I’ve toggled off all my inboxes on my iPhone, so I can only check email on my computer. I put my phone on airplane mode every night around 9 pm and stick it in a drawer until I leave the next morning and if I WFH I leave it there sometimes until lunch. These two adjustments have helped me a lot! I’ve started writing morning pages on my iPad (in Notion), and I usually wander over to Substack after (hey!). I think I need to break that habit, but also it’s so nice over here. I wrote a post about this topic, about reducing my mental load, but I don’t want to be spammy and share it here, so if you’re interested, you can check my Substack.
The only thing that works for me, is going into the woods (did that a couple weekends ago) or turning off my phone and putting it away/making a big deal to everyone that I'm doing a challenge!
This will sound unrelated but have you tried being in ketosis? I find it is calming, stimulating, and my executive function greatly improves. There's studies that show it improves mental health (bipolar) so prob solves tech addiction too...who knows.
I’ve booked a fishing trip. But in the meantime, god yes, you’re writing about it still in 2025 because it seems to get worse every week, does it not?!
Substack is my casino these days, I had to set a daily limit so I don’t scroll through notes forever and I deleted the app from my devices. I’m not on anything else except IG and I don’t feel very drawn to it. I really want to say Substack has a responsibility to us to not make us go crazy and undervalue our writing with all its insane new features (is it the celebrities that are eating into people’s paid subscription revenue or is it Notes?!)
But I also think the responsibility lies partly with us! To log off, go fishing, read an entire book in one sitting, etc. Mainly: To write, at least sometimes, as if this little petri dish of Substack isn’t here. Write in a timeless way, if that makes sense? This era feels a lot like the early years of Twitter for me which is both lovely and terrifying. I DO think good changes are coming in the internet media/publishing world but I think it’s going to be painful for a couple more years. End of rant! Appreciate you.
Alex, speaking of email, I bet I can beat you on this one... can you guess how many unread messages I have in my "All Inboxes" folder??? ... ... Did you guess 576,588?? I didn't think so.
I never delete to get to an empty inbox. I just keep scrolling. Kinda sick, isn't it? I need to get stricter about not checking email first thing in the AM...
I’ve toggled off all my inboxes on my iPhone, so I can only check email on my computer. I put my phone on airplane mode every night around 9 pm and stick it in a drawer until I leave the next morning and if I WFH I leave it there sometimes until lunch. These two adjustments have helped me a lot! I’ve started writing morning pages on my iPad (in Notion), and I usually wander over to Substack after (hey!). I think I need to break that habit, but also it’s so nice over here. I wrote a post about this topic, about reducing my mental load, but I don’t want to be spammy and share it here, so if you’re interested, you can check my Substack.
i am interested and always feel free to be spammy we love spam
wait im dumb and cant find it
ok. since you insisted... SPAM: https://thecoolaunt.substack.com/p/i-failed-my-mental-load-test
wtf i am reporting this i cannot believe you spammed me
Providing links because I think about this alot...Johanna Hari's books particularly this one...
https://a.co/d/igxyvm6
A podcast about dopamine and addiction:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lTzUsyYpJB1NyUd0qU7ov?si=qqXiibFWShmS9ipNQlIlsw
The only thing that works for me, is going into the woods (did that a couple weekends ago) or turning off my phone and putting it away/making a big deal to everyone that I'm doing a challenge!
This will sound unrelated but have you tried being in ketosis? I find it is calming, stimulating, and my executive function greatly improves. There's studies that show it improves mental health (bipolar) so prob solves tech addiction too...who knows.
✌️
Sherry Turkle's books are also good!
I’ve booked a fishing trip. But in the meantime, god yes, you’re writing about it still in 2025 because it seems to get worse every week, does it not?!
Substack is my casino these days, I had to set a daily limit so I don’t scroll through notes forever and I deleted the app from my devices. I’m not on anything else except IG and I don’t feel very drawn to it. I really want to say Substack has a responsibility to us to not make us go crazy and undervalue our writing with all its insane new features (is it the celebrities that are eating into people’s paid subscription revenue or is it Notes?!)
But I also think the responsibility lies partly with us! To log off, go fishing, read an entire book in one sitting, etc. Mainly: To write, at least sometimes, as if this little petri dish of Substack isn’t here. Write in a timeless way, if that makes sense? This era feels a lot like the early years of Twitter for me which is both lovely and terrifying. I DO think good changes are coming in the internet media/publishing world but I think it’s going to be painful for a couple more years. End of rant! Appreciate you.
alex, you are the internet.
you are good
the internet is good
and thanks for the s/o. it means even more when coming from a used envelope inside a dark forest (was it dark?)
"Is there a part of the internet that still feels good?" Ask me again tomorrow!
Alex, speaking of email, I bet I can beat you on this one... can you guess how many unread messages I have in my "All Inboxes" folder??? ... ... Did you guess 576,588?? I didn't think so.
I never delete to get to an empty inbox. I just keep scrolling. Kinda sick, isn't it? I need to get stricter about not checking email first thing in the AM...
1. Love/hate relationship with the 'web'
2. Worst for me in terms of addiction is Facebook. In terms of emotional impact is LinkedIn Best for me is Substack
3. Too tempting for me is checking my stats on LinkedIn and inspiration on Fb
4. I last escaped when I left the state and went to the Great Smokey Mountains 2 weeks ago
5.
6. The feel good part is finding inspiration, inspiring others and learning
7. I am doing better with less
8.
9. I am truly doing better about not being as angry and anxious from the political posts. However, venting does help.
🤣🤣🤣🤣