Has anyone used a phone lock to manage their screen time?

[Redfluffyblanket]

Something like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rppiup-Phone-Lock-Box-Timer/dp/B0F6SYTM5Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=12DWJ2B2182RE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Xv1W6-gLdBC_M-5sW_jPfTvd0PHvqfcQQeoAgj4TGoq7h6h8BkzwOrvO9cf5QHtv.9XwcnvxkgDwOKny49J35uZIt3BOjDx0WIO1ZbkUyV1o&dib_tag=se&keywords=phone+lock+box&qid=1792405200&sprefix=phone+lock+box%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-9

There are others at various price points. I strongly suspect I have ADHD, but it could be straightforward too much phone. Any success stories?

I did a 'Digital Detox' last year (people always laugh when I say that! 🤷). I was able to limit myself to an hour a day (apart from work!). I did feel the benefit as in the 'extra' time but I think I found it easier as it was summer time and I am outside a lot then anyway.

Are you not able to just turn your phone off for a while and gradually build up on it?

I'm currently using an app (ironically) called AppBlock which is helping a bit.

I used to work in the office and leave my phone in the car but now I'm wfh I need extra help stopping myself from getting distracted. It's easy to slip from thinking I can just do a bit of admin while waiting for a meeting to start or if I'm on hold to realising I have zoned out for a chunk of time. Now I have blocked apps from 8.30 - 5pm on work days. I'm tempted to pay for the full version and set other 'off' windows, particularly around bedtime / getting out of bed.

My problem is I do need to keep it on and to hand for phobecalls, but then I fiddle. These locks allow you to take calls but nothing else.

I've tried that and I just use the web versions to get round it!

I have blocked the chrome browser on my phone as one of the blocked apps for exactly that reason!

You can put two web browsers on your phone. Have one dedicated for all your useful stuff, and one for facebook / Mumsnet / whatever other timesinks. Only have the passwords for those things in the timesink browser, so you can't log into them from the other browser. Add the timesink browser to Appblock.

It helped me anyway.

I block everything while I'm working except SMS/ calls / WhatsApps dor urgent messages. I have a doodle pad on my desk for when I'm waiting and would ordinarily pick up my phone to kill time. Slowly seeing improvement on work days at least. Need to do better in the evenings though!