Digital Minimalism: What are the alternative to screen time? | Hacker News Reader

Digital Minimalism: What are the alternative to screen time?

58 pointsSMAAART53 comments

What are the best practices for ditching screen time outside work?

No Social Media of any type

No Streaming anything, no web surfing, no consuming any media that requires a screen (phone, tablet, monitor, TV)

What are the alternatives?

Out and about, preferably in nature (and not drinking at a bar)

Reading a book, the old fashion way with ink on paper). Kindle might be OK, so a tablet, or computing device for reading. How about AudioBooks?

Writing? Analog/digital.

Meditation? Hello Zen!

Gym?

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My favorite non-screen moments outside of work are;

1) exercise, with company is the best but doing it alone sure beats going down a YouTube rabbit hole. I usually do yoga, running and swimming but am taking a break from running and swimming due to a hip injury.

2) purposeful conversations with friends and family members, just checking in on people and asking how they are doing is nice.

3) writing in my diary (I do this in my laptop so it technically is screen time), the effects of talking through my thoughts and emotions increase my self awareness and put me in a better position to take care of myself. I put my editor to full screen so I'm not distracted.

My father worked on old cars in his garage after work and on the weekends. On the weekend, friends would flow through for a chat and to help out a bit. Sometimes a friend would bring over one of their own projects. Dad's shop was a minor social hub. He never seemed to finish any of his projects, but I'm not sure that was the point. He wanted something to work on during his spare time.

This isn't for everyone, of course. He had loads of money sunk into tools and he needed a house with a shop (larger than a garage.) He did get some return by flipping some of his projects.

I don't trust myself to do car repairs without Googling the steps or watching YouTube videos. :)

Still worth it!

Along these same lines, buy a used, trailerable sailboat. You probably won't do as much sailing as you expect, but you can spend lots of afternoons doing little upgrades and repairs.

This is a great thought. Some of my most memorable times have been wrestling with my old project car in the shed with some music playing. It doesn’t matter if you don’t do an expert job, but what matters is the effort and learning.

I have become interested in woodworking and have built some picture frames, shelves, shop furniture and have other projects in mind.

I do enjoy heading out into the garage, turning on some music on and just doing stuff with my hands. Your thoughts here about your father are enlightening because the experience of just doing something is what I enjoy. I need to focus less on the outcomes and more about spending time because I enjoy it.

There are a lot of online narratives (maybe more so in hacker forums like this) about how so-and-so started making a thing and now they quit their day job and do that professionally. Or in woodworking there are a lot of YT channels where the potential of replacing day job is there.

My goal should be focused on happiness being in the shop and if some usable piece of woodworking is the output that is a bonus.

I was surprised by how much I learned on a recent episode of the “ologies” podcast on “eudemonology” - science of happiness. [0] evidentally a big factor in people’s happiness is whether they feel that they have adaquete free time. So maybe just having a hobby is just recognizing that you have some amount of time to yourself. Good episode.

[0] https://www.alieward.com/ologies/eudemonology

Doing things with other people.

Before modern screen-ruled life, people spent more time with other people. Chatting in the pub, eating dinner together and talking.

Other than that, just talking a walk and noticing things on the walk. I've walked around the same park for years and I still notice new things when I go there.

Rock climbing or some other fear inducing hobby will cause you to forget about screens completely for the duration of the activity. Feeling your life and safety are at risk has a way of focusing the mind.

paragliding.

Not much time, or inclination, to browse farcebook when you're literally in the clouds.

I haven't figured out everything, but here is how I don't crave `screentime` as much as most other people.

Reading is a good option. Physical books are still better, but I find it equally lovely to read on a Kindle. I invested in a Kindle Oasis, and I know it is pricey, but this is totally worth it. I try to make sure I have enough books around so I can pick up my choices. I also tend to read multiple books at a time.

I also write with a physical pen and paper, no screen distraction. Sometime in 2018, I started to maintain a physical notebook writing for my two daughters. It is on my table, not hidden. My elder daughter has seen it and reads it at times, and we would talk. Why do I have a rather complex handwriting style? Why am I training her to write regularly and develop her own style of writings -- etc.?

An Apple Watch is surprisingly good to detach you away from your phone. I never carry my phone on my walks or cycling, which I do as part of me just `inspecting` what's happening around the community I live in.

The phone is set to perpetually Silent and DO NOT DISTURB[1] from 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM (there is no way to set 24hours per day). I set up a group called `!DND` and added those who can call me - selected family members, few friends, and selected business people. I have come to a stage where if I had my phone sound on by mistake and it rings, or that snapping sound while taking pictures, it is foreign to me.

I do not have any apps with streaming updates from people - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Even if I had them, they should have been offloaded by now. The idea is not just about NOT having them on your phone but not having them as a regular must-have thing in your life.

I used to do photography, and it was very fulfilling. However, with better Phone cameras since iPhone 6, I have stopped. I'm going to get back to photography with a separate camera.

I have also been transitioning to mostly plain text for whatever is possible in my quest for digital minimalism. A lot of learning and fascinating things are happening.

1. https://no.phone.wtf

I recently started getting into photography as a hobby. I found that once I got used to carrying a camera around with me I no longer felt the need to have a phone with "an amazing camera" and was able to downgrade. This helped a lot in decreasing screentime on my phone when I was out of the house.

Do something for someone else that makes them know they're loved, appreciated or at the very least seen.

I'm convinced even one genuine comment can profoundly impact the course of history.

One moment can change a day.

One day can change a life.

One life can change the world.

Meditation. I usually do it spontaneously for 30 seconds to a few minutes at a time.

Going for walks. Can be combined with meditation.

Cleaning up the block I live on at the moment, or the space I live in. Organizing.

Sleeping. Sleeping is so underrated, yet it is the primary mode in which our bodies repair and renew, preparing us for the tasks we want to take on. It's also how health is restored.

Reading a book, or reading one page from ten different books.

Interacting with other people, in person, face-to-face, in whatever mode you feel comfortable with today's increased vigilance on personal contact.

Just put your phone down, take your keys, lock the door, and walk in a random direction, until you are too tired to keep walking, then turn back.

Raise a family. Sure, step one is fun… but the rest is pretty cool, too.

You’re my hero

Precisely what I wanted to say. Have a child and you won't complain about not knowing what to do with your time any more.

But it's true that the rest is pretty cool too.

Sailing.

Low tech, keep the gadgets off (other than VHF 16, and, if it's safe). No sound other than the water hitting the hull. It's quiet like when it snows.

Totally relaxing and rejuvenating. Offline.

You won't want to come back to land.

Get a road bike. Start small rides and watch the addiction grow.

Reading.

Walks to think.

A girlfriend who likes to bowl, ride horses, garden, hike, visit family, ...

And another girlfriend who likes to ballroom dance (all three of us take lessons together), among other things, and has two fun kids.

Organizing and improving my living environment always puts me in a good mood, even if its small things.

And travel.

I grew up without TV because my dad is unusual. I get bored if my brain isn't fully engaged.

Cultivate an awareness of how bored you really are when you death scroll. You are bored, and alleviating it by gambling on finding the next valuable page to read. It is the gambling aspect that makes it so psychologically sticky. Learn to abhor that disease!

EDIT: I also do a lot of amateur mathematics, formalizing things that seem like they need it, and diving into geometric algebra and other neat topics. That can super engage my brain at all hours, walking, driving, etc.

And like nature, I am changed by dealing with an aspect of reality I cannot control, but can continually explore and learn from.

How did you manage to get two girlfriends? Do they get along? Have you written about your experience anywhere? I'd love to read it.

I just am up front that I like having multiple girlfriends. Also that I don't date anyone or do anything that would upset whoever I am already with. I.e. I am open and honest, am able to commit, and am loyal when I do.

It has not been an impediment. Obviously some ladies would never share. But it is surprising how many will if they really like you, like who you are with, and it is factored into who you are from the beginning.

A long conversation. Tell a great story, or find someone to listen to. Talk to random people about random things for no particular reason.

The world is a lot more curious when you ask more questions.

One of the best thing you could do is at the same time the thing everyone tries to avoid: get bored and think.

If it's too difficult, try taking a slow walk while you think (in nature if you can, like you mentionned).

It will help your brain take better decisions.

It will help you when boredom is out of your control.

It will help you live with your inner self.

Sketching is an option anywhere if you carry a notebook and pencil.

I think an old school Kindle would be reasonable given it's decent to read on but miserable for doing anything else distracting.

Start a small hobby farm. It is physical (often exercise though you can design to preferences) and involves gaining visceral experience of the ebbs and flows of the seasons, connecting you more to the ecosphere. The vegetables, flowers, or other plants you grow sustain you and can reduce your environmental footprint. If you keep poultry you can start replacing some of your meat consumption with eggs. You can involve community or not according to your socialization thresholds.

To me the term "Digital Minimalism" doesn't even make a lot of sense, if you compare it to "normal" Minimalism.

Many things only have one thing in common, being digital, but why would you lump them together? Sure, you kinda sit in front of a screen. But do you really? Nobody includes any of these things: making a phone call over a mostly digital line/voip, listening to a podcast or music with your completely digital device.

Maybe it's just a new name for what our parents told us in the times before the computer? "Don't sit in your room/in front of the TV all day".

End of rant about the name. Start of rant about the thing.

Interests change. Nobody can tell you what to do if you think spending time at a computer/tablet is what you want to do. If you only do it because you have no ideas? Simple. Try out every suggestion someone throws at you. But if you have fun doing it, why change the habit? (Let's assume it's still a healthy amount of time.)

But to maybe answer the question a bit: for me it's mountain biking or cycling in general, meeting friends, and that's also why there hasn't been a lot of it the last 2 summers, so I'm fully embracing the screen time and simply hoping that next summer will be better.

> What are the best practices...

It largely depends on why you are spending more time than you want on screens. If you have an addiction to the screens, I would suggest counseling/therapy. Meditation will help slow you down so you can listen to your thoughts and emotions, which can help you figure out why you're addicted.

Or maybe you aren't addicted but it's a compulsive thing. In that case, keep the phone and computer (and any device you don't want to look at) far from you, and inconvenient to get to. Maybe even lock them away in your safe for a time. But still find out why you're experiencing this compulsion, either with self reflection or counseling.

If you look at screens more than you'd like because you're bored, find a list of hobbies online (about a year ago I found 2 or 3 lists that had a lot of options, and altogether had over 200 unique hobby suggestions). Go through the list(s) and make a shorter list of the ones that were most interesting to you. Start pursuing those.

If you just want some ideas though, here are some that come to mind that are probably the most beneficial, in no particular order:

- Mindfulness practice

- Workout and/or martial arts

- Practice cooking

- Gardening (it's amazing to cook food that came from your own garden)

- Long walks in nature

- Anything artistic: play an instrument, paint, draw, etc

- Woodworking

- Archery

Running, esp trail running to get out into. Buy a mountain bike and go out into the trails.

Making and fixing things is a very rewarding way to spend your time. A great way to develop your maker-fu is to join your local Hacker/makerspace:

https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/List_of_Hacker_Spaces

The availability of equipment and expertise at a makerspace allow you to accelerate your learning, enhance your skillset and create things better and more quickly than using just your own gear and learning from YouTube.

Perhaps more importantly, a Makerspace turns making into a social pursuit. You'll meet new people with a genuine interest in your projects. You may even be able to help others learn things that you're already good at!

Playing music. Playing an instrument is a great alternative to staring at a screen.

Board games and pen and paper role playing games can suck up inordinate amounts of time!

Some things that work for me:

- keep good magazines laying around places where you would normally reach for your phone (near the couch, desk, bed, and let's be honest the bathroom)

- play a musical instrument

- walk my dog

- slow transportation (traveling by foot or bicycle)

- surfing and basketball

Kiting/Powerkiting is pretty cool because you form a hobby around the movement of the air, which often times many of us ignore. Once you start kiting you notice an entire dimension of nature and its quirks.

Do you actually want to ditch screen time outside work or do you just think it’s a good idea for some reason?

If you really don’t want to do it, you won’t do it. If you really do want to do it, you will — you won’t need some secret trick or activity.

Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with screen time outside of work. Sure I go outside and run/bike a lot. But I like screens and I like looking at them. I’m not going to fight that.

I used to build sheds/landscaping projects, these days it's mostly gardening and pool leisure/upkeep. Hanging out with my 3 year old human.

Try printed news papers instead of news apps or sites, Apart from addressing your goals of Digital Minimalism the printed newspapers often have robust editorial practices if the publishing house has been in existence for say >100 years.

> Kindle might be OK

In case you want to read HN on Kindle too, I got you covered[1].

[1] https://hntokindle.com

Photography, with a camera. Just go for a walk with a camera and look for things to photograph. You'll get much better at seeing the world.

Woodworking

Work at a shelter or kitchen for the homeless, assist a disabled person, read books to the blind, or just have a sincere conversation with someone who seems lonely.

Helping other people tends to take not only your eyes off a screen, but also your mind off yourself. That helps you develop more empathy and tolerance for others, which in turn helps you.

surfing is great lol anything on the water should be good though. i like painting though i do use a laptop to pull up reference images. magic the gathering is fun, should be able to find some games at a local game store. lsd is a good time

Writing, either analog or air gapped. I'm a heavy user of an offline Kindle but dead trees are better. And grab long thinking walks from Thoreau and Darwin.

Greetz from a former ADT'ish.

Find something to do with your hands: knitting, carving, whatever. bring it with you. if you’re sitting around bored, reach for that instead of your phone.

Take up shooting: rifle, pistol, archery, or slingshot. After a while, everything becomes a target: TV, computer, tablet, and cellphone.

Cooking and baking can be pretty rewarding. If you're into BBQ that's a great activity that takes a lot of time and attention.

I'm about to take up Rocketry again.

Find something much larger than you to do, that has nothing to do with computers..

Elephants or grain barges.

Yeah.

If you want outdoors - gravel bikes are great fun and it beats riding on tarmac, dealing with SUVs.

Walking, running, or hiking nature trails.

Gardening.

Prior to the pandemic, I was doing about 6 hours of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu per week. Exercise and socializing. I’d like to get back to it eventually, but the risk/reward isn’t there yet for me and my family. I’m also concerned that my gym has gone a bit right-wing cultish, so…

Board games

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