or something. Internet videos don't have to be the first resort.

 

[Forsaken Wanderer]

This isn't really easy but just focus on what you're doing. Stop multitasking all the time. Whatever one thing you're doing, do it 100%.
If it's really boring shit like hanging clothes then call a friend or your mom. Put on some music or something. Internet videos don't have to be the first resort.

Wouldn't calling someone during the hanging of clothes also be multi tasking?

The problem with chores is that they are repetitive and boring, after the 100th go at it your mind is screaming for something engaging, something different that the same thoughts you've had on repeat for so long they may be written in a fine font across the side of your brain.

I understand what you are saying though, trying to listen to a video while doing a task is going to always slow you down. And as you get older you begin to notice how short a day really is.

 

[Yezidi Fan Club]

I just unplugged my Steam Deck from my TV yesterday. Within hours I was back reading again, although if I close my eyes I'm still slaying Diablo 2 demons in the Chaos Sanctuary because I've played so much Diablo 2 Ressurected that it's graphics are burned into my mind.

Just unplug your shit and yeet it into your closet.

 

[⋖ cørdion ⋗]

What if you have nothing else to replace the internet with? I don't use my phone for anything other than the odd text and call,

What then do you desire? Complete phone death? It'd actually be stupid to have no phone at all, ie. Death, car crashes, alarms. So other than buying a dumbphone, what is your goal?

I just unplugged my Steam Deck from my TV yesterday. Within hours I was back reading again

Just unplug your shit and yeet it into your closet.

It really is that easy. Remove the twitch and youtube bookmark, remove the folders so it's bothersome to reinstall wow etc. Suddenly you've nothing to default back to and you let yourself become bored: the root of all good in life.

> want to use apps less
> needs an app for it
> ...
> you just replaced one digital distraction for another one

Like it reeks of those friends Ive had who're like "omg im so positive and read so many positive things im so hyped and ready". They go entirely bipolar and then revert back a day later. Compared to the guy who just goes "Hm. Im gonna quit soda I think".

 

[Forsaken Wanderer]

I just unplugged my Steam Deck from my TV yesterday. Within hours I was back reading again, although if I close my eyes I'm still slaying Diablo 2 demons in the Chaos Sanctuary because I've played so much Diablo 2 Ressurected that it's graphics are burned into my mind.

Just unplug your shit and yeet it into your closet.

Good on you. I don't own any books, I listen to audio books that I "acquire" on the computer, who the hell has time to sit down and hold a book anymore, this way I can do the dishes and eat while I "read". It's all about find every last short minute that you have outside of work.

What then do you desire? Complete phone death? It'd actually be stupid to have no phone at all, ie. Death, car crashes, alarms. So other than buying a dumbphone, what is your goal?

It really is that easy. Remove the twitch and youtube bookmark, remove the folders so it's bothersome to reinstall wow etc. Suddenly you've nothing to default back to and you let yourself become bored: the root of all good in life.

Like it reeks of those friends Ive had who're like "omg im so positive and read so many positive things im so hyped and ready". They go entirely bipolar and then revert back a day later. Compared to the guy who just goes "Hm. Im gonna quit soda I think".

I would like to not have a phone as it's a way for all insundry from the government to the corps to track me and gather data on me, but it is hard to go without one, so for now I just use it for the rare communication or if I want to take a photo of something. How anyone actually uses a screen that small to read or watch something I don't know. How someone can use a touch screen I don't know either.

Basically I have very little energy and very little time, so having videos on while I eat and do chores is the only way I can watch anything, I never usually get to sit down and commit myself to using a computer. And if I had nothing but silence I'd run out of things to think about. Music is fine now and then, but sometimes you want something more engaging.

 

[toe_schnitzel6969]

although if I close my eyes I'm still slaying Diablo 2 demons in the Chaos Sanctuary because I've played so much Diablo 2 Ressurected that it's graphics are burned into my mind.

I have this but with Minecraft lmao

 

[DYLAN ‘DIELAWN’ VOLK]

I bought one of those flip phones that doesn't have apps, but realized that I need apps for work anyway. It's still in the box, even though it's really cute.

 

[555777555]

I bought one of those flip phones that doesn't have apps, but realized that I need apps for work anyway. It's still in the box, even though it's really cute.

You can use it as an MP3 player to save your smartphone's battery life.

 

[Vonel]

An interesting video by technology connections: Algorithms are breaking how we think

I deleted the few entertainment apps I had on my phone and don't miss any of them. I pull out my phone almost instinctively yet have nothing to look at on it. If I keep it in my locker at work I won't even be affected by it. First thing I do when I get home is toss it on my bed and forget about it. It's like I actively try to re-include it in my life instead of just pulling the last pin and not bring it to work, at all, but obviously at some point you're just being irresponsible with your neglect. What'd you do if you crashed your car? Send a pidgeon? "Oh I missed dad's last few minutes cause I was minmaxing my anti-brainrot vibes fr fr".

Grow the self-control or become self-aware enough that having your phone out makes you feel embarrassed. Neck leaning over, staring down at your palm instead of whistling and looking up at the clouds.

I also realized this after looking into the "slow life" meme for a bit. It's all consumption at the end of the day, people selling you problems you didn't know you had. There is ZERO reason you right now can't turn the phone you already have into a distraction free device, iphones come like that and some androids just need a little tweaking. Capitalism has wired us to believe that only through consumption can we find the solution to our problems. You don't need a flip phone, eink tablet, apps to limit what you do, etc.

The issue that no one wants to talk about is discipline, not the device(no wonder since you can't sell it). Guns don't kill people just as screens don't make you spend 9+ hours a day on them, people do. By handling the issue at a surface level people don't fix the underlying issues which will crop back up again and that's why these "tech detoxes" often end in a relapse a month or so later. Quitting cold turkey is the only way to go, end of story.

I finally got out of the trap was giving the people I actually wanted to speak to my #, telling them what was up and if they needed to contact me to do so through that. I deleted everything and for good measure turned on a black and white color filter for my device. Screen time went from ~7hrs to around ~1.

 

[deermeat]

hardest part for me is obviously taking the first step. I use Freedom and they recently introduced a feature which makes it so you CAN'T undo locked mode, as in you can't call them to unlock it either. A feature I am happy about but also anxious. I done it before so I know theres nothing to be worried over, its just aaaa.
Been procrastinating, man. I need to take a break from here, I especially need to take a break from Youtube. I already dont use social media.

Its the simple fact that this site an Youtube replaces my socializing. I dont have any friends and I dont even know how to make them considering how the average person my age is a brainwashed phone zombie. But with Spring coming, my goal is to sign up for stuff like hiking, archery, and all that.

Its just hard man, no one really teaches you how to re-integrate into society after prolonged isolation. Everyones like "omg the covid lockdowns were terrible" yet they don't realize a lot of people live their lives as if it was lockdown, either because of abuse or addiction or overall social anxiety that came from a rough school life/upbringing.
The thing about high school and all of that is that there are SO many different ways to socialize and connect with people, the people around you are also all around a similar age to you.
But if you miss out on that or had to move a lot, you miss out on establishing yourself socially. And once you graduate, unless you go to college its 100x harder to socialize because theres not many social groups out there unless you pay money, and even then the ones that are out there you then have to hang out with people who are most likely going to be 20-30+ years older than you or hang out with families and their kids as a complete stranger in their early 20s.
Ive hung out with older people my whole life due to a shitty school and home life, its not ideal because while yes you can have deep conversations, the age difference is lonely. The difference in hobbies and stuff is also there.

People are like "why is crime getting bad, why is there so many shootings" yet they aren't addressing social isolation in young adults. Not a lot to do unless you turn to hedonism or have excess money.

 

[Señora Airi]

Its the simple fact that this site an Youtube replaces my socializing. I dont have any friends and I dont even know how to make them considering how the average person my age is a brainwashed phone zombie. But with Spring coming, my goal is to sign up for stuff like hiking, archery, and all that

With Lent coming up, doing the technology fast is a great idea. Along with the archery and hiking, it'd be good to take up reading, cleaning, writing, etc. to fill out those moments between work, sleep, eat, and your outdoor activities.

 

[Sangue e terra]

yet they aren't addressing social isolation in young adults. Not a lot to do unless you turn to hedonism or have excess money.

That's the point. They want you to "work harder" for it. Isolated people are easier to control, notice how the everytime any attempt of organizing people, the FEDs gets involved very fast, The more detached you are from real people, the more reliant you become on the replacement for them, the government essentially.

As some farmer already mentioned, there will never be any academic papers on how to rely less on the Internet, since that is against their interest. Threads like these are the best shot you got to find information on how to reduce Internet usage.

 

[⋖ cørdion ⋗]

Wouldn't calling someone during the hanging of clothes also be multi tasking?

But having a youtube video running isn't? So you already concluded that it adds nothing and is barely considered a 'thing'? I still have videos and streams on my second monitor but half the time I just close it cause I realize I'm not paying attention. Streams are more on-the-nose about it; videos I can tolerate cause I can pause and rewind them. I've started watching Sopranos before bed and the slow pacing and deliberate dialogue focus almost feels otherworldly. A time when media wasn't summarizing what has happened non-stop cause they assume people aren't watching. It's becoming harder to detach from our phones and non-stop media consumption cause it has become the norm. I read the other day that audio balancing in movies has trended towards lower dialogue audio because the focus is meant to be elsewhere. Movies are polished theater, and now you want us to focus on the drapes instead?

With Lent coming up, doing the technology fast is a great idea. Along with the archery and hiking, it'd be good to take up reading, cleaning, writing, etc. to fill out those moments between work, sleep, eat, and your outdoor activities.

I automatically clean and shit, even after work when I'm tired, cause I've sat by my PC and done nothing for an hour and already read 30-40 pages. I do productive shit out of habit, and the fact I eat dinner and brush my teeth at 4-5pm means I got another 4-5 hours to do things, and gaming just hasn't covered those interests, but even if it did I'd have plenty of time to focus on it.

Being bored is good, but it does get overwhelming, leading to dumb decisions. Rusty Cage's month of sobriety vlog more or less just jumped straight into "Dawg, being sober is fucking boring, I need to actively find shit to do". For me it used to be bike riding for 25-30 miles, but it's such a time investment with chances of puncture making it take even longer. I've wanted to get into running instead but in that case I'd rather just bike.

I'd love nothing more than to genuinely get into games again, but I basically need to force myself at this point. Or to force myself to do 50 mins of street fighter a day or something. Put in the actual effort and work to get into something again. It's what you need to do with any other thing, gaming isn't any different. I feel like I'm in the fall of my life despite being young, simply cause I've gotten so used to not having passion for anything in particular. I "just" clean, shop and do maintenance. It's better but boring.

Its the simple fact that this site an Youtube replaces my socializing. I dont have any friends and I dont even know how to make them considering how the average person my age is a brainwashed phone zombie. But with Spring coming, my goal is to sign up for stuff like hiking, archery, and all that.

A friend of mine used to do this "ironic" thing of just going "anyone got skype?" in WoW dungeons and he made a fair few friends that way. Once you stoop to being cringe and put effort into socializing, it usually works out. Granted, most games these days are just brainrot central; everyone on Discord and not even paying attention to the chat. In that case, niche forums or Discords might work. I've found the best Discords being like.. one channel from some streamer's Discord that has nothing to do with the rest of the discord, if even the streamer.

 

[Jerk Sausage]

I had a long history of "I have to listen to something while I _____". I think it started when I first got an MP3 player ~20 years ago; I downloaded audiobooks or comedy albums and let them lull me to sleep every night. The next night I'd pickup at the point where I fell asleep, and I "read books" that way. Then with radio, I listened to O&A, Ron & Fez or whatever else while I commuted. Then with Youtube the past 10 years it just became all the time, I wanted to have voices in my ear while I did anything. It drowned out my brain. I was functionally incapable of just being bored and having thoughts for more than a few minutes or giving room to focus on the task at hand.

This isn't really easy but just focus on what you're doing. Stop multitasking all the time. Whatever one thing you're doing, do it 100%.
If it's really boring shit like hanging clothes then call a friend or your mom. Put on some music or something. Internet videos don't have to be the first resort.

This has been my main idea as a solution, though I still fall victim to the distraction attraction, but I'm definitely better about not doing it 24/7. Washing the dishes? Wash the dishes, don't look for something to listen to first. Taking the dog for a walk? I don't need to listen to anything while I do that, enjoy the breeze. Working? Work. By distracting myself constantly, my brain actually felt like it was working overtime in that hunt for the perfect thing that will mildly capture my attention, but doesn't require so much attention that I can't absorb it while doing something else.

Simple steps:

• Phone is in a room far away and silenced for bedtime.
• Close all unnecessary tabs when I'm working. Don't randomly open news/media/browsing/social tabs.
• When I decide to do something, just go start immediately, don't hunt for ear noise first.
• Allow myself to sit and become bored of sitting and doing literally nothing. The things my mind wants to do after I have become bored are a lot better than the things I do to prevent becoming bored.
• Cleaning and purging unused/unloved items. Not strictly internet addiction related, but having simple possessions and an uncluttered, organized living space does a lot towards putting a distracted mind at ease, which stops the desire towards escapism. The less things I own or have to shuffle around and maintain, the less work my brain has to do.
• Have a morning and bedtime routine. Do not immediately go to the phone/computer first thing in the morning, or try to inject some bit of newness. Reflect on something old or a known prayer/meditation, and think of the day ahead from a good place, rather than looking for the new thing the algorithm is pushing.
• I don't really listen to wordy material anymore except during long car rides or exercising.

A lot of it is so obvious and elementary but in that state of "I need it" addiction, it takes a lot of willpower to knock it off.