"Just ONE MORE YouTube video, and then I will stop!"
It's worse with shorts as you don't even think "just one more" as consuming a single short is so "effortless"/"short" that you might not think about them in singularity and instead think "just a few more".
Which makes it even harder to set boundaries.
Re:YouTube Addiction
by ChuckNorris89 on Saturday January 14, 2023 @03:42PM
(#34383989)
The youtube/tictok shorts are a genius form of getting the human brain hooked.
It's similar to how eating a piece of cake can make you feel guilty so instead you switch to a bag of M&Ms or other such small sweets thinking it's better for you as "I'll only have a few", and before you know it, you've eaten the whole bag in one go which is worse than the single piece of cake would have been.
I've found watching long content is better to keep such addictions in check. When I've finished watching a 2h long movie, I feel also "done" and ready for bed vs the endless stream of streaming shows, youtube videos and other social media shorts can keep you hooked for days on end.
The only method that really works for me is to have other constructive things I genuinely want to do. It's easier to avoid picking up the phone or getting on the computer (breaking the habit) if I'm thinking about X instead. That can be a hobby, a project, or even better a friend, relative, child. I don't want to sound like I'm saying, "just do this one trick." I know it's not easy and everyone is different.
The children's book Frog and Toad Together has a story about willpower called "Cookies". It sums up my experience pretty well. If you do write a book about what works for you, consider making it a children's book: I've gotten more comfort and understanding from those than anything else.