Please join me in beating my screen addiction - there’s more to life!

[Slimmingstar]

Since I got an iPad in 2016 I’ve spent more and more time on my devices and I’m at the point now I’m completely addicted.

Mumsnet is a big swallower of my time. I’m ashamed to say I’ve spent probably 12 hours on the phone, iPad or TV today - this is fairly typical now and I need to change.

I used to read all the time and I miss it, but books don’t hold my attention now. I used to bake and cook and now I don’t. I used to do puzzles, read the paper, play with my pet mice......... now I spend much of the time when I’m in indoors and not working, on screens.

I only work part time and odd hours and I’m on a screen whenever I’m not walking the dog or at an exercise class. It has to stop.

I’m neglecting the house - it’s a mess and there’s no excuse. I’m neglecting my partner and most of all I’m neglecting myself.

I’ve put on weight. I have a very healthy diet, but I spend so much time sitting and staring at a screen, I’m just not burning the calories I used to with general moving about.

I’ve lost my sex drive - I’m sure, in part, due to the fact I’m just doing nothing all day..........

I turn to my phone the minute I wake up and I fall asleep holding it. I never used to be like this and I’ve never had an addiction before (other than to exercise).

I don’t want to get to the end of my life and regret wasting it on screens.

I’m going to post on this thread once a day to keep me accountable and I’d love for others to join me if you are addicted too, or just want to cut down.

I’m up for this too. My screen time is 3.5 hours a day. Was previously more but I’ve just got a job so am using it less. I’ve got an iPhone and there seems to be limits and downtime I can set. But not sure when I want to set it yet.

Toot if you have an iPhone go to settings and screentime. Mine is truly horrifying! 5hr 33mins daily average!

@WineGetsMeThroughIt

I'm following this with interest. I will admit I'm also super addicted. So much so it's been detrimental to my job. I'm on it constantly. Flicking between apps and checking for updates, browsing online shopping, social media. I don't know how to stop other than throw my phone off a bridge but I need it for many obvious reasons.

One thing I've heard of is a timed locked container - you can get them on amazon called a Phone Jail or something like that. You set the time, out your phone in it, close the lid and your phone is locked in there for however long you set the time. It's about £35 though which is stopping me from purchasing it

Parents of young children (or actually any age children full stop!) will not went to ever do this. I know I sure as heck wouldn’t

I find the best thing is actually turning my phone off for an hour during the day. It really makes you aware of how much you would normally pick it up. There is rarely something so urgent that you need your phone for that can't wait an hour.

When we put screentime controls on the DCs’ devices, I put them on mine. Daily time limits on specified social media, youtube and websites I like a lot (including mumsnet) (together, so if spend it all on MN no time for other things). And nothing after 9.30pm.

Has made a positive difference for me.

This thread is such a good idea, thank you. I am currently 5h per day, and was thinking I am just wasting my life away on screen. Inspired by this thread I will try to get it down to 4 hours this week, as a start.

This thread is a great idea. Lockdown hasn’t been good for my screen time habit as I’m keen to get back to a healthier life, more engaged with the real world.

Going out to lunch with DH today ( yay!) and I’ll leave my phone at home. Also leave my phone in the car on dog walks now. I live not having the temptation on me.

Our friends are Jewish orthodox and have no screens over the sabbath. I feel a bit envious of that boundary, it would do me good.

Just checking in!
I did well this morning - quick 3 minute check when I woke up. I resisted the temptation to check Facebook when in traffic! (V bad habit!!!)

[quote Slimmingstar]@ThursdayWeld yes, but I just over-ride them!

I think I need to approach this with a bit of a different approach than I’ll just not use it........... like when obese people say ‘I’ll just not eat cake’......... then they eat loads!
I need to approach it with a plan and to feel like I need to update on my progress........ even if no one else reads the updates! 😂[/quote]
You can't override a session once it is running.

In fact, I didn't answer you last night because I've set a session to start at 9pm And I couldn't log back in to Mumsnet (one of my banned sites in the session) until this morning!

@ThursdayWeld ooh! I think I’ll try the free trial, just to get me going.....

No harm to give it a go! I pay for the premium, so I can have more than one device at a time.

My Android phone dashboard tells me that I used it for 31 mins on Monday, 10 mins on Tues, 36 mins on Wed and 13 mins yesterday. So...I don't have a mobile phone issue.

I wish that were the full story, but unfortnately it isn't. The security settings on my laptop chirpily inform me "We've noticed that you usually use your device between 08:00 and 00:00" WFH, shopping, banking, all those talks and events I can now attend online - it all adds up. I am on not online all day every day, tbf, but it's still longer than I'd like.

A couple of things I find helpful:

1. I've more or less completely stopped looking at news sites. So much of it is just entertainment and clickbait, even on the 'respectable' sites like the Guardian and the BBC. If anything really important happens, someone will tell me, and I've been unaffected so far.
2. MN - I've been on and off here under a few different names over the last 13 years. The thing that has always led to me de-reging is how time-consuming this site can be, along with the way some users behave. The thing that always brings me back is the really good, practical advice on almost any issue under the sun. I had Covid-19 early on and this place was the only real support I got, chatting to other people, comparing symptoms and cheering each other up. I couldn't count how many good products and practical life tips I've stumbled upon on here over the years.

I think the key is staying away from the 'hot' areas of MN that drive traffic (I'm sure you know the boards I mean). Lurking whilst deregistered didn't really work for me as I was tempted to peek at these boards and it's frustrating to see the same posters ranting and raving about the same things and being rude to each other, day in day out. Low-key engagement with the 'nice' bits of the site suits me well, so that's what I intend to stick to from now on!

@Toottootdrivers

How do you check your stats? I definitely need to do something about this as well

Settings

@MrsLCSofLichfield

My Android phone dashboard tells me that I used it for 31 mins on Monday, 10 mins on Tues, 36 mins on Wed and 13 mins yesterday. So...I don't have a mobile phone issue.

I wish that were the full story, but unfortnately it isn't. The security settings on my laptop chirpily inform me "We've noticed that you usually use your device between 08:00 and 00:00" WFH, shopping, banking, all those talks and events I can now attend online - it all adds up. I am on not online all day every day, tbf, but it's still longer than I'd like.

A couple of things I find helpful:

1. I've more or less completely stopped looking at news sites. So much of it is just entertainment and clickbait, even on the 'respectable' sites like the Guardian and the BBC. If anything really important happens, someone will tell me, and I've been unaffected so far.
2. MN - I've been on and off here under a few different names over the last 13 years. The thing that has always led to me de-reging is how time-consuming this site can be, along with the way some users behave. The thing that always brings me back is the really good, practical advice on almost any issue under the sun. I had Covid-19 early on and this place was the only real support I got, chatting to other people, comparing symptoms and cheering each other up. I couldn't count how many good products and practical life tips I've stumbled upon on here over the years.

I think the key is staying away from the 'hot' areas of MN that drive traffic (I'm sure you know the boards I mean). Lurking whilst deregistered didn't really work for me as I was tempted to peek at these boards and it's frustrating to see the same posters ranting and raving about the same things and being rude to each other, day in day out. Low-key engagement with the 'nice' bits of the site suits me well, so that's what I intend to stick to from now on!

We sound similar. What are the less addictive parts of the site? I generally like a specific goal thread, like this, and Chat for randomness. I think I could introduce no Chat during working hours (that would be a start!). Will set it up this weekend.

I sometimes peek at Mental Health or Health but I don't think I am adding to my life that way so could stop them.

Avoid AIBU or Relationships.

Also agree re news. I am also much happier when I don't check the news.

I’m doing really well today.
I’ve been listening to the radio and radio 4 podcasts today instead of the tv/scrolling.

I’ve done all the bits of life admin (emails etc) I should have done ages ago. I’ve done several loads of washing, put stuff away, tidied round, called my sister.......... considering it’s chucking it down solidly, so I’m stuck indoors it’s easier than I thought it would be.

I’m planning on cooking shortly - just some bits to pop in the fridge for over the weekend.

The temptation to keep checking things is there, but I’m cracking on with doing other, more productive stuff.

How are you all doing today?

@MistySkiesAfterRain - you are quite right, AIBU and Relationships are total bearpits so I avoid them these days, and the coronavirus board is the absolute worst! I like Chat and Housekeeping - threads about getting stuff done, organising, little insights into other people's lives and preoccupations, that kind of thing. I'm also a fan of the Christmas board, but it's an acquired taste: not everyone starts getting excited about the festive season straight after the August bank holiday! I think these boards are less addictive because they are lower impact, less adrenaline as people aren't fighting and abusing each other. I did notice that someone managed to start a big fight on a thread about the contents of people's fridges at Christmas, though - there's always one

Following!!

I'm terrible because I do it around my children and they are very aware! I am addicted and need to limit my screen time to evenings desperately.

Well done @Slimmingstar for having a more productive day today. Its so easy to get caught up on the phone.

There’s an interesting Stacey Dooley podcast on R4 about screen addiction and how surprisingly easy it is to beat!

@Slimmingstar

There’s an interesting Stacey Dooley podcast on R4 about screen addiction and how surprisingly easy it is to beat!

Will look out for this one. I have been watching tv quietly on my phone. I imagine my stars are horrendous

Good tip on Housekeeping threads. I did a similar approach to Facebook and only follow local gardening groups. I don't even have a garden 😂.

Great progress @Slimmingstar, well done.

Can you send a link to the Stacey Dooley podcast?

Google “Stacey Dooley Fresh Starts: social”

My tip: looking at the biological profile of addiction you need to replace one with another. Try as hard as you can to find something new you can really throw yourself into that you get a buzz and a hit from, like training for a marathon, a new kind of sport or exercise, betting on yourself to lose X amount of weight using an online app, writing a book, whatever it is. Something that you can throw your focus onto. Those dopamine pathways will be screaming out for a replacement for the screen so you need to give it something!

Also a kindle Paperwhite - technically it's a screen but it's a book, really. You could promise yourself a load of kindle Paperwhite time guilt free if you're reading great books.