Does anyone have any idea how to stop using the phone and laptop so much?

[lili]

Does anyone feel like they live on their phone or laptop? Constantly in the internet.

I feel like I am always on what's app and the internet. I want to stop. How do I stop doing this? Feel trapped by the cybernetic world.

Who else has this problem?

 

[onlyanimalsaregood]

Delete all the social media accounts it's a step. Then you have to find something to fill that time.

 

[Manaaja]

You need something to replace it.

Imagine you went to a restaurant. And they had three things to eat: good but unhealthy food, healthy shit and healthy piss. You would pick that tasty food everytime, wouldn't you? But if you were offered to choose from "good food, good food2, good food3" you'd most likely change whether you take good food1 or 2 or 3.

So long as using the phone or laptop is the most enjoyable thing for you to do, you will continue to do it. Your brain will choose "enjoyable" over "healthy" or "enjoyable in the future".

Phones and laptops are excellent, they help you forget your shitty life, your shitty environment, and they can offer so much for you. You want a dog but can't get one? Just play a dog sim or watch videos of dogs. You want to travel to India but can't? Just watch videos of India. Lonely? Post on forums/reddit/twitter/youtube/twitch etc.

One thing you could do is buy an Oculus. That way you'd still be playing video games or surfing on the internet or watching videos/movies/youtube, but at least you'd most likely do it while standing and thus get exercise. You could also play exercise games, I used to love playing boxing games and so I could combine playing a video game and getting a good workout. Also, you most likely couldn't be able to keep it on your head for longer than an hour or two per session (and it would run out of charge anyway) so would get breaks that way.

Or just make a habit of doing one thing for even a few minutes every day. Something like "Every time I make one post on SS, I rise up, do 10 burpees/leglifts/stretches or walk around the house/apartment". It might seem small, but small things make big things. It will take about 3 weeks but then it will become an enjoyable hobby.

I used to run for a hobby. It was hard at first, but then I just couldn't go a day without running. It takes time for things to start feeling nice.

And if nothing else helps, one thing that helps me everytime, is asking other users to kick my ass. One time I had to clean, so I asked other members to tell me to clean, and iirc, three different people told me to stop being a lazyass and go clean, and I just automatically went and cleant lol. Same with exercise, I told someone I did 10 lifts (can't remember the English name) and they told me I can do better and I felt embarrassed and went and did 10 more lol.

I'll actually follow my own advice for once and go exercise for 5 minutes. I should get stronger sides and stomach.

EDIT: Oh and get sports tracker on your phone. I was really proud of myself when I managed to stand for 1 hour a few days ago using sports tracker and seeing the calories burn and I thought I wouldn't sit down until it had been one hour.

 

[tryingtoescape]

Finally, this question. I struggle with this so much. It is so frustrating, this constant need for stimulation. When I am not scrolling, watching, chatting, I go even more insane than I've become. The anxiety is at an unbearable constant level. I can't be alone with my thoughts. It's such an abnormal level. I can't even be alone with my thoughts for 5 minutes. This is an Si trigger. The OCD thoughts, racing, spiraling, screaming in my brain.

The worst thing is I cannot walk now. I used to go on long walks, and it was one of my favorite things. I contracted a terrible nerve injury so I'm unable to do one of my favorite things now. I can't even go outside, do simple tasks around the house. I feel like climbing up the walls, jumping out of my skin. The restlessness, agitation, frustration, fear, dread, is unbearable in severity I can't even put into words.

 

[Pluto]

You need something to replace it.

This is true.

I used to work with young children and we tended to avoid introducing electronic devices since they are a gateway to mental hell. Likewise, the only food options on offer were healthy. Keeps things simple.

Occasionally, there are 'good' activities involving electronic devices. Useful videos, keeping in touch with the right people, etc. So it is a question of discarding the vast quantities of junk.

 

[houseofleaves]

Does anyone feel like they live on their phone or laptop? Constantly in the internet.

me, but… isn't having a phone a… super cool thing?
i mean… you're feeling down? people to chat with, at your fingertips. you're unwell? google your symptoms anytime. miss your friends? look at their social media accounts. want to read a rare book? it's there. need to remember something forever? camera, notes, recorder are ready. phones and internet are a blessing, imho. .

 

[lili]

Thank you all this is really good advice.

I need to figure out.

me, but… isn't having a phone a… super cool thing?
i mean… you're feeling down? people to chat with, at your fingertips. you're unwell? google your symptoms anytime. miss your friends? look at their social media accounts. want to read a rare book? it's there. need to remember something forever? camera, notes, recorder are ready. phones and internet are a blessing, imho. .

Yeah I just feel in my personal case it's nothing really good. I feel I'm getting exhaustive social stimulation. I do like this website though. But from other stuff.

I want to try if I can figure out a way to disconnect from the world essentially.

Which is why I want to unplug from what's app somehow as well.

 

[nooo2]

Mindlessly indulging into instant gratification activities can result in your brain not being able to enjoy anything else until you ''detox'' from those activities. But there is no secret answer, you just need to find something else to do. Pick out a few hobbies that you've always wanted to get into but just haven't been able to because of your time spent on the internet.

 

[cooldude420]

There are programs that you can use that can shut down websites and programs. Typically a search for "website blocker productivity" will help. Like this site here gives a list

For phone, literally turn it off. Shove it under your bed or someplace inconvenient. Maybe use the parent lock but give someone else the password.

 

[whatevs]

Get real life friends, a fulfilling job, a romantic partner, solve the underlying mental and physical illness...

 

[mandyjohnuk]

There is only one simple solution for this.
Put a hammer through your devices.
If you don't physically have them you cannot use them.

 

[Weebster]

What else is worth doing? Do you have the money required to enjoy the real world? (Restaurants, Movie theaters, Traveling, Bars, Clubs, etc)

 

[Niko66]

It's a problem for me too but what's the alternative? For me it's being miserable with my thoughts, I don't see a way to fix my life so I don't see the cycle stopping. I can't be fucked.

 

[SuicidallyCurious]

Had this problem for a long time and to this day.

You will never fully be free of it because the internet and devices offer so much choice

Best advice I can give is take walks and leave it at home. But this won't be for everyone because so many places in the world are ghetto where you can't even walk

I don't even take phone free walks , just listen to ambient music while walking

 

[lili]

Had this problem for a long time and to this day.

You will never fully be free of it because the internet and devices offer so much choice

Best advice I can give is take walks and leave it at home. But this won't be for everyone because so many places in the world are ghetto where you can't even walk

I don't even take phone free walks , just listen to ambient music while walking

I have thought about this but unfortunately I can't get anywhere without my phone because I have no sense of spatial awareness.

I also have to be replying to emails all day and that is very annoying.

But sometimes I've thought about just leaving for the whole day with no phone.

The main problem is what do I do if I'm at the house all day which what usually happens?

What else is worth doing? Do you have the money required to enjoy the real world? (Restaurants, Movie theaters, Traveling, Bars, Clubs, etc)

I don't have a lot of money but I do have some to enjoy these pleasures. I guess the core issue after reading responses is I spend too much time at my house. I want to enjoy all those things but when I'm depressed I stay inside because I can't do anything and when I'm the opposite all I want to do is write, read watch movies and study, so for me every justification of going outside is an excuse of not doing work (writing) but ironically still get distracted by the internet.

My brain just sucks in general.

 

[onlyanimalsaregood]

Get real life friends, a fulfilling job, a romantic partner, solve the underlying mental and physical illness...

That's sound wonderful but seems impossible.

 

[cooldude420]

I post about this too much and I know I must sound like a broken record at times.

The app Waking Up offers a scholarship where you can get the app for a year. It is some fantastic meditation teaching. Sam Harris, who is the driving force behind the app has a PhD in neuroscience and is an atheist. Meditation isn't itself the cure. It is just another tool to use amongst many. I highly recommended it.

 

[SuicidallyCurious]

I post about this too much and I know I must sound like a broken record at times.

The app Waking Up offers a scholarship where you can get the app for a year. It is some fantastic meditation teaching. Sam Harris, who is the driving force behind the app has a PhD in neuroscience and is an atheist. Meditation isn't itself the cure. It is just another tool to use amongst many. I highly recommended it.

Sam Harris is an intellectual gem

 

[cooldude420]

The fact that he provides top tier meditation teaching for free to those that can't afford it. Is something that I believe anyone can respect.

 

[SuicidallyCurious]

The fact that he provides top tier meditation teaching for free to those that can't afford it. Is something that I believe anyone can respect.

He also absolutely refuses to apologize for Islam . It's quite possible the lack of a muscular secular left is responsible for the hellscape we are in today. When "religious diversity" becomes more important than the truth the world goes south fast

 

[drseuss]

Have you considered getting a job or studying something you enjoy in your free time? I also try to use website blocking browser extensions and time limiting features on my phone and laptop. Additionally, I use the UBlock Origin browser extension to block certain features of websites that I find particularly unpleasant or triggering. For example, if I didn't want to see reactions on posts, the reactions element could be blocked. I do found random things triggering, so this was very helpful for me.

I have found that I am more productive and generally in a more pleasant mood when I spend my free time in practical activities that don't involve the internet. Of course, I would still need to use the these devices for other means, so it would require some self-control. https://www.reddit.com/r/nosurf/ has some tips and lists the multitude of benefits of abstaining from internet surfing.

All the best with your endeavors.