“Something is wrong With my phone.”
I was talking to a friend about how the battery life is google pixel 9 pro It was gradually deteriorating with time. Normally, my phone lasts all day, but by mid-evening, I was needing it rechargeThen I realized: I am the problem. Between doomscrolling on Instagram and obsessively checking my email, I was using my phone a lot.
Android has some built-in tools grouped under the Digital Wellbeing banner, including a bedtime mode, a notification manager, and timers that let you set limits on how long you're allowed to keep each app open. I've known about this feature set for years; After all, it was first announced way back in 2018Was I using this stuff consistently? Not necessary.
For years, I practiced a few productivity hacks. I've deleted the Facebook app from my phone and now only use that service on my laptop. I also charge my phone in the kitchen, which helps me avoid using it in bed. Still, these methods were not enough. My phone was still freezing every day around 8pm due to too much mindless scrolling. I needed to control my use. Here's how I finally broke the spell.
Set timers on your most used apps
Google includes an app usage timer on all Android phones that allows you to set hard limits on individual apps. To access the timer, go to settingssearch again digital well beingFeatures look a little different Samsung Galaxy more than they do on the phone pixel and others android handsetBut everything works the same way. I usually check at night to see my daily stats. On the main Settings screen, there's a dashboard that shows you the total usage time for the day and which apps are the main culprits. You'll also see the total number of phone unlocks for the day and the total number of notifications received.
To reduce your usage time, start with an app timer. Setting hard deadlines may seem a little harsh at first, but timers work because they automatically close the app for us and snap us out of our stupor. We realize that we are hanging out on TikTok or browsing the web too much all day long. in his book hobbyistProductivity expert Nir Eyal says we're not actually addicted to our phones. This is a clinical term that should be reserved for more serious problems. Instead, we are obsessedThe dopamine hit we get from almost every “like” or comment on social media fuels our obsession.
I started with an app timer on Google Chrome and honestly it was painfulI set a time limit of 45 minutes and it seemed like I would reach that limit by lunch time every day. With one minute remaining, the screen turns gray as a warning that the app is about to close. I increased the timer to 90 minutes and it seemed to work better. When you reach the limit, you'll need to reset the timer or use the browser on a different device. This serves to curb your use because you have to make an effort and live with it if you exceed the limit you have imposed. I've also set limits on the Gmail app, Messages, Instagram, and TikTok.
Lo and behold, setting time limits meant my total usage time per day dropped from 4 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours and 30 minutes. I get an hour of my life back every day. That's not bad, but I wanted to reduce my screen time even more, so I turned to some radical techniques.
take some radical steps
Google includes some other settings that make your phone less attractive. For example, Android's bedtime mode dims the screen and turns everything black and white. To find this option, go to Digital Wellbeing settings, search for sleep time mode And set the usage period to start around 8 pm. It also disables notifications until the next morning. For me, Bedtime mode helped because it was a visual reminder to put the phone down and stop scrolling. I reduced my usage by another hour.
Sadly, I was still using my phone a lot. For me, the allure of notifications about new text messages, Discord chats, and emails is always there. Who is contacting me? what do they need? Again, we crave that dopamine hit that comes when we listen to those voices. We feel useful and productive when we give feedback, but the downside is that we become even more glued to our screens.