How to overcome phone addiction?

SirKolbath · 2017-10-15T19:33:21+00:00

There is an app called "Quality time" in the Android market. It tracks your phone usage and you can set it to alarm when you use certain apps more than an allotted time, or unlock your screen more than a certain number of times.

deadwoodcylon · 2017-10-15T19:48:22+00:00

Replace it with an old flip phone

vonbehren · 2017-10-15T19:47:42+00:00

This is my #1 issue in my life right now. I was able to drop video games, entertainment (TV, movies), and porn. Can’t seem to kick my incessant need to take my phone out of my pocket all the time.

That_Deaf_Guy · 2017-10-15T20:12:44+00:00

I have a smartphone. Rely on it everyday for most things, especially my music and reddit. Same issue, perhaps not to the same extent, but I pulled my phone out constantly.

Got an old Nokia, imported ~20 important phone numbers to my sim card, and now dominantly use the Nokia for texts and calls. Now I can only pull out my phone when I am connected to WiFi, which I can't connect to at work (big help).

gingeryeti · 2017-10-15T19:36:33+00:00

If you have an iPhone you can use an app called Flipd. You set a time frame that you want to focus and it’ll disable all apps that aren’t essential such as calling, text, email, etc. no games or social media. It’s helped me out a lot and I have it on most of the day now.

AlphaGrad · 2017-10-16T02:08:29+00:00

Use a flip phone. I threw away my smartphone to become smart.

empatheticapathetic · 2017-10-16T16:29:07+00:00

I have the exact same issue. I promised myself I was going to start disuse today. But I'm training a dude at work and I literally have nothing to do. So I've again delayed it.

You just have to get to a point where you are really Fucking ready to just stop using it at all costs. You're so sick of yourself and your filthy habit.

The quicker option is just to leave it at home for days at a time. 2 days at a time. I have done this in the past and it immediately worked wonders. It's like the same as when your phone is dead. Very short minute of withdrawal then you just get on with life.

It's easier than you think but the best way to find success immediately is simply just leave it at home.

neopet · 2017-10-16T02:57:11+00:00

Here's what you need to do to get started: leave your phone at home tomorrow. That's it. Just leave the house without it and go about your day being uncomfortable. It's going to suck but you're going to have to do it if you want to get serious about it.

For you the solution might have to be a bit more extreme than just downgrading your phone. But you should still consider downgrading to a moto E or something that can only run maps and email.

At minimum you need to delete Facebook from your phone. If you're in a jam and you really need to check something you can always use the browser.

From there you should change your notification settings. Disable ALL app notifications other than text and e-mail (if you need it for work or something), this should help quite a bit. Some apps like Snapchat are incredibly pushy with their notifications and waste your attention on mundane things like "Jen is typing a message...". You don't need social media notifications, period.

Lastly, if you still catch yourself checking your phone when you have no reason to, turn it off. In fact turn it off whenever you're in class, at work, or doing anything where it's not appropriate to take a phone call.

Good luck, and be sure to give an update in a week.

FieldLine · 2017-10-16T12:41:14+00:00

People often suggest getting a flip phone, which is a shame since having immediate internet access is useful. Others will say to get an app -- this, too, skirts the root of the problem is no more than a band-aid solution.

The answer is to simply be more aware. When you pull your phone out of your pocket, consciously note what you're doing.

How often do you open a new tab in your browser and open facebook or reddit without thinking about it?

I used to do that a lot. It was a habit: open computer, work on an assignment for like 30 seconds and the moment it got hard or boring, I'd open up facebook. I didn't even think about it, my newsfeed was on my screen before I even consciously registered typing into my URL bar. Shit, at one point it was so bad that I'd get bored on my newsfeed and I'd open a new tab.... and open facebook. The habit was that ingrained.

The nice thing about this method is that you can browse facebook in that moment, just like you want to, as long as you note that you're doing so. Don't mindlessly surf reddit, rather, when you open it, say to yourself "opening reddit". As you continue to do this, you'll find it'll start to get easier to put the phone down, or you won't even pick it up in the first place.

For what it's worth, being more conscious (more present in general) of your actions and emotional state is somewhat of a cure-all for anxiety and addiction, provided there isn't some sort of chemical imbalance (as in drug addiction or mental illness).

TRP_mask · 2017-10-15T21:20:05+00:00

Lock your phone away when you need to focus. It makes it easier to keep yourself from taking a quick look on your phone.

Arabian_Wolf · 2017-10-16T03:19:12+00:00

Airplane mode, put it away then read a book.

thefightingfirst · 2017-10-16T04:39:05+00:00

There’s an iPhone app called Moment. It tracks down your phone usage and displays it in graphs so it’s easy to see how bad your addiction is. Additionally, you can set goals with reminders to reduce your usage. Highly recommended. Personally I even bought the Pro version for something like 4-5 $/€.

DonnySequoiaBuddz707 · 2017-10-16T05:56:34+00:00

Delete the social media aps that use most of your time.

Shukakun · 2017-10-16T06:06:47+00:00

Start with making it not be the first thing you do when you wake up and the last thing you do before you fall asleep. I used to literally have my phone in my bed, figured it made sense since I used it as an alarm. Needless to say I spent many nights fiddling with it for 1-3 hours instead of falling asleep at a reasonable time. So I bought an old school alarm clock that I keep next to my bed, and I now mute my phone and put it on my desk half an hour before I go to bed. I sleep like a baby.

hb8only · 2017-10-16T08:36:57+00:00

deactivate data plan

mushroom_overlord · 2017-10-16T09:04:03+00:00

Just practice setting it down in another room for long periods of time. Go as long as you possibly can without it and if you give in then you just have to resolve to go longer next time. Hopefully it comes to a point where you no longer have to steel your will every time, you just set it down, do the stuff you have to do and then realize you don't need your phone anymore.

Also delete as many offending apps as you can so that when you do feel the need to use the phone for something there are less distractions. Like if you pick it up to read something important you don't want to be forced to browse memes for an hour by your primate brain.

topapito · 2017-10-16T10:48:07+00:00

Addiction = WEAKNESS

My intent here is not to call you weak. It is meant simply to give you a very solid reason for avoiding addiction to anything. Just put the fucking phone down and learn to ignore it.

Yes, be extremely mad at yourself for allowing anything to control you. This will give you the strength to just ignore it.

Carbone · 2017-10-16T14:28:51+00:00

There is an app that make you grow a tree the less you use it.

You could try it.

Open the app when you study and don't touch it to let it grow.

If this is a motivation trigger for you it could help you.

zopiro · 2017-10-15T21:28:11+00:00

Mt 5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Throw your phone away. Break it, set it on fire. Then go near nature and walk for hours without. Do this for an entire month.

race_car · 2017-10-15T20:07:30+00:00

grow some willpower. be a man.

anusbleach11111 · 2017-10-15T20:14:54+00:00

You stop being a faggot

Title	How to overcome phone addiction?
Author	SocialPowerPlayer
Upvotes	32
Comments	37
Date	October 15, 2017 7:25 PM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/76l28n/how_to_overcome_phone_addiction/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/how-to-overcome-phone-addiction.514 https://theredarchive.com/post/514

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