Comment by Abishek_Muthian | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Abishek_Muthian | Hacker News Reader

Abishek_Muthian

I personally don't buy this premise of 'Improving your lifestyle, by including friction in our products'. Screen size is not limiting someone from not leaving Facebook, Instagram, TikTok etc. If they don't want to use it, they can uninstall it on their existing device. These kind of devices just prey upon compulsive buyers hoping 'If I buy X, my life will magically get better'.

Buying such tiny screen phones at this point of time would just limit the productivity as an when needed, if that's all one needed they could dig up their 10 year old android device with 2.5" screen or better buy a current feature phone with 4G and 30 days standby time for fraction of the price.

IMO, If a new smartphone manufacturer wants to enter the space with the premise of 'improving lifestyle', then perhaps they should build devices for pure Linux smartphone OS like these[1][2] where productivity is available when needed via web apps, supposed lifestyle culprit apps aren't available anyways and help build a better ecosystem.

[1]https://store.pine64.org/product/pinephone-community-edition...

[2]https://postmarketos.org/blog/2020/06/15/pinephone-postmarke...

[3]https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/

I kind of agree. I’ve experimented with every gray screen/app organizing/focus blocker technique on the hype train, and in the end it’s mostly window dressing: the hard part is breaking bad habits.

I had some really horrible habits and distractions with my phone. Anytime that I should be focused on someone else or something else, I leave my phone at home - or in these days in another room since we don’t go out and just have my Apple Watch on me.

I disagree. Humans are creatures of habit and environment definitely plays into that. Change the environment and you change the habits.

Take someone from the Midwest suburbs where they have to drive everywhere and move them to NYC. Instantly they will be getting their 10k steps with no problem.

Get rid of all the junk food in your house, 95% of your eating problems just went away.

This phone was like that for me (maybe not for you!). I was seriously addicted to the Internet, like seriously browse HN and reddit for a couple hours a day everyday. Youtube maybe a couple more. Now unless I'm working or streaming a movie I rarely even open my laptop and it just sits in a cupboard. My life has drastically improved after working to rid myself of Internet addition. It's a serious problem for many people. Getting a phone where I could remove the Web from it completely was a huge part of that.

Any tips on dealing with internet addiction?

For me it's about stopping me from myself. Willpower is nice but not giving yourself the chance is even better. A drug addict with willpower can keep some coke and not use it, but it's better to not have it in the first place.

To that end, the biggest single thing I have done is to remove the web browser and all entertainment apps from my phone. That has done wonders for me and my ADD. I never reach for my phone unless someone calls/texts me or I need to accomplish a task. Try it out for a month I doubt you will want to go back. My mind definitely has improved as a result.

I also put my laptop away in a drawer when I am not using it.

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