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Comment by andai | Hacker News Reader

I found it difficult to work when connected to the internet. (Unmedicated ADHD.)

So I'd turn it off before sleep (as part of basic "hygiene"), and keep it off (router and phone) for at least the first hour the next day.

I'd wake up and begin working immediately. Usually I'd get so much done this way, that I'd choose to stay offline for a few more hours voluntarily.

This routine I developed to deal with a disability is now being promoted by YouTube influencers as a productivity secret used by billionaires, which I find endlessly amusing!

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> So I'd turn it off before sleep (as part of basic "hygiene"), and keep it off (router and phone) for at least the first hour the next day.

How do you do this technically? Shutting down phone and router (so many things complain when no WiFi, you need a phd to disable iPhones), alarms, and still a way to be reached in case of emergency?

I unplugged the router from the wall, and turned off my phone. I also moved it to another room, as it's been demonstrated to make you stupider even when it's switched off. (I think it has to do with the subconscious expectation of constant interruptions associated with the physical object.)

The mere presence of a smartphone reduces basal attentional performance

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36256-4

The only thing I missed was documentation, so I downloaded offline docs. Then occasionally I missed Google. So I just kept a list of stuff to Google an hour or two later when I came back online.

I made sure my work was full of variety so if I got completely stuck on one task (rare), I could just switch gears.

I think while things may complain simply pulling the power to the ISP modem/router and doing a full shutdown of any phone would replicate what they are doing. If you wanted you could have a separate AP from the router that could stay running even when the router loses internet to keep the local network running, but if we're being honest... does it really matter?

Most devices might complain, but most will simply stop working silently and then reconnect when they have a chance. Some might need to be power cycled because they gave up trying to connect (I had a smart garage door that had bad connectivity and would sometimes do a version of this).

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