One feature that I want to implement is to have the system randomly enable for 10 minutes - and to signal this by changing the color of light from a desk lamp (Phillips Hue). The idea is that when this happens, I would drop what I was doing and leap for my phone to get some bonus browsing in. Me being controlled by the system like this might be fun?, or at least illustrate something?

I wish you hadn't clarified.

On my part, I think the trick is being selective with the addictions we indulge in. Exercise, reading, having sex, cooking, going on walks, writing, 3D modelling. A good mix of addictions is great in life!

In the end I think just making a pomodoro tool that automatically disables alerts until break is by far a simpler and more accurate prospect.

Oh, I just noticed something. HALT!

How do you even mindlessly watch youtube vid after youtube vid on such a tiny screen?

Exploring the option of getting a feature phone but do I really need to carry it?

I also tried a Linux phone but it wasn't very good in terms of usability and it soon became unusable due to hardware failure.

The HW failure was largely my fault because I didn't take good care of it.

The new PinePhone Pro looks very promising, looks like it can be a daily driver and I would like to try it out as soon as Mobian runs on it.

Edit: I'm not clear if Mobian runs on PinePhone Pro already? Looking at this link it seems it does https://blog.mobian.org/posts/2021/12/28/pinephone-pro/ but looking here, it seems we're not quite there yet: https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PinePhone_Pro_Software_Releases...

...self-discipline does not come easy, especially if supply and demand are strongly in favor of distraction...

I gave up my smartphone a decade ago. It's only "inconvenient" when people expect me to have internet in my pocket.

I’ve tried it and even closed all my social media accounts. It sort of worked. For social medias… But it changed nothing, I found other addictions on the internet. It’s just … the smartphone. I blocked a little portion of the infinity that is the internet, but my lizard brain is smart enough to know that infinite content is still there, more easily accessible than letting my mind wandering.

I think I should speak about it to a psychiatrist but I’m not even sure it’s a topic they can handle nowadays.

I actually now have the inverse issue : now that I blocked "pure sugar content", I consume a lot of more interesting content. Like, HN is interesting to read, I have only subscriptions I like on YT and I feel like they make me learn. I still watch/read a lot of shit but I've also found a lot of gems I'm glad I found.

I'll read Atomics Habits since a lot of people recommended it to me.

The mobile web interface equivalents are usually decent enough to sate the addiction but the quirks and oddnesses that try to push you to the apps will stop you falling into doom scrolling

Also of course when you're up against an algorithm, get rid of the data. All the page likes, groups, friend-of-a-friends, etc you don't need - unlike. Or go nuclear and create a new account

Facebook for example has no content that keeps me coming back on my new account -- it even says that I need to add more friends to get more content, nothing at all on the home feed. I gave it up by accident :)

Meanwhile, the Leechblock browser add-on stops me from using the few things I do otherwise (bits of Reddit, HN) allow between 09:00 and 17:00 which is not perfect but it's a start. Except ... I disable it a lot :(

Not sure if you know, but there are advanced options to put various roadblocks in your way, such as disabling access to the options menu, or disabling access to the add-ons menu entirely.

Host lookup should be O(1) and entirely in memory, so I see zero issue perf. wise to begin with.

They take a larger cut but are much more hands on with the marketing, and this kind of project would be right up their alley.

Couldn't recommend them more after my own experience with them as a 21 year old fresh grad.

[0] https://selfcontrolapp.com

https://freedom.to/

Anything that pisses me off works. Usually that's fully logging out of an app in a browser and not using any mobile apps.

My mind has always craved the distraction of the infinite scroll, it's just modern social media has perfected it.

Anyone know of a way that could thwart someone who's ~20 years in to computing? Doesn't have to be clever, just needs to be enough of a road block to not be worth the effort bypassing. If there's an exploit past the roadblock I'll find it haha

"Just be more disciplined", etc: I know but it turns out we're fighting ADHD here, working on that front separately

Otherwise, the block is sometimes just enough to make you second-guess your browsing habit. There's only a uBlock rule between me and reddit, and no limits on my iPad, but the extra effort is a reminder that I don't want to visit that website.

Thinking it's more like a child blocker. But I've had battles with addiction and issues myself with keeping focused. Being able to have some kind of actual switch for what I can access often acts as a mental toggle. It changes my mode so to speak and I end up getting more done.

There's tons of cool free filters or blockers etc but I love your method. A physical button could be great for that mental switch aspect I was talking about.

[0]: https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome

Occasionally I add social media sites (including HN) to the block list.

It's very easy to bypass when I really want/need to, but it does cut down the more unconscious "CMD + T - news/redd/face - enter" moments that happen when I'm bored.

Prevents the occasional unnecessary mindless scroll by creating a couple extra steps.

I'm not sure this changes as you age, it certainly hasn't for me. :(

Same thing.

If anything, any strategy I tried just made me replace awful content with more quality content.

But you can still be addicted to "good" content. And it’s harder to block because the FOMO is harder with sites like HN and interesting YouTube content.

To use one, I have to go to next dns and enable it, then when I'm finished I disable it again. I find this is mostly enough to make my usage mindful.

I usually review the DNS requests in the two hours after, to look for other time-suckers, and have since added every single non-productivity-related website to the blocklist. Apparently I compulsively check the weather dozens of times whenever I can't access my normal procrastination sites.

I’ve built a simple slot machine and loaded it with a raspberry pi. Now I’m building some rudimentary slot software for it, but I also need to wire up the buttons to the GPIO pins.

Plus, what else that is small form factor and can execute ssh scripts when triggered by a smashable button are there?

A giant plush enter key allows for smashing as needed.

https://flyingtiger.com/products/enter-key-3015609

https://bikerglen.com/blog/usb-big-red-button/

Would be interested to learn more about this approach.

You can't cure a need for distraction by blocking domains. There isn't a cure. You have to learn to live with it, like alcoholism.

The good news is that major life events tend to be great for breaking the distraction seeking pattern. At some point you'll get married or have kids or change careers, etc. And then your life will be so different that looking back on a dns kill switch button will seem silly.

Until then, just keep pushing the button I guess. We all have to make it through somehow

Still have a 68k line /etc/hosts from the Steven Black list.

Most alcoholics do need to keep all the liquor out of their homes. This is a necessary but insufficient condition for many of their recoveries.

…

> pushing the button

It’s possible you just didn’t recognize the way they’re exercising control over their desire for it. If you’re framing it in terms of alcoholism—speaking from experience here—you don’t come up with convenient ways to get away with not drinking, just convenient ways to go right on drinking even when you know you shouldn’t and wish you wouldn’t.