Update: I finally gave those screen time limits a real shot

For months I kept seeing people talk about setting app timers on their phones, and I thought it was just a gimmick. My buddy in Denver kept pushing me to try it, so I set a 30 minute daily limit for social media apps last week. Honestly, I was shocked at how much less I was picking up my phone by day three. It actually made me focus better when I was working from home. Has anyone else had a specific app timer that actually stuck?

3 comments

3 Comments

fox.jesse1mo ago

Yeah I totally get that "alarm clock for your brain" thing. I tried the same thing with my news app and it was wild how much it changed my mornings. The timer going off actually makes me stop and think about what I'm doing instead of just mindlessly scrolling. It's like my brain finally has permission to move on to something else. I think a lot of people underestimate how powerful that hard cutoff can be.

the_jason2mo ago

Saw a study that broke down how checking your phone in the morning messes with your focus for hours. Made me set a hard 10 minute limit on my news app. Now I don't start my day doomscrolling and actually get my first task done. The timer going off feels like an alarm clock for my brain to stop. It's the only one that's ever worked for me.

sarahhart2mo ago

That "alarm clock for your brain" thing is really interesting. What happens if you ignore the timer? Does it just keep going or does the app actually lock you out?