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Ask HN: How do I stop my iPhone addiction?

4 points by yogi123 ↗ HN
I’m spending hours and hours a day wasting time on my phone - twitter, Facebook, random googling.

It feels like my brain has been completely hijacked by a dopamine hit dynamic. Feels identical to alcoholism or drug abuse.

Every time I step away from my phone, I feel this urge to “drink” and start doom scrolling again.

This probably shaves 4-5 hours of every work day.

Have you found any apps, hacks, or methods to stop this cycle?

12 comments

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NtochkaNzvanova
Throw it in the trash.
vpaulus
"If it looks stupid, but it works, it ain't stupid." Sell your iPhone, buy a traditional (not-smart) phone. If you don´t have self control to stop this behavior by yourself then you need some drastic move.
totetsu
Yes. I am convinced that's the only sure to work answer. Remove the device entirely.
zhte415
You don't need an app to fix apps. Remove the apps from your phone. You're not using them for business unless that's in your job description. The world will keep turning. The apps in their current state, long morphed from founding ideas and ideals, exist to abuse you and all other users. Delete them.
skilled
The actual answer to your question is rather simple, find a way to fix the void in your life that is making you sit on your phone all day.

It's much harder to do than it is to say it but it's also a matter of fact.

tuga
Exactly, the problem isn't the phone or apps, the problem is the user.
arvindh-manian
At the end of the day, it's a fight between you and companies that are spending billions of dollars on top scientists and designers to make the most addictive apps possible. Definitely delete if you feel like it's adversely affecting your life.
zgs
The obvious solution is get get an Android phone. It won't help much but it sure will annoy you with the the myriad differences.

Better still, see if you can pick up an old Nokia 3310 second hand. It works fine as a phone, can do text messages and even has a couple of low quality games.

The solution to your problem is to get rid of the phone. It seems like your self control isn't sufficient in of its self to break the addiction (and it is an addiction).

WheelsAtLarge
No, Android won't help. It's just as easy to get the information you want. It takes very little to overcome the differences.

The current crop of flip phones will slow you down. You can still get the info put it's a bit painful having to use the keypad to input data. They are cheap too. You can get one for less than $50.

You should also pick an advantageous activity that you can do when you feel the need to use your phone. You can read a book. Write in a journal. Or whatever will benefit you.

I knew of a guy that carried around dumbbells so he could do a few bicep curls every time he had free time. He was ripped. It's something to think about.

wadayano
You remove the app, you will just end up using the website. Best thing is to just delete your account on whatever app you have the most problem with. You will come up with 1000 reasons not to though, because you are an addict, and that’s what addicts do.
tuga
I've deleted all my social media accounts about 5 years ago. I realized that the more I used social media, the more antisocial I became. Go out and socialize in person.
tuga
If you cannot control yourself you're an irrational animal that needs treatment. Please don't take my words on a bad way, we're all animals after all, but some more rational and controlled than others. Man up and control yourself.