Tips for avoiding distractions

Tips for avoiding distractions

- Use the DumbDroid device

The DumbDroid device has a small screen of 2.8 inches which makes it possible but very difficult to engage in distracting activities. You can access the internet and apps when you need to, but extended use is unpleasant. This key point makes it a great device to do the essential tasks you need to but stop you from ‘doomscrolling’ for hours on end.

- Use Airplane mode

Airplane mode means that your internet access (unless you use WiFi) is blocked and hence makes it impossible to get any notifications. This prevents one of the main

- Batch notifications

Often modern life can feel like an overwhelming barrage of notification – most of which are irrelevant to our lives and hard to take action on. Rather than checking your phone once every 15 minutes and getting out of a concentrated state, experiment with checking your phone every hour or a couple of set times a day to go through emails and WhatsApps. Whilst it may feel counter-intuitive at first, most notifications are rarely so urgent that they need your immediate attention and many problems resolve themselves on their own.

- Enable greyscale mode

Greyscale mode is a mode which disables colours on the phone. Colours are a classic way advertisers and UX designers use to make their content more enticing and addictive. Try this – you will be surprised at how ‘boring’ this makes your phone!

- Use a private DNS that blocks distracting content and ads

It is simply and easy in the Dumbdroid to configure a private DNS. This allows us to block advertising and enforce family safe content. A great one to set is adguard. To do this, Open Settings, go to Network & Internet > Advanced > Private DNS, select "Private DNS provider hostname, enter "family.adguard-dns.com".

- Use parental controls

Our phone comes preinstalled with parental controls – you can disable distracting applications behind a pin code. 

- Try Meditation

Try 10 minutes of Anapana meditation (simply watching the breath) morning and evening to give you the mental strength to do what you want to do! It is simple and free to do and there is a simple Mp3 to download here: https://www.dhamma.org/en/about/mini_anapana

- Use Time and Space to your advantage

The longer you have to make a decision, the more likely you are to consider options and be less reactive. The further something is from you, the less likely you are to use it. One of the reason smartphones can be so addictive is that they shorten both time and space by being with you at all times and being so quick and easy to access content. Although this is used against us, we can actively use it in the opposite direction! Try physically removing yourself from reactive habits by going on a day trip without your phone, only installing instagram on your desktop PC at home or even going on a holiday for an extended period without a device.

- Fill your time with great alternatives

If you find yourself doomscrolling on the train, trying to sit in agony struggling staring into space is unlikely to be effective. Try instead taking a great book with you, or cycle to work instead or bring a laptop with movies pre-downloaded. Contextualise what you are doing as gaining a benefit rather than losing something. 

- Control your environment

Do not fight battles you cannot win! Instead try and ensure you are in an environment which makes it impossible for you to do things you do not want to do. Try going out for the day and keep your time occupied with activities planned in advance so that you avoid situations where you may be tempted.