There’s a whole World Wide Web and I only look at a handful of websites and apps. Left unchecked I will scroll these until my thumbs bleed. My phone has gone from a useful tool to an addictive vice, which, I have the self control of a crack addict towards.
Somewhere in the last two years during the COVID lockdowns and all that hullabaloo, my phone finally became an extension of my human form. Whether it’s a podcast in my ears or the unrelenting news and social cycles in my palm, I was plugged in my whole waking day.
The virtual world was decaying my reality. My work, relationships, hobbies and health were in decline. A foggy brain oversaturated with trivial and irrelevant information.
I had to take a stand against it to stop it ruining my life and regain my natural senses and thought – here’s how I unplugged.
“Happy people produce, bored people consume”
Stephen Richard
Parental (girlfriend) Controls
No I am not a child, but, desperate times call for desperate measures. This is easily the most life changing solution for me. Me and my girlfriend both installed Google’s Family Link app to our phones whereby in effect I was the child and she was the parent.
It was setup in less than 15 minutes and allowed me to do the following:
- Block all social apps on my phone and any others being downloaded without a password.
- Limit my use of certain apps that were nice to haves to 15 minutes a day i.e. Chrome and Strava.
- Keep apps on my phone that are of true utility to me, and, not used to distract me from tasks at hand.
K Safe
The K Safe is a lockable cookie jar where you set a timer to lock the jar. I first seen this in the doco, The Social Dilemma. I haven’t smashed it open with a hammer yet!
With the parental controls in place, you may think I do not need to this. But somedays even the Weather App will do for a nice distraction.
Meditation and Journalling
Cutting all the bullshit and the woo-woo, 5 minutes in the morning breathing in for 4 seconds, holding for 4 and breathing out for 4 sets me up for a more present day when I’m focussed and not reaching for fast food and fast information.
Again no woo-woo, but, 5 minutes journalling a plan of my day and how I can improve on yesterday heightens my self control and keeps me grounded.
“Everyday stand guard at the door of your mind”
Jim Rohn
Exercise and Walks
I do the above anyways, but, always distracted by a podcast. I wasn’t getting the benefit of walking a nice trail or the insight from the podcast. What was the point?
A run/walk just alone with my thoughts is more beneficial than a run or walk with a podcast. It’s cliché – but who needs therapy when you can run?
Cold Showers
The initial “F**k! that’s cold”and hyperventilating is enough to bring you to your senses.
Not to cover what has already been said by Wim Hoff and the Ilk, but, a cold blast first thing there is no way you can stay on auto-pilot.
“When you go into the cold, you cannot think. You have to be”
Wim Hoff
I’m far from perfect, and, I still go through my 15 minutes of internet use like a tramp with a bag of chips. Like other addicts, the first thing I reach for in the morning is my phone (insert other addiction) but at least I’m dodging someone’s suspect political views or some sh*t TikTok dance.
With imperfection
Nick
PS – further reading now you’re free:
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.