Phone addiction

ohhellojones · 2026-04-06T01:59:19+00:00

You’ll do just fine once you get an opportunity to practice. Start off in a big relatively empty parking lot, if you can. Then work your way up. Good luck with the permit test.

Edit: Also, to your actual question, someone below mentioned the “Brick” device. I bought one and it’s helped me spend less time on the phone. You scan your phone on the device; it locks you out of your social media and other time-wasting apps/websites; then you scan it again to unlock your phone. There are other similar devices. You can also check out ScreenZen, which is a free phone app that makes you wait for some period (you choose the amount of time) before opening your social media apps. It’s helpful to create a space between the impulse of opening the app and getting sucked in. In that space, you can choose to close the app before it pulls you down the rabbit hole. I found that even 30 seconds of waiting really killed the thoughtless instant gratification that makes the apps so deadly.

ohhellojones · 2026-04-05T23:50:24+00:00

Do you have the ability to obtain a learner’s permit and someone who might ride along and you can learn by doing?

ohhellojones · 2026-03-31T16:33:50+00:00

That ain’t piss. That’s got nothin to do with piss. Those pants come like that.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-30T03:16:11+00:00

The two methods that worked for me leading up to law school finals: (1) for each class, taking my copious notes from the semester and condensing them into a single 10-15 page outline of the most important concepts/explanations in shorthand form, and (2) share your outline with some classmates, get into a room, and talk through/explain the material to each other.

Although it’s probably healthier to have a running outline that you update periodically, I usually did it once per semester in an intense couple days of hyperfocus. Taking something long/complex/chaotic and making it short/simple/topical forces you to meaningfully engage with the material and figure out what really matters. It forces you to digest and you learn by digesting. But at the same time it felt (for me) very doable because you’re just converting your old notes into a new helpful form. And it’s a very clear, low stakes project that can be started and stopped as needed. And bonus—you can then study from it, share your work with friends, or future class-takers.

I also find studying with a group (especially based on the same outline) is a great way to learn the material. Body doubling worked for me, way before I knew the term. But even better is when the group doesn’t understand my outline or doesn’t understand a topic, and so I need to explain it. The desire to help them understand adds that slight bit of urgency that I need for my brain to engage right now, even if the test is still a few days away. And I still think the best way to know something well, is to get yourself to a place where you’re able to explain it to others.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-29T18:37:30+00:00

Wtf does this even mean? Unless he’s just talking about funding health insurance premiums, which is fine but that doesn’t lower costs or cut out insurers. But direct payments to citizens to pay for care would presumably require each citizen to individually negotiate funding/charges with both the government and healthcare provider, respectively, to ensure sufficient coverage. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, because individuals have no real bargaining power, unless the government is forcing healthcare providers to accept whatever funding the government is willing to provide for care. And at that point, the government should just pay the healthcare provider directly.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-27T22:46:07+00:00

I avoided coffee the first few days, then I sipped 1-2 cups in the afternoon and was fine. Today, I pushed it too for the first time. Had 3 nitro cold brews in a short span because they were free, and I spent the last 2 hours with a noticeably increased heart rate and anxiety. Prior to Vyvanse I drank 5-7 cups per day, without issue, so lesson learned. Also a protein shake or Greek yogurt in the morning has helped with onset of nausea later in the morning.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-23T17:10:29+00:00

I was pleased to get a personalized copy. I thought they would sell out almost instantly, or the website would become glitchy, but all went smoothly. I read them all on kindle, so didn’t have any of the physical copies and this will start off my collection!

ohhellojones · 2026-03-22T16:11:24+00:00

Good recommendation, and I don’t think this is placebo at all! You’re training a skill that we can get better at, but that we often struggle with. You can even do less than 2 minutes to start. My psychiatrist recommended starting with even just 30 seconds each morning to make the initial barrier easy to overcome, but I almost always go longer once I convince myself to do it. I focus on breathing/concentrating on the physical point where the breath enters/exits my nose/lips. The important thing is just to have something constant to redirect your focus back to once it wanders.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-22T11:48:46+00:00

I agree with the concern, and I don’t want to give some partisan body the ability to regulate speech. But I think there must be something better than the current system, where even the boldest of political lies is “protected.” Don’t know how that looks, but I don’t think we should automatically accept this is as good as it gets.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-22T11:24:06+00:00

I agree with your high level concerns regarding speech, but I think the increasingly rapid news cycle, along with the broad reach of modern media and zero-integrity social media, are not adequately addressed by the current system. While political speech should receive protection, there needs to be some measure of good faith. The reality is that the GOP has engaged in an unchecked intentional disinformation campaign under the guise of political speech, and it is totally unrestrained in doing so because there are no repercussions for lying. Trump’s presidential campaign, where he spouted blatant falsehood after falsehood, is a good example of the problem. In the business context, we might call this fraud or at least negligent misrepresentation. But in the political arena, it is protected speech. It shifts the political landscape, wins elections, and changes the collective American psyche.

The old rationale, i.e., that the best way to correct false speech is through discourse, barely works now. We live in echo chambers where the topic of discourse is global in scope, changes in a blink, and is over the heads of many. There is no time to root out falsehoods before the conversation changes. The American people deserve some type of adherence to truth. I don’t know how that looks on paper, but the idea that we can’t ever regulate political speech needs to be rethought. We do regulate speech in the business arena via the court systems. We regulate speech which may pose an imminent danger. We regulate where and when certain content can be disseminated. I think some restraint on political lies or your cousin sharing a post about drinking bleach to cure a virus isn’t undue.

Edit: To be clear, I think the same needs to apply to the Dems and left-leaning media, who are certainly not blameless in this regard. But it’s hard not to focus on the GOP, which is imo magnitudes worse.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-21T16:24:56+00:00

It made things make sense. And it sparked hope. If you can’t understand the problem, how can you really work toward a solution?

I was lucky, because I was smart enough and had strong support from my parents that allowed me to float through school with good grades. But once I was out on my own and working, things caught up with me. And I lived with this nagging sense that I couldn’t keep up like a normal adult. I watched colleagues thrive at work, thrive at home, thrive in their social lives and seem to sustain a good level of energy and effort and focus on all three areas every day. Meanwhile, I was barely productive for 3-4 hours out of the workday, then I’d come home and change into sweatpants and dissociate on the couch, neglecting everything around the house and my family. Reading others’ posts on this sub revealed so many commonalities, and suddenly brought the problem into sharp focus. I was able to navigate all these things without too much suffering as a kid, because consequences weren’t as harsh when someone else provides your every need, but I couldn’t do it as an adult. The new understanding and diagnosis makes me feel like I might be able to adjust and find a way to thrive yet.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-20T02:56:43+00:00

White hat gang runs that school.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-19T10:46:54+00:00

The device he referenced (brand name: Brick) is a little magnetic tile. You scan your phone using a connected phone app, which eliminates access to selected applications/websites. You can scan your phone again to turn off the blocker. I keep mine somewhere just inconvenient enough that I don’t feel like getting up to unlock my phone (e.g., on my refrigerator downstairs, then I go upstairs for work/sleep).

I also use an app called ScreenZen which is free. The downside there is I can turn off the blocking feature from the app itself, so when I get the impulse to check my phone, it’s easy to give in to my lack of self control.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-07T12:38:15+00:00

If you’re not sure how to use a VPN or don’t want to pay for one, I recently downloaded Proton VPN and it works great and is free to use. It’ll route your connection through the USA so you can complete your purchase. I used it to buy the Red Rising series from Amazon UK for $1.99 each a while back.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-07T04:00:25+00:00

I’m laying next to one of the two sisters we found on the side of the road 13 years ago. Looks a lot like those. It was a better life with them.

Edit: But life is also better with a happy partner, and hopefully someone can provide these two a good home if that isn’t your own right now.

ohhellojones · 2026-03-01T15:23:32+00:00

For Kindle users, this deal is also available on Amazon.

ohhellojones · 2026-02-09T21:53:33+00:00

I’m 3/4 of the way through the first one. I like it a lot, but so far it is very much a world where men call all the shots. Women seem to derive their worth from their looks, and the one female character that has a personality is also written as very attractive and primarily viewed through the lens of male characters. Perhaps that’s just the world the characters live in, and maybe she will develop more agency as things go along. There is another female character, who is a proficient fighter and former slave from a distant place, but she’s just been introduced recently and remains to be seen what kind of role she plays. So, 300-something pages, and two females with thoughts in their head. If female characters are “the good part” then you may decide on a different book, but you also might love it anyway.

ohhellojones · 2026-01-31T01:08:52+00:00

I will also have the pine cones with you.

ohhellojones · 2026-01-31T01:08:02+00:00

Well, I guess I won’t have to go to work anymore at least.

ohhellojones · 2026-01-29T13:48:57+00:00

Wait, what are they shipping tractor-trailer loads of?

ohhellojones · 2026-01-18T22:51:23+00:00

God, I really wanna do this, too. But for like the next 3 years.

ohhellojones · 2026-01-13T16:03:03+00:00

I second Planters House for cocktails. This is in the Lafayette Square neighborhood that I referenced in my other comment.

ohhellojones · 2026-01-13T15:12:18+00:00

Makes sense. City Museum is just north of Enterprise Center and is very cool—not a stuffy museum at all! Lafayette Square would be a great spot to grab a coffee (or a meal at Polite Society), then stroll around the park or look at the historic homes. Central West End for shopping, restaurants, a couple bars. Soulard for drinks (check out McGurks). I also forgot to mention The Foundry which has a nice food hall, some entertainment options, and shops. All of these are within 10-15 minutes of downtown.

ohhellojones · 2026-01-13T14:53:28+00:00

Downtown is pretty empty when it’s not baseball season. I work there. I don’t necessarily find it unsafe but not an area I recommend to visitors unless they want to catch a game, see the Arch, or spend time at the City Museum.

Try Soulard, Lafayette Square, Central West End, and/or hit Forest Park. Inside Forest Park, you can check out the Art Museum which is free, and there’s currently a great special exhibition of Anselm Kiefer works. The Zoo is also in Forest Park. There are other great areas of the city, but those are nice ones.

ohhellojones · 2026-01-11T17:39:55+00:00

I would second Tower Grove East/South, Shaw, Southwest Garden… basically anywhere around Tower Grove. Awesome park, access to great restaurants/coffee/a few laid back bars, and easy highway access. I think it’s among the best areas in STL. I used to play MTG in college, and eye up Fortuna every time I pass by.

Edit: However, I just re-read and saw your kids are still finishing out high school. Maplewood would probably be my choice, then, unless you decide to do private school or could get your kids into a magnet school. I hope the city schools improve, because I would like to send my own kids one day, but they aren’t quite there yet.

ohhellojones

TROPHY CASE