Ask HN: I just turned on noprocrast. What are you doing for mental health?

3 points·jmward01··3 comments

What strategies is the HN crowd using to help preserve mental health in a turbulent moment in history?

Using Apple Screentime on my phone I’m blocking Reddit, limiting HN use to about 10 minutes/day, and limiting Safari to I think 30. Someone else has the PIN for screentime so I can’t circumvent. On my MacBook I don’t have those restrictions because it’s not a temptation for whatever reason. But I do lock it down at 9pm

I am using ScreenZen to lock my MacBook from 11:35-1:35 every weekday to force myself to workout, spend time with family, do misc errands/chores that are best done during the day, eat healthy, etc.

This system isn’t perfect but it’s very good progress

I wouldn't say I've done this for my mental health, but more because my eyes are two garbanzo beans that badly need a break: I leave my phone on the charger after 5pm and I don't pick it up until the next morning. This is the only thing that's been effective for me in reducing screen time. Apps and Apple's Screentime were just bandaids that I'd eventually peel off after a week and dozens of "just a quick peek while I'm waiting for XYZ."

Read widely.

Daily I check The Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Mail (got to know what they are burning at), NYT, WaPo, Register, Private Eye, Skimfeed, Brutalist, The Times, Intercept, Spectator, Unherd, BBC and others in reddit and of course here.

I do this because one viewpoint is never enough but I hope that many angles helps.

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