I noticed that i often spend lots of hours on my computer without doing anything useful but instead doomscrolling on hacker news and watching countless Youtube videos i hardly understand and give little attention. I think i could solve this by making a list of things i want to do on my computer before turning it on, but i haven't tried yet
yeah same here. I actually don't spend too much time on my phone and I feel pretty smug about it until I realise I just replace the smaller screen with the bigger one a lot of the time :<
I'm always telling every teacher at school that i spend less than 30 minutes on my phone, while i don't tell anybody i use my laptop for upp to 10h without noticing..
From time to time I remind myself of a rule that has worked well for me. I call it 'no idle screentime'. It makes me more cognisant of when I am browsing without purpose or going off on an unhelpful tangent.
I once came across the concept of a “day list,” and it’s helped me reduce similar habitual distraction/procrastination. It’s like a to-do list, but reframed as “these are the things I could do with my time. Not must.” I describe each item in the simplest possible way, even if it represents a complex task.
Of course, I still use task managers, calendars, and notes apps, and they’re useful in their own ways. But physically writing a day list with pen and paper reliably keeps me on track. If I start to drift, I look back at the list and it brings me back.
Muhammad523 · · focus · HN ↗
barbs · · focus · HN ↗
Muhammad523 · · focus · HN ↗
tmnvix · · focus · HN ↗
alexpatin · · focus · HN ↗
Of course, I still use task managers, calendars, and notes apps, and they’re useful in their own ways. But physically writing a day list with pen and paper reliably keeps me on track. If I start to drift, I look back at the list and it brings me back.
Your mileage may vary.