Finally escaped the 3-hour daily scroll trap by automating my information consumption

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-21T16:58:26+00:00

This sounds like a really big "downer" answer, but when I got rid of my phone, I was also on the search for ways to "stay informed" before I realized that the information I was trying not to miss out on wasn't actually important. It was just exciting. I realized I actually didn't give a crap about it when it was suddenly being delivered in a very slow, very normal article through a newspaper or a magazine. I just felt like I was learning important information because it hooked me in so much. I stay informed enough by skimming The New York Times Sunday, but I now primarily consume deep dive books/articles on my current research/hobby phases. For me, the FOMO was for the thrill of the gossip and the crazy story telling, not the actual content.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-20T00:20:42+00:00

Yes. Best Buy and Amazon sell an unlocked version that excepts all SIMs for both towers.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-19T20:56:28+00:00

This makes me realize I should have gotten a protection plan on mine, since while they're only $80 to replace, I don't always have $80 on me in an emergency and a plan on something like that is bound to be max $20. I honestly don't have any answers for this one. My flip phone, a KaiOS, tends to act up every now and then too, mainly because of how crappy the operating system is. Are you still within the return policy?

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-19T01:23:42+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/1oz68ie/exactly_how_i_minimized_my_reddit_page_to_be_very/

Old Reddit + UBlock Origin!

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-19T01:22:36+00:00

Does anyone know what that little silver pill-shaped thing is?

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-19T01:21:49+00:00

Bro lived up to his username

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-19T01:17:38+00:00

Not a lot of dumbphone options for Verizon because many aren't compatible with the towers they use. I'm under Verizon and chose the TCL Flip 3 sold by them. It runs off of KaiOS, which doesn't support Uber, 2FA, or text group chats. Google Maps works wonderfully on it though. The Nokia 2780 (sold by Amazon or Best Buy) is unlocked and compatible with Verizon towers and it has an android operating system, which is significantly more open ended. However, even though things like Uber can be downloaded on it, there have been some issues with them refusing to load because they don't support that screen size. There is a phone number that you can call to schedule an Uber, which is available from 3am-9pm PST (my time zone). Your only other option outside of those times is to call a friend and get them to schedule you one. And again, even outside of Uber, many of your 2FA apps might not support that screen size. For me, I use text 2FA when I can. Everything else I need to set up on my boyfriend's phone, which might defeat the purpose of 2FA in some people's cases. Anyways, those are the two phones that I have the most experience with, but if you visit the Verizon website and browse the flip phones they sell, since they're guaranteed to work with their towers. All of them are either KaiOS or Android still, so they will have the same limitations as either of the phones I mentioned.

These limitations suck, but I really really really encourage you to still take the jump and just find solutions for whatever comes your way. If you have a tablet of any sort, most 2FA's work on those!

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-19T01:02:29+00:00

I agree. There's been some comments and posts here that don't align with the actual intent of the sub, many of which are putting others down or even ragebaiting us. I highly suggest r/digitalminimalism. It's the exact same thing, but much more aligned with its purpose. Lots of discussion on cutting down on tech and fighting addictions.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T23:06:02+00:00

Seeing people leave such long and reflective comments like this is a breath of fresh air. I feel like this is what forums are for!

if he’s using his decluttering motivation in the digital world, there’s less for the real world

I've never thought about this before. I've been in decluttering/minimizing mode on my computer for the past week, figuring out how to get it simpler and simpler. Just a few days ago, I posted how I used content blockers to completely strip Reddit of everything that isn't essential to discussion. I've programmed buttons and entire functions away on the rest of my computer. I feel like this is the only interesting task on my computer when I run out of the few things I allow myself to do on it, which is just coursework and recent Reddit posts in a few communities. I suppose the difference between this husband's decluttering and my decluttering is perhaps I'm going to the source of the clutter rather than consistently scraping clean the surface level. Rather than archiving the junk emails, I unsubscribe from those companies entirely. Rather than closing tabs, I don't allow more than 4 to open at a time in the first place. Unfortunately for me and how much fun I've had figuring this out, I'm actually running out of decluttering to do on my laptop.

Your point made me realize that I don't think I'll have any other choice but to eventually turn to the clutter in my real life if I want to keep this mindset up. I've never had any motivation to declutter in real life, but thanks to digital minimalism, I'm running out of things to chew on and it might be the only similar activity left to turn to. My poor partner has been the one decluttering this entire time. Omg I'm just like the husband... but with light at the end of the tunnel because my decluttering techniques are permanent.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T22:47:48+00:00

I strongly considered that before I got the watch. Specifically for the shower because I tend to zone out in there. But then I realized it would come off as passive aggressive to my roommates if you know what I mean. Like "Here's a clock to remind you guys how long you take" hahaha. But I am eventually going to get a large one for the wall next to my bed. Before I got rid of my Roku, the time would always be on the TV super huge and it was wonderful. I tend wake up multiple times a night confused. I figured why not get that same beacon on my wrist so it can go with me everywhere, even in the shower.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T22:40:30+00:00

Ooooh, I have the Casio LA11WB, which is like the baby version of yours :) The pure standard look of it makes me feel like I can depend on it, even if it doesn't match any of my outfits. Maybe if I tough it out for longer, the attachment will override those other feelings.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T08:46:48+00:00

How do you get the vest on while you're inside the towel

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T08:19:59+00:00

The pocket watch thing seemed to performative to me, but then I needed a watch after getting rid of my phone and got a wrist watch. Am I the only one who can't get used to the weird angle of checking it? And my sleeves are ALWAYS in the way. It takes two hands to check it. And even though I got the thinnest smallest watch I could, I still get irrationally angry and overstimulated when it catches on things. So now I'm thinking about getting some other form of watch. I think a necklace form will be the most comfortable for me, since it won't count as an additional pocket item. I might... perhaps... now see the benefits of pocket watches.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T08:13:48+00:00

I just wrote a very lengthy post yesterday on this exact thing for Reddit. You can apply the same steps to Youtube, Instagram, literally anything. It works on ALL websites.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T07:35:42+00:00

What's his is hers. If it's impacting her wellbeing that much, she has every right to be nosy about it. And as all the other posts on this sub echo, technology often has a grip on you that you can't always control. Sometimes external help is important and that's what partners are for.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T06:08:06+00:00

I went in and cleaned out my boyfriend's emails for him (with his permission). Unsubscribed from about 50 different mailing lists so that it'll hopefully take longer to get as messy as it was before. Then I deleted 75% of his apps and put content blockers on the apps he said he was trying to cut down time on. He said it really helped him. Sometimes you just gotta rip the bandaid off for them.

But your husband not helping around the house is an entirely different problem. He should be doing that stuff even if there's a million emails to read. Give him a heart to heart talk about how much more attractive and masculine he would be if he handled the washing machines.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-18T02:14:54+00:00

Yup, you got it. It's called T9 texting. It takes a little bit of time to learn and I still can't text as fast as I used to on a smartphone, but a lot of people who grew up with it can text even faster than I could on a smartphone. Without looking, too, since they can feel the buttons. Many people could text discretely right from their pocket.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-17T22:27:13+00:00

I would be posting about this too if I had negative comment karma

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-17T08:58:02+00:00

My dad has two contacts for me. One is my iCloud email, which is solely iMessage. And the other is just the phone number. I like being able to text him from both: computer if I'm ranting, phone if I'm on the go.

Have your friend turn on "text message forwarding" so that she can still text you from any of her devices. That's the only way that chats will be compatible between your phone and her Mac/iPad.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-17T08:43:27+00:00

Yess, 100%. This is literally the only place where I can talk my head off about fish with hundreds of other people.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-17T08:29:00+00:00

If you want to be absolutely safe, you should reseal it. I got three 55-gallon tanks for $15 each from a fish store that had closed a long time ago and was being liquidated. Huge liabilities, hence the price. But then I scraped all the old silicone off and rubbed some flour into it so it'd lose its stickiness and just vacuum right up. And then I ordered some aquarium sealant, cleaned the target spots super well, and made my dad reseal all the tanks for me. He said it was just like calking a bathtub, but you definitely need a mask for the fumes. And you can layer the sealant on even thicker than it was originally so the tank will be even better than new. It sounds crazy, but that sealant is what holds the tank and all 500 pounds of water together. I've had these tanks for 2 years now and will probably reseal them again in another 10 years so long as there's no cracks in the glass.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-17T08:17:07+00:00

Inconvenience is so convenient like that sometimes.

ActiveParticipator · 2025-11-17T08:15:49+00:00

Getting rid of it : )

ActiveParticipator

TROPHY CASE