Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction?

Posted by Max_Ehrlich on Monday November 01, 2021 @08:09AM
from the ask-hn dept.

While I am not stealing money to surf Reddit, I am slacking off my personal projects to do so. I would like to cut it completely out of my life.

I would like a way to stop being addicted to browsing Reddit, especially r/popular. I have a Firefox browser extension that thankfully blocks access to r/popular, r/all etc. but I still search up random subreddits in the search bar.

The biggest problem is my phone where I have unlimited access (I browse even despite the terrible mobile browser experience).

I would like to only use Reddit in a search-engine form: I can only search for specific things but not start to just browse it regularly.

I'd love your opinions on how to eliminate this addiction from my life because it also does not fit in with the person I want to be. It's not something that guy would do.

( 7 comments | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction? by sushsjsuauahab on Monday November 01, 2021 @08:38AM (#29065933)

Set a goal to work on your personal project non-stop for 30 minutes.

If you need to google something, exercise personal restraint in not going to r/all instead. If you fail, sacrifice something in life you enjoy for a day.

If you succeed, increase by 10 minute increments.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction? by Max_Ehrlich on Monday November 01, 2021 @09:51PM (#29075880)

Good idea, especially the sacrifice part. Thanks

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction? by sushsjsuauahab on Tuesday November 02, 2021 @01:19PM (#29084316)

Good luck!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction? by yosito on Monday November 01, 2021 @08:38AM (#29065930)

Delete your reddit account if you have one. Set up a redirect (using a browser extension, DNS, app, etc) from reddit to something you'd rather spend your time on. Replace your Reddit habit with something else: HN, RSS feeds, a good eBook, etc. Take a break from all internet entertainment, get offline, pick up another hobby, etc.

In general, it's easier to replace a bad habit with other habits rather than just trying to grit your teeth and abstain.

Every time you want to browse reddit and don't, give yourself a piece of chocolate.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction? by Max_Ehrlich on Monday November 01, 2021 @09:50PM (#29075874)

All fantastic ideas, thanks. Not that they're the same, but heroin addicts replace heroin with methadone. So that's probably the best solution, to replace instead of just abstain. The devil finds work for empty hands and all that

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction? by JSeymourATL on Monday November 01, 2021 @08:34AM (#29065896)

What’s the real challenge here for you?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How to Treat Reddit Addiction? by Max_Ehrlich on Monday November 01, 2021 @09:51PM (#29075878)

True, I'm procrastinating on doing some writing. This is a helpful reframe

[ Parent | on HN ]