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How I reduced my phone usage by 99%
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๐ Abstract
The article discusses the author's struggle with excessive phone usage and their journey to reduce it by going "phone-less" for an extended period.
๐ Q&A
[01] The author's struggle with phone usage
1. What were the main issues the author faced with their phone usage?
- The author dreaded the weekly notification showing they spent 3-4 hours per day on their phone, which they felt could have been better spent
- The main culprits were apps like YouTube, Reddit, and ChatGPT, which the author felt were not adding value to their life
- The author's mood was heavily influenced by the content on Reddit, often feeling worse after using it
- The author's curiosity found a companion in ChatGPT, which could quickly answer any question they had
2. How did the author's phone usage affect their life?
- The author's phone usage was consuming their mental bandwidth and affecting their mood, which subsequently impacted their productive time
- The author felt they didn't need their phone for many daily activities, such as listening to music at the gym or on the bus
[02] The author's "phone-less" journey
1. What happened when the author's phone charging port broke?
- The author's phone usage declined until the phone stopped working entirely
- The author delayed fixing or replacing the phone for a few days, which turned into a month
2. What observations did the author make during their "phone-less" period?
- The world around us is full of clues, and most people are willing to help if you're patient
- The author didn't need to constantly look up information or be reachable in real-time
- Friends adapted to the author's lack of availability on their phone
3. How did the author's "phone-less" journey end?
- The author's car battery died in a gas station, and no one was willing to help, reminding them of the importance of having a phone (not necessarily a smartphone)
4. What were the long-term effects of the author's "phone-less" experience?
- Many of the author's phone usage habits have not yet resurfaced, and they feel more present and less inclined to compulsively consume content
- The author realized their phone usage was not directly taking away from their productive time, but rather consuming their mental bandwidth and affecting their mood
Shared by Daniel Chen ยท
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